Thailand’s prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, has declared £324m in assets including a collection of 217 designer handbags and 75 luxury watches in submissions on her wealth to a government body. Paetongtarn, daughter of the billionaire ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, took office in September, the fourth member of the powerful family to lead Thailand. Details of […]
Read MoreSingapore’s economy grew 4.0% in 2024, its fastest annual pace since exiting the pandemic, accelerating from an expansion of 1.1% in 2023 and 3.8% in 2022, preliminary government data showed on Thursday. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rose 4.3% in the fourth quarter from a year earlier, according to advance estimates from the trade ministry, above […]
Read MoreThailand will continue to pursue free trade agreements (FTAs) this year as part of its strategy to accelerate economic recovery. The scheduled signing of the Thailand-Efta FTA this month represents Thailand’s first pact with European nations. The government is also working to finish negotiations with key partners such as the EU, South Korea, Asean-Canada and […]
Read MoreThailand’s central bank and anti-money laundering agency said on Monday that they have not found any evidence to support a report from a U.N. expert that some of the country’s banks were used to help Myanmar’s junta acquire weapons. The report from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in […]
Read MoreIndonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto on Tuesday said a planned increase in value-added tax (VAT) rate by one percentage point to 12% effective Wednesday, Jan. 1, will apply only to luxury goods and services. Prabowo said the decision should end speculation over which items and services would be affected by the VAT increase. The decision also […]
Read MoreThailand exceeded its 2024 tourism target by attracting 35 million visitors, significantly increasing tourism revenue. This achievement was driven by key strategies such as visa exemptions, enhanced transportation connectivity, and hosting high-profile events, laying a solid groundwork for continued growth in 2025. Thailand’s Remarkable Tourism Rebound Bangkok, 28 December 2024 – The Tourism Authority of […]
Read MoreThe island nation embraces global best practices, takes a long-term view, and reaps success An apt example of adversity bringing out the best is the tiny nation of Singapore in Southeast Asia. Turned out of the Federation of Malaysia in 1965 despite its protests, the nation of 6 million, barely 700 square kilometers in size […]
Read MoreMyanmar’s armed rebel groups are liberating one area after another from the junta. This time, another state has been lost to the ruling party. A commander of a junta battalion has fled from the town of Mansi in Myanmar’s northern Kachin state. The junta’s 319 and 601 infantry battalions and 523 artillery battalion are currently […]
Read MoreSingapore has overtaken Hong Kong in 2024 as a leading digital-assets hub, while its rival financial center struggles to gain momentum. In 2024, Singapore issued 13 cryptocurrency licenses—more than double the number granted in 2023. Recipients included top exchanges like OKX and Upbit, along with global players such as Anchorage, BitGo, and GSR, according to […]
Read MoreAfter occupying the border, Myanmar’s rebels are now ‘looking’ at the country’s administrative and commercial center! The Irrawaddy, a media outlet controlled by the self-proclaimed National Unity Government, which supports pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, reported on Wednesday that fighters from the Arakan Army, the largest ally of the rebel alliance, have captured the […]
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