Logo

Logo

Asia

Feeling the heat

Experts warn that the return of a weather condition known as El Nino, which emanates from warmer than normal waters in the Pacific Ocean around the equator and can impact weather patterns around the world, is exacerbating the summer heat.

Boost for Taipei

The Taiwan issue was not the only one to feature in the Paraguay poll. Indeed, the economy, plagued by rising fiscal deficits and slow growth figures, and corruption were major issues that dominated the discourse.

Middle East Equations

Situated at the confluence of three continents, the Middle East is important to the future of the BRI which is designed to place China at the centre of global trade and networks. For China, both Saudi Arabia and Iran are equally important. China has a vision of a multi-polar order in the Middle East based on non-interference in and partnerships with other states, one in which the country will promote stability through developmental peace rather than the Western notion of democratic peace

Vietnam’s woes

Vietnam’s GDP growth of 3.3 per cent in the first three months of 2023 has taken economists by surprise. The figure is far below forecasts and marks a reversal for what was till recently Asia’s fastest-growing economy. While a drop in exports weighed on growth, a simultaneous dip in imports, which are used mainly to make products for export, indicates producers are not optimistic about a nearterm recovery.