His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah spoke with Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to reinforce energy cooperation and to ensure supply chains remain steady despite global uncertainties. Brunei values its role as a trusted energy provider and believes in keeping trade open and dependable. In a separate meeting, the Sultan welcomed Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese [...]
The recent war in the Middle East is causing new economic problems for Laos, a nation already struggling after the COVID-19 crisis. Rising global fuel prices and supply shortages are making life harder for people, as the country depends heavily on imported fuel. The Ministry of Public Works and Transport has asked citizens to reduce [...]
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Tajikistan faced significant economic hardship and turned to foreign partners for support, particularly China. Over time, China became one of its biggest lenders and investors, funding roads, factories, and energy projects. While these projects contributed to Tajikistan's development, they also increased the country’s debt, which has now grown [...]
Farmers in central Thailand are struggling as fuel shortages and rising prices affect their crops. Many petrol stations are empty, and diesel, needed for water pumps and machinery, is hard to find. Thanadet Traiyot, a rice farmer in Ayutthaya, says he has to carefully manage his pumps because he doesn’t have enough fuel to run [...]
Laos has tried to grow its economy by working closely with China and using its natural resources like rivers, forests, and minerals. This helped the country build roads, dams, and railways, and reduce poverty. But it also created problems. Laos borrowed a lot of money, especially from China, and now has high debt. When COVID-19 [...]
Anutin Charnvirakul has become the new prime minister of Thailand after winning a strong vote in parliament. He received support from 293 lawmakers, showing that his coalition has clear control in the lower house. His victory marks a win for the conservative establishment after years of political conflict with pro-democracy groups. Anutin promised to improve [...]
In Niger, many women are working hard to rebuild their lives after difficult experiences with migration and poverty. In the Tahoua region, women have returned from unsafe journeys and are now starting small businesses to support their families. With help from local cooperatives and training programs, they learn skills such as saving money, managing work, [...]
Fuel prices in Vietnam have increased again, even though the government is trying to control them. The Ministry of Industry and Trade said gasoline prices rose by about 7.66%, while diesel prices increased by around 1.6%. However, kerosene prices dropped by about 7.7%. To reduce the impact of rising global oil prices, the government used [...]
In January 2026, inflation in Türkiye rose faster than expected, putting pressure on households already struggling with high prices. Consumer prices increased 4.84 percent compared to December, driven mainly by a 6.59 percent rise in food and non-alcoholic beverage costs. On an annual basis, inflation slightly eased to 30.65 percent, but the decrease was small [...]
China’s presence in Laos has grown rapidly in recent years, with large investments, Chinese tourists, and new infrastructure projects changing life in the country. One of the biggest projects is the China‑Laos high‑speed railway linking Yunnan in China to Vientiane, the capital of Laos. This railway has brought more tourists and boosted some businesses, but [...]