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East Asia
Japanese PM Abe speaks at International conference on African development
The Fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V) kicked off Saturday in Japan’s Yokohama, with leaders from Japan and African countries participating to discuss topics on African development. Under the overarching theme of “Hand in Hand with a More Dynamic Africa”, the discussions will be focused on three…
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Business
Bangkok ranked world’s top tourist destination
Bangkok has emerged as the world’s top tourist destination, with 15.98 million visitors projected to visit the Thailand’s capital city this year, according to the 2013 Global Destination Cities Index released by MasterCard on May 27. Bangkok surpassed London for the first time for the most popular destination city in…
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Asia’s currency war escalates
Editor’s note: The recent weakening of the Japanese yen is sparking responses across the region. Following article published in the online version of The Diplomat explains the possible implications of Asia’s currency war. Global finance chiefs may have denounced it, but that has not stopped Japan joining other central banks…
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South East Asia
Vietnam rises as top smartphone producer
Vietnam is becoming a leading smartphone producer in the world as world electronics giants increase investments in Vietnam, Japan’s economic daily Nihon Keizai reports. According to its recent article, with the Samsung Electronics Vietnam (SEV)’s plan to produce 240 million smartphones in 2013, accounting for 20 per cent of the…
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[Asia Round-up] Slap in the face for women
Editor’s note: Followings are summaries of editorials from major Asian media on current issues. Slap in the face for women [India, Hindustan Times, 15-05-2013] After the huge demonstrations following the December 16 Delhi gang rape incident, many hoped that the police’s attitude toward crimes against women and women’s rights might change.…
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Hong Kong ranked world’s most expensive retail space
The Asia’s shopping haven Hong Kong has been ranked again the world’s most expensive global retail market, according to a new report by global property advisor CBRE Group Inc. released on May 12. Hong Kong’s annual retail rent in high-end shopping areas in Hong Kong averaged $4,328 per square foot,…
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South East Asia
Singapore overtakes Switzerland as world’s top public banking hub
Singapore starts to overtake Switzerland as the world’s top private banking hub, The Wall Street Journal reports by quoting financial analyses. Wealth managers are stepping up their search for staff to expand in Asia as Singapore overtakes Switzerland as the biggest offshore wealth center in terms of assets under management…
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South East Asia
Indonesia’s economy grows quaterly at 6.02%, slowest in two years
A laborer works at a construction site in Jakarta, Indonesia, May 6, 2013. Indonesia’s economy expanded at 6.02 percent in the first three months, the slowest pace in two years, amid slower exports and government spending, the National Statistic Bureau announced here on Monday. <Xinhua/Zulkarnain>
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East Asia
South African couple purchase pottery at 113th Canton Fair
South African couple Tony Smily and Sally Smily purchase pottery at the 113th China Import and Export Fair, or Canton Fair, in Guangzhou, capital of south China’s Guangdong Province, April 24, 2013. Nearly 25,000 companies, including 562 from 38 countries or regions are attending the fair, China’s largest, attracting over…
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South Asia
Bangladesh’s garment industry hit by building collapse
EU considers action as Pope condemns condition of workers as ‘slave labour’ The European Union is considering trade action against Bangladesh, which has preferential access to EU markets for its garments, to pressure Dhaka to improve safety standards after a building collapse killed more than 400 factory workers. Pope Francis…
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