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Engaging with Afghanistan will get harder for West

Location:

AFGHANISTAN

This was a reference to criticism of Taliban rule by certain international players. While engagement between the emirate and the West remains limited, the Taliban are drawing…

Asia ‘ex-China’ investment will struggle for traction

Location:

ASIA

There is sizeable demand for financial assets and products in Asia that exclude China. However, investor expectations that the US Federal Reserve (Fed) will not cut interest rates…

Iran is approaching the limits of its oil expansion

Location:

IRAN

Iran’s increasingly skilled sanctions evasion (aided by less intense US enforcement) has made it the second-largest contributor to higher global oil output over the past year…

China's presence in Central America will strengthen

Location:

CENTRAL AMERICA

Nicaraguan lawmakers approved a Chinese loan for a new airport last month, negotiations with Honduras over an FTA are progressing and the new government of Guatemala -- Taiwan’s…

South-east Asia may align more with China in near term

Location:

SOUTH-EAST ASIA

A key finding is that 50.5% of respondents would pick China if forced to take sides in US-Chinese rivalry, up from 38.9% in 2023. China continues to be regarded as the most…

Religious freedom will slowly expand in Vietnam

Location:

VIETNAM

Catholics are a sizeable minority religious group in the country, numbering roughly 7 million out of a population of nearly 100 million. Vietnam and the Vatican have not had…

ASEAN-Australia relations will grow

Location:

ASEAN/AUSTRALIA

Besides a leaders’ plenary and retreat, there were events linked to four thematic tracks: business; climate and clean energy; maritime cooperation; and emerging leaders…

Post-poll turmoil may worsen Pakistan’s economic woes

Location:

PAKISTAN

The elections, resulting in a fractured mandate and marred by allegations of rigging, have increased polarisation. Separately, Pakistan’s nine-month, roughly USD3bn Stand-By…

South Korea will regain growth momentum

Location:

SOUTH KOREA

Separately, the head of Samsung Electronics -- the cornerstone of the Samsung Group, which contributes around 20% of South Korea’s GDP -- has been cleared of wrongdoing in a…

Thai search for investors in land bridge will be tough

Location:

THAILAND

The road-and-rail project, which could end up costing around USD30bn, would link deep-water ports on either side of the Kra Isthmus, in effect connecting the Andaman Sea and the…