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ECONOMYThe Asymmetric Resilience: How Indonesia Defies the IMF's Global Tech-War Split
As the IMF warns of an uneven global slowdown split by tech cycles and conflicts, Indonesia’s H1 investment hitting Rp1,010.6 trillion reveals a distinct economic hedge.
ECONOMYChina Trade Surplus Record: June Exports Surge 27% on Global AI Hardware Boom
Driven by an insatiable global demand for AI computing hardware, China’s June exports jumped 27% to beat all forecasts, while imports hit a five-year high. NDNews delivers a data-driven macro analysis of the resulting $125.6 billion trade surplus and the underlying structural risks facing the APAC supply chain.
ECONOMYIndonesia’s Pivot to Resource Sovereignty and the Rise of the Danantara Framework
President Prabowo Subianto’s "Indonesia Incorporated" doctrine is fundamentally reordering the Asia-Pacific economic landscape by replacing raw commodity exports with a state-led mandate for domestic industrialization. By leveraging critical mineral reserves to command global supply chains, Jakarta is forcing a structural shift in manufacturing that promises to redefine the nation's role in the global economy.
ECONOMYMiles Guo’s Billion-Dollar Fraud Exploited Political Exile
Exiled businessman Miles Guo has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for orchestrating a $1 billion affinity fraud that weaponized the political anxieties of the Chinese diaspora to fund a life of opulence. The case, finalized by a federal judge in Manhattan, underscores urgent vulnerabilities in global financial regulations regarding the exploitation of political narratives.
ECONOMYModern Football Stars Evolve Into Billion-Dollar Business Empires
Football's biggest stars no longer generate value only on the pitch. From sponsorships and social media to media rights and global merchandising, elite athletes are evolving into business empires that rival multinational brands.
ECONOMYCheap Fuel, Expensive Future? Malaysia's Diesel Subsidy Sparks a Bigger Economic Debate
Malaysia is lowering diesel prices for citizens through a new subsidy program, but economists are divided. While the move may ease living costs ahead of state elections, questions remain over whether fuel subsidies strengthen the economy—or delay difficult fiscal reforms.
ECONOMYInfrastructure Emerges as the Real Gold Rush of the AI Revolution
Artificial intelligence has created global stars like Nvidia and OpenAI, but the next wave of wealth may come from companies few consumers recognize. Behind every AI chatbot, image generator, and enterprise platform lies an expanding ecosystem of data centers, power grids, cooling technology, and semiconductor suppliers that is quietly becoming one of the world's biggest investment stories.
ECONOMYWill Cash Become Obsolete? China's New Payment Push Could Change Travel Forever
Tencent's new TenPayGo app is designed to make digital payments easier for international visitors in China. But beyond improving travel convenience, the launch reflects a much bigger transformation: China's ambition to make cashless payments the global standard for millions of tourists, businesses, and cross-border consumers.
ECONOMYVietnam's AI Law Gives It a Head Start in Southeast Asia's Tech Race
Vietnam is the first Southeast Asian country with a dedicated AI law. Could that give it an advantage over Indonesia and regional peers in attracting tech investment?
ECONOMYIran Conflict Continues to Threaten Asian Economic Stability
Oil prices have fallen and shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz is slowly recovering. Yet economists and investors across Asia remain cautious. The reason is simple: while the fighting may have eased, the economic consequences of the Iran conflict are far from over.
ECONOMYAsia’s Central Banks Remain Cautious as Inflation Returns
Investors entered 2026 expecting interest rate cuts across Asia. Instead, several central banks are maintaining a cautious stance as inflation risks linked to energy prices, currency volatility, and geopolitical uncertainty continue to challenge policymakers across the region.
ECONOMYWhy Global Investors Are Looking at ASEAN Instead of China
As geopolitical shifts and supply chain vulnerabilities force a rethink of global production, multinational firms are increasingly adopting a "China Plus One" strategy, positioning Southeast Asia as a vital, high-growth engine of the modern economy.