Asia Economy

Thailand legalizing same-sex marriage is likely to bring a flood of tourists
Travel

Thailand legalizing same-sex marriage is likely to bring a flood of tourists

Thailand’s same-sex marriage legislation, scheduled to come into effect in January 2025, could attract an additional 4 million tourists to the country per year, according to a report commissioned by the travel company Agoda. The report published Thursday estimates the country’s marriage equality law may increase tourism arrivals by 10%, netting the country an extra […]

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Samsung shares climb more than 7% after surprise  billion buyback plan
World

Samsung shares climb more than 7% after surprise $7 billion buyback plan

A Samsung Group flag flutters in front of the company’s Seocho building in Seoul.  Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images Shares of Samsung Electronics jumped on Monday after the company unveiled a surprise plan to buy back about 10 trillion South Korean won ($7.19 billion) worth of its own stock over the next 12 […]

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K-pop agencies mostly struggled in third quarter — but 2025 may bring financial recovery
World

K-pop agencies mostly struggled in third quarter — but 2025 may bring financial recovery

JYP Entertainment’s boy group Stray Kids attends the 2024 SBS Music Awards Summer in Seoul. The group’s activities has given its parent company a “dramatic rebound to profitability”  The Chosunilbo Jns | Imazins | Getty Images K-pop businesses mostly continued to struggle in the third quarter of the year, with three of South Korea’s four […]

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Asia markets poised to open mixed as investors await China LPR, Japan inflation data this week
World

Asia markets poised to open mixed as investors await China LPR, Japan inflation data this week

View of the central business district skyline at sunset in Beijing, China. Sheng Peng | Visual China Group | Getty Images Asia-Pacific stocks were set to open mixed Monday as markets kickstart what ING calls a “quiet” week for economic data from the region. Key data this week from the region will include China’s loan […]

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During meeting with Biden, China’s Xi cautions the U.S. to ‘make the wise choice’ to keep relations stable
Politics

During meeting with Biden, China’s Xi cautions the U.S. to ‘make the wise choice’ to keep relations stable

China’s leader Xi Jinping met for the last time with U.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday but was already looking ahead to President-elect Donald Trump and his “America first” policies, saying Beijing “is ready to work with a new U.S. administration.” During their talks on the sidelines of the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, Xi […]

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Asia markets mixed as investors assess China economic data and Japan GDP after Wall Street falls
World

Asia markets mixed as investors assess China economic data and Japan GDP after Wall Street falls

A view of the night scenery in Shanghai, China S3studio | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images Asia markets were mixed Friday as Wall Street fell after U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell indicated the central bank was in no rush to cut rates, with investors also assessing China and Japan economic data. Speaking in […]

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Japan GDP expands by 0.3% in third quarter, snapping two quarters of year-on-year declines
World

Japan GDP expands by 0.3% in third quarter, snapping two quarters of year-on-year declines

Skyline of Tokyo, Japan. Jackyenjoyphotography | Moment | Getty Images Japan’s third-quarter real gross domestic product expanded 0.3% year on year, snapping two straight quarters of year-on-year decline, according to government data released Friday. The GDP reading marked a reversal from the revised 1.1% decline seen in the second quarter. The data comes against the […]

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Asia-Pacific markets mixed after U.S. inflation report fuels Fed rate cut expectations
World

Asia-Pacific markets mixed after U.S. inflation report fuels Fed rate cut expectations

A Sydney ferry passes the Opera House and skyline of the central business district area on May 12, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. James D. Morgan | Getty Images Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed on Thursday after the U.S. October consumer price index reading fueled expectations for the Fed to cuts rates again in December. The CPI […]

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A Singaporean AI startup is trying to disrupt the 100-year-old market research industry
World

A Singaporean AI startup is trying to disrupt the 100-year-old market research industry

Artificial intelligence is aiming to disrupt a 100-year-old industry. Finding ways to attract consumers to buy packaged goods stretches back to the 1920s when American psychologist Daniel Starch created the world’s first market research study. Today, the global market research industry is worth an estimated $87.7 billion and is expected to grow by another $15 […]

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Japan is ramping up efforts to revive its once dominant chip industry
Technology

Japan is ramping up efforts to revive its once dominant chip industry

Japan is looking to revitalize its semiconductor industry. The Japanese government has unlocked billions of dollars in subsidies for its domestic chip sector. Thicha Studio | Istock | Getty Images Japan has announced a new plan to revitalize the country’s semiconductor and artificial intelligence industries as it works to regain its chip leadership. The proposal […]

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