Business15.6% — that is the jobless rate for Chinese citizens aged 16 to 24, excluding college students, recorded this May. This figure marks the lowest level in nearly a year, signaling a subtle but measurable shift in the country's labor market dynamics following a period of persistent economic pressure.
BusinessBangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman confirmed Monday that his government is moving to formalize a free trade agreement with Malaysia. The announcement followed a high-level meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, signaling a concerted effort to deepen economic ties between the two nations through expanded bilateral trade cooperation.
BusinessChina has blacklisted 10 American entities, including prominent rare earth producers MP Materials and USA Rare Earth, effectively severing their access to Chinese dual-use technology. This retaliatory strike follows Washington’s recent move to restrict several Chinese tech giants, escalating the ongoing strategic friction between the two global powers.
BusinessA coalition of 112 major corporations, including Nestle, Ikea, and Uber, issued a formal call for governments to prioritize electrification in national economic strategies. The group argues that shifting away from fossil fuels is no longer just an environmental goal but a necessary defense against volatile energy markets and supply chain instability.
BusinessStarting in July, Malaysia will cap the national price of diesel at 2.10 ringgit, approximately $0.50, per litre. The move marks a significant shift in energy policy, aimed at closing the wide price gap between subsidised and unsubsidised fuel that has fueled rampant smuggling and drained government revenue.
BusinessHungary could spark economic growth and stabilize public finances by abandoning its flat 15% income tax in favor of a progressive structure, according to a new OECD study. The proposal seeks to alleviate the heavy burden on low-income workers while addressing the fiscal strain of an aging population.
BusinessA sharp decline in labour force participation among Hong Kong’s youth is reshaping the territory's economic landscape. While an ageing population accounts for the bulk of the shift, data from the IMF and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority reveals that young adults are increasingly opting out of employment to pursue extended education.
BusinessChina’s economic engine is firing on only one cylinder, as a surge in semiconductor and manufactured goods exports masks a persistent malaise at home. A Jefferies report reveals that while global trade remains resilient, domestic pillars—including retail, credit growth, and property—are faltering, casting doubt on the country’s long-term stability.
BusinessA relentless surge in artificial intelligence infrastructure spending is fueling American economic growth while simultaneously complicating the Federal Reserve’s battle against inflation. According to the latest Jefferies Greed & Fear report, this capital expenditure arms race is forcing markets to prepare for a prolonged period of higher interest rates.
BusinessPersistent supply disruptions across the Middle East will keep aluminium prices elevated through 2027, yet an aggressive production surge from Indonesia and China is poised to shift the global market back into a surplus, according to a new report from Goldman Sachs.
BusinessAs weight-loss drug users flock to high-protein diets to prevent muscle loss, the dairy aisle has turned into a courtroom. Danone has filed a lawsuit in Manhattan accusing rival Chobani of inflating protein claims on its multi-serve yogurt tubs, marking the latest escalation in a bitter battle for market supremacy.
BusinessWhile China’s export engine roars, the country’s internal machinery is misfiring. A new analysis from Jefferies reveals that robust trade figures mask a deepening malaise at home, where consumer sentiment, property market stability, and credit expansion remain trapped in a cycle of stagnation despite various government stimulus efforts.
BusinessInvestors betting heavily on aggressive corporate expansion are frequently paying a premium that ultimately stifles their portfolio performance. A new Morgan Stanley analysis reveals that stocks with modest growth expectations have historically outperformed high-flying equities, suggesting that the market often overestimates the value of future investment opportunities.
BusinessWith 11 million young people projected to enter the Indian workforce annually over the next two decades, the World Bank has approved $1.5 billion in financing. This initiative aims to accelerate private sector job creation by stripping away administrative hurdles and streamlining the nation’s complex regulatory environment.
BusinessWith gaps in medical care still plaguing many Cambodian communities, the World Bank has injected an additional $13 million into the Strengthening Pre-Service Education System for Health Professionals Project, pushing total investment in the initiative to $34.5 million to better prepare the country’s next generation of doctors and nurses.
BusinessLow- and middle-income nations lose $390 billion annually to natural disasters, yet a new report suggests that spending less than 10 percent of an asset's value on climate adaptation can shield infrastructure worth several times that investment, protecting millions of jobs and essential services from future environmental shocks.
BusinessThe global trade finance gap has ballooned to $2.5 trillion, leaving countless viable businesses stranded without the capital required to move goods across borders. To bridge this divide, the World Bank Group is now overhauling its Global Trade Liquidity Program to bring state-owned banks into the fold.
BusinessWith over 1.3 million Sudanese refugees straining existing resources, the World Bank has approved a $160 million grant to fortify Chad’s water security. The Water Security and Resilience Support Project targets climate-vulnerable regions, aiming to stabilize communities grappling with environmental shocks and the pressures of mass displacement.
BusinessWith a $371 million injection, the International Finance Corporation is betting on India's digital future, backing Sify Infinit Spaces Limited to construct two high-capacity data centers in Navi Mumbai and Chennai that will serve as the engine for the country's rising artificial intelligence and cloud computing sectors.
BusinessWith local water supplies meeting less than 40 percent of demand, the African Development Bank and UNICEF are deploying a $54.8 million emergency package to Port Sudan. The initiative targets the critical infrastructure gap created by a massive influx of displaced families fleeing conflict across the country.
BusinessA multi-billion-dollar trade finance shortfall continues to throttle African business growth, prompting the African Development Bank to enlist London-based Ghana International Bank. By guaranteeing up to 100 percent of non-payment risks, the new partnership aims to unshackle local lenders and integrate struggling markets into the global supply chain.
BusinessWith urban centers struggling to keep pace with rapid population growth, the Asian Development Bank has greenlit a $115 million loan to modernize water and sanitation infrastructure across 13 municipalities in Nepal, aiming to provide reliable, climate-resilient services to over 850,000 residents by 2032.
BusinessAs Havana authorizes its most significant market-oriented shift in decades, the promise of private enterprise and foreign capital clashes with the stark realities of daily survival. For many residents, the government's 176-measure package—intended to salvage a crumbling economy—is overshadowed by chronic power outages and deepening poverty.
BusinessDjibouti has finalized a $750 million framework agreement with the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation to bolster its economy through 2029. Signed in Baku by Minister Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh and ITFC CEO Adeeb Yousuf Al Aama, the deal targets core infrastructure, energy stability, and essential food security across the nation.
BusinessFaced with a bitter divide between net contributors and beneficiaries, European Union leaders have directed Ireland to outline new revenue sources for the 2028–2034 budget by October. The goal is to ease national payment burdens while maintaining the bloc’s €2 trillion spending ambitions before election cycles complicate negotiations.
BusinessGeopolitical volatility returned to the markets Friday after U.S.-Iran peace negotiations in Switzerland were abruptly canceled, triggering a rise in oil prices. This external pressure, coupled with aggressive rhetoric from European Central Bank officials regarding persistent inflation, sent government bond yields across the bloc sharply upward.
BusinessGerman Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared the current European Union budget framework unaffordable following Friday’s summit in Brussels. His blunt dismissal of the seven-year funding plan highlights deepening fissures among the 27 member states as they struggle to reconcile national fiscal constraints with the bloc's ambitious long-term financial objectives.
BusinessAndy Burnham’s decisive by-election win in northwest England has injected a sudden pulse into the pound, as markets weigh the political implications for Keir Starmer’s leadership alongside a surprise uptick in May retail sales. Sterling climbed 0.25% against the dollar to $1.3238, recovering from a three-month low.
BusinessAfter a three-day technical workshop in Nouakchott, Mauritania and the African Development Bank have moved to dismantle bureaucratic bottlenecks stalling local infrastructure projects. The initiative aims to align procurement strategies with international standards to ensure that a rapidly expanding portfolio of development funding reaches communities without further delay.
BusinessGeopolitical friction over U.S.-Iran negotiations dampened market sentiment Friday, even as European energy and healthcare stocks provided a lift. The STOXX 600 index edged up 0.2% by 0841 GMT, struggling to maintain the momentum of recent record-high rallies as hopes for an immediate truce in the Middle East faded.