Asia Pacific

Laos, for decades happily languishing in self-imposed isolation, has become one of the 10 fastest-growing economies in the world as the communist government experiments with the market system.

North Korea is a family business, but with a rather more bloody approach to human resource management than is common in most other modern corporate conglomerates.

Malaysian corporate leaders should at least get a high mark for self-awareness as more than 83% of them admitted in a recent survey that fraud is one of the risks of doing business with them.

Embattled political leaders often find it beneficial to leave their opponents carping at home and to take a break in foreign capitals.

China’s State Administration of Work Safety has conducted a national survey of oil pipeline safety after oil leaked into sewage pipes in Qingdao last November 22 and the resulting explosion killed 62 people.

Vietnam is expecting another bad year for its rice exports after finding in 2013 that supply outstripped demand in the global market.

More than 121 million of Indonesia's nearly 250 million people are expected to join the new National Social Insurance system being launched this year.

Even as China's neighbours, such as Taiwan and Hong Kong, voice alarm at the billowing air pollution flowing over the borders, one of Beijing's largest oil companies is reported to be closing down one of its renewable energy subsidiaries because of low demand and high production costs.

Nepal's embassy in Saudi Arabia has rescued 126 Nepali women working as maids and who complained of economic, sexual and psychological exploitation by their employers.

The new Australian government of Prime Minister Tony Abbott is facing a test of its election pledge to closely monitor activities by Japanese whaling ships in Antarctic waters.