hi,
Something old, something new: Global funds want to welcome the new year.
In particular, they are looking for ways to blend the new age economy with the old economy to protect their investments in Asia in 2025, particularly from the challenges of future uncertain US trade policy and a strengthening dollar.
Select chipmakers and bank stocks have made their way onto investors’ radars, but they’re also focused on the potential for steady returns through dollar-denominated debt.
Meanwhile, gold is still king as an asset, especially going into the next year.
Uncertainty in world trade policies is a major concern for many international organizations. The Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, warned that global poverty could increase if the world does not come together to ensure a stable, open and free trade system.
While countries like Indonesia, China and India are attracting investor interest thanks to their strong economic growth and stimulus efforts, other developing nations are struggling to pay interest on the $29 trillion in emerging market debt built up over the past decade.
According to the United Nations, a record 54 countries spend more than 10 percent of their revenue on interest payments. Some, including Pakistan and Nigeria, are using more than 30% of revenues just to make coupon payments on bonds.
A total of $850 billion – is forcing countries to divert funds from domestic spending on infrastructure, raising the risk for investors. That’s cool!
It looks like it’s shaping up to be an upheaval as early as 2025, after all.
We will talk about it in today’s newsletter
- Unraveling the buried secrets of Dholavira
- Traveling to the best flavors of Asia
Here’s your trivia for today: What floor number is most often omitted in Chinese buildings, is the thirteenth in the west?
Travel and leisure
Unraveling the buried secrets of Dholavira
While Kutch’s sparkling white salt marshes attract travelers from far and wide, the region is home to many other sites that tell ancient stories. One such is Dholavira, which was once the southernmost center of the Harappan civilization on the arid island of Khadir Bet.
Dholavira is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed as one of the best-preserved urban settlements that existed between 3000 BC and 1500 BC. This is a testament to the simplicity of Harappan city planning even after thousands of years.
Explore History:
- A projected scene of a settlement is Dholavira’s first introduction. Another board nearby visually represents its magnet points, showing east-west arterial roads, baileys, stairs and tanks.
- The township was also once home to a pearl factory. Excavations also point to a weekly haat or market that was held in the central city center, which was also the site for a sports stadium where bull or horse fights were held.
- While most people go for a day trip, one can choose to stay here and spend more time. There is also a museum in Dholavira, which offers an insight into its civilization without a guide.
Wine and food
Traveling to the best flavors of Asia
Founded by Tham Brothers’ Pebble Street Hospitality, originating from Mumbai’s renowned culinary scene, Cocoa creates an experience from the get-go for those looking for a fine dining experience.
Between traditional aesthetic options with signature Southeast Asian inspired flavors, wicker lamps, origami lights, and murals, and innovative cocktail concoctions and desserts, KOKO offers the perfect getaway for leisurely dining away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Contemporary Flavors:
- Lunch at KOKO offers some standout highlights including tender coconut carpaccio with ponzu drizzle and crunchy quinoa, smoked brie and scallion dumplings, hamachi maki sushi roll with yellow fish and signature lantern chicken. Definitely don’t miss the crispy pork belly.
- KOKO’s famous cocktails are in a league of their own with the Tom Yum Cup – a boozy and chilled version of Tom Yum soup – with Absolut vodka at the center with notes of galangal, Thai pepper, lemongrass and lime.
- Dessert choices include classics like coffee pecan nut mousse, dark chocolate, truffle mousse and ice cream-filled Forest Log Law, and the innovative Who Stole My Cheese, miso brown butter cheesecake, honeycomb, fruit sorbet with pretzels, and almonds. piece by piece
KOKO at Hyderabad
News and updates
- Stalemate: The U.S. Treasury has told Nippon Steel that a panel examining a proposed takeover of U.S. Steel has not reached a consensus on how to mitigate security risks, raising the possibility that President Joe Biden will block the $15 billion deal.
- Steady economy: South Korea’s finance ministry vowed to continue to rapidly implement market stabilization measures as needed to support the economy after President Eun Suk-yeol was impeached on Sunday for briefly imposing martial law.
- Free release: Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup, xAI, said on Saturday that a new version of its Grok-2 chatbot will be available for free to all users of social media platform X.
Which floor number is most often omitted in Chinese buildings, the thirteenth is in the west?
Answer: Four.
We want to hear from you! To let us know what you like and dislike about our newsletter, please mail (email protected).
If you haven’t already received this newsletter in your inbox, Sign up here. For past editions of YourStory Buzz, you can check out our Daily Capsules page here.