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Malaysia to Expand Services Tax From July 1 to Narrow Deficit

Malaysia to Expand Services Tax From July 1 to Narrow Deficit

Bloomberg9 hours ago

Malaysia is expanding its sales and service tax to include the construction and financial services sectors effective July 1, according to the Finance Ministry.
The expansion of the sales and service tax is one of the key measures for Malaysia to meet its fiscal deficit target of 3.8% of gross domestic product, from 4.1% the previous year.

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Malaysian Tycoon Lim Han Weng In Talks For A Potential Yinson Deal
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Key to Russia's potential defeat lies in its economy
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Yahoo

time4 hours ago

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Key to Russia's potential defeat lies in its economy

As the war in Ukraine grinds on, attention remains fixed on the battlefield. But Russia's most vulnerable flank is not in the trenches — it's in the treasury. The West, and especially the United States, holds economic levers that could push Vladimir Putin toward serious negotiations or even collapse his ability to sustain the war altogether. Recent developments signal a shift in Washington's posture. Military aid to Ukraine has resumed, and a landmark U.S.-Ukraine resource agreement was signed on April 30. More significantly, senators — led by Republican Lindsey Graham — are advocating sanctions that would impose 500% tariffs on Russian oil and commodity exports. Moscow has reacted with alarm, calling this initiative a 'counteroffensive from the American deep state.' It's no bluff. The Kremlin is right to be worried. What truly threatens Putin's war machine is energy revenue — or rather, the loss of it. The Russian economy is deeply dependent on oil and gas exports, with the 2025 federal budget based on an oil price of $70 per barrel. But Russian Urals crude is now priced around $60, and could fall further. Saudi Arabia, frustrated by non-compliance within OPEC+, is allowing oil prices to drop, potentially triggering a price war. Riyadh has openly stated it can withstand a prolonged period of low prices — a veiled threat aimed at Moscow and other OPEC+ defectors. Read also: Exclusive: Russia's ballistic missile production up at least 66% over past year, according to Ukrainian intel figures The effects are already visible. Russia has slashed its oil revenue forecast for 2025 by 24%, with the Finance Ministry predicting a drop from 11 trillion to 8.3 trillion rubles. The country's oil production could decline by up to 50% by 2030, largely because newer reserves are technically difficult and capital-intensive to extract. That's why Moscow is quietly seeking Western — specifically U.S. — expertise to develop these fields. A coordinated, firm sanctions regime from Washington and Brussels could shut that door completely. Simultaneously, the U.S. and Saudi Arabia are deepening their energy partnership, particularly in liquefied natural gas (LNG). Saudi Aramco has reportedly signed memoranda of understanding with American LNG exporters like NextDecade and Sempra. The latter already holds a major supply contract with Poland's Orlen, and the U.S. is now poised to become a key alternative gas supplier to Central and Eastern Europe. These investments will expand global LNG capacity and bring prices closer to the U.S. Henry Hub benchmark — lowering Europe's dependence on Russian gas. Poland and Ukraine are moving to capitalize on this trend. Warsaw has announced plans for a second floating LNG terminal, which could eventually supply Slovakia and Hungary — two nations historically reliant on Russian gas. Ukraine, meanwhile, is gaining investor interest now that the U.S. has committed to a joint Reconstruction and Investment Fund, funded through future resource extraction projects. For the first time since the full-scale invasion began, Western business sees a path forward in Ukraine's energy sector. The implications for Russia are grave. Military spending has ballooned to 6.3% of GDP — its highest level since the Cold War — while the budget deficit continues to rise. To fund its war, the Kremlin is raiding reserves, raising taxes, and cutting social programs. Absent war spending, Russia might already be in recession. The regime increasingly relies on military conflict to justify domestic hardship and consolidate power. Read also: Inside Russia, calls for peace come with conditions — and Kremlin talking points But the geopolitical landscape is shifting. The combination of low oil prices, expanding LNG competition, and targeted U.S. sanctions could inflict sustained economic damage on Russia without risking American or European lives. Energy diplomacy, not just weaponry, could determine the outcome of this war. The next steps are critical. The White House must maintain pressure — not just by providing Ukraine with military aid, but by deepening its energy cooperation with allies and enforcing robust sanctions. The message to Moscow should be clear: the price of continuing the war will be economic asphyxiation. If the United States can coordinate its economic tools with allies in Europe and the Middle East, Russia may find itself unable to afford the very war it insists on waging. Submit an Opinion Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent. We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.

Visa introduces Click to Pay with leading banks and payment facilitators in Vietnam, transforming the online shopping experience
Visa introduces Click to Pay with leading banks and payment facilitators in Vietnam, transforming the online shopping experience

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Visa introduces Click to Pay with leading banks and payment facilitators in Vietnam, transforming the online shopping experience

Vietnam is first market in Southeast Asia to embrace Click to Pay, offering unmatched convenience, security, and efficiency in e-commerce transactions. HCMC, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 June 2025 – Visa, a world leader in digital payments, is introducing its issuer-offered Click to Pay solution to the market. Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MB), Vietnam Technological and Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Techcombank), JSC Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank), Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade (VietinBank), and Vietnam Prosperity Joint-Stock Commercial Bank (VPBank) have been the pioneer banks in adopting the solution. For Techcombank and VPBank, Visa cardholders can experience the solution starting today. 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According to Visa's Green Shoots Radar survey, which surveyed 1,000 Vietnamese online, 99% of surveyed consumers had shopped online in the last 12 months[1], highlighting the rapid expansion of Vietnam's e-commerce sector. By using an email address or mobile number to verify identity, shoppers can bypass the traditional checkout process, eliminating the need to enter extensive details. Additionally, Click to Pay utilizes cutting-edge technology and global security standards to enhance the safety of information and transactions, providing cardholders with greater peace of mind when making online payments. Click to Pay not only saves time for customers but also reduces cart abandonment rates, benefiting both consumers and retailers. 'Visa is committed to driving innovation in the payments landscape and enabling a seamless, secure, and convenient online shopping experience for consumers. With e-commerce being so ubiquitous in everyday Vietnamese life and in line with the Vietnamese government's digitization goals, we are excited to bring this innovative solution to Vietnamese consumers through the support of our key banking partners. Click to Pay with Visa will transform the way people shop online, preparing them for the future of a more connected digital economy,' said Ms. Dung Dang, Visa Country Manager for Vietnam and Laos. Click to Pay is now available to Techcombank and VPBank Visa cardholders to enroll via the issuer's banking app or participating online merchants. Consumers can look for the Click to Pay icon at participating online merchants both domestically and abroad to enjoy a faster, more secure, and convenient checkout experience. In Vietnam, Visa has partnered with Payoo – a payment platform serving as a key intermediary for online retail networks – to integrate Click to Pay across Payoo's merchant ecosystem. Participating partners include KOI Thé, UrBox Trading, AEONESHOP, Galaxy Cinema, ACFC, Maison Online, NEM, Elsa English, GearVN, Vietrace365, Hop on Hop off, among others. In the near future, Visa cardholders who use Click to Pay at Payoo-affiliated merchants will enjoy exclusive promotional offers, helping to accelerate the shift toward a more seamless and cashless shopping experience. Shoppers on platforms such as LG Electronics Vietnam, British Council, PVI Insurance, PropertyGuru Vietnam ( Mai Nguyen Electronics, and Triumph International Vietnam can enjoy frictionless transactions, as payments are processed through the Alepay Gateway, provided by Ngan Luong Payment Gateway JSC. More merchants are expected to participate in the coming months. Click to Pay is designed to transform digital checkouts and meet EMVCo standards. It utilises the Visa Token Service (VTS) to provide multiple layers of advanced security, enhancing authorization rates and reducing fraud in digital commerce. By replacing sensitive card information, such as the 16-digit Primary Account Numbers (PANs), with tokens, VTS can reduce fraud by 58%[2] and increase authorization rates by an average of 2.5% in Asia Pacific[3], compared to PAN-based card-not-present (CNP) transactions. Click to Pay with Visa simplifies the checkout experience for customers – it's like contactless payments in-store, but for online shopping. [1] The Green Shoots Radar study is conducted quarterly by Visa to track consumer sentiments across financial services, commerce, travel, and other categories. The total sample size is 14,250 respondents across 14 Asia-Pacific countries, including Vietnam, with male and female participants aged 18 to 65 years old. [2] Visa Risk Datamart, Global FY22 Q1-A4 Token Fraud Rate vs PAN Fraud Rate by PV for merchants with over 1,000 CNP token transactions per month per country. Merchant's individual results may vary. [3] VisaNet, Oct-Dec 2022, Visa credit and debit card-not-present transactions for tokenized vs non-tokenized credentials in the AP region. Authorisation rate is defined as approved authorisations divided by total authorization attempts based upon a first attempt of a unique transaction. Hashtag: #Visa #ClickToPay The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About Visa Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at

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