Southeast Asia's 40 Richest

The present SE's richest person is a Malaysian, Robert Kuok. Top the 40 richest is Indonesia, while Malaysia has the most superwealthy, including six billionaires. Most of millionaires in SE are from Asean Five. The list includes head of states and family fortunes. It ranks mainly businessmen, as it is still hard to know exactly how much some government officials have. Take Suharto and Hun Sen as examples.

http://www.forbes.com/2004/08/26/cz_jwd_0826seasiaintro.html

The World's Biggest Companies

One world; one gigantic marketplace. This year, 60 countries have global 2000 entries vs. 51 in our inaugural list in 2004. The Forbes global 2000 are public companies with the top composite scores based on their rankings for sales, profits, assets and market value. Our justification for using a composite ranking is simple: One metric alone can give a false impression about corporate size.

In total, the global 2000 companies now account for $30 trillion in revenues, $2.4 trillion in profits, $119 trillion in assets and $39 trillion in market value. Around the world, 72 million people work for these companies.

The U.S. still dominates this list of global giants, but with 61 fewer entries than last year and 153 fewer than in 2004, as many U.S. companies failed to keep pace with global competitors. In contrast, China, India and Brazil are rapidly adding companies to the list. India, for example, has 48 companies this year vs. 27 in 2004.

Measured by number of companies, 315, the banking industry has the biggest presence on the global 2000. Banking also dominates in assets, with total assets of $58.3 trillion, and profits, $398 billion. The 123 companies in oil and gas operations lead all industries in aggregate revenues, of $3.76 trillion, and take second place in total profits, of $386 billion.

The complete list of Global 2000: http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/18/biz_2000global08_The-Global-2000_Rank.html

World's Billionaires

By roatha007

Here are the latest updates and special reports of the world's billionaires from Forbes. Gates is now not the richest man any more. Although the US still ranks first in terms of the number of billionaires, more and more billionaires are from BRIC, especially Russia and India. Moscow tops the list as number one billionaire city with 74 , following by New York. It's a surprise that Japan produces few given its economic power.

The ranking bases mainly on the market value of their stock which is vulnerable to fluctuation due to their companies' performance and economic forces. Most get their windfall from oil, telecommunication and IT related businesses, investment and trading. Even though some new comers make into the list due to oil fortune, some former super rich from the middle east are toppled. Hong Kong has most billionaires in Asia (30) and ranks fifth in the world. Li Ka-sing from HK is Asia's richest man (11th in the world). Cambodia may have few. Perhaps, Forbes forget to include!

See who the richest men are, their nationality, how they make a fortune, which countries/ cities have most billionaires, billionaire trend and more. Click on the name to see more details about each billionaire.

Billionaire list: http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/10/billionaires08_The-Worlds-Billionaires_Rank.html
Special reports: http://www.forbes.com/home/lists/2008/03/05/richest-people-billionaires-billionaires08-cx_lk_0305billie_land.html

Should China Be Feared?

Is China a threat? Here are the views of some of the utermost experts. Generally speaking, China rise is rather an opportunity than a threat. I agree with one scholar: If the West sees China a threat, it could be a threat!

A New World Economy

This is an invaluable article on Second Asian Miracle. The balance of power will shift to the East as China and India evolve. Unlike Japan and Southeat Asia during the first miracle, China and India could shake the world and challenge the West economically, politically and militarily in the long run.

The new wars of religions

An old menace has returned, but in very different forms. Conflicts increasingly involve religions. Leaders, including terrorists, are using religious difference to wage or justify wars. Once again faith is prolonging or worsening conflicts. The animosity between Christianity and Islam is being revived. Although there are no major conflicts among Buddhist sects or Buddhism and other religions, Theravada Buddhist countries are not really peaceful. Is there any superior religion? Do religions play a vital role in economic development?

Running fast

Why is Asia now a copycat while it had been leading the world's innovation for centuries? Emperial rule and complacency have been blamed to be the main culprits. The review serves as an eye-openning for Asians.