Core Points - Laura Fernández Delgado has been elected as the 50th President of Costa Rica, marking her as the second female president in the country's history [1] - The Sovereign People's Party (PPSO) secured an absolute majority in the new legislative assembly by winning 31 out of 57 seats [1] - The election results were based on 88.43% of the votes counted, with Fernández receiving 48.51% of the votes [1] Legislative Assembly - The new legislative assembly will consist of 57 members, who are set to take office on May 1, 2026 [1] - Laura Fernández Delgado will be inaugurated as president on May 8, 2026 [1]

Core Insights - Costa Rica's merchandise trade is projected to reach $47.92 billion in 2025, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 9.7% [1] - Exports from Costa Rica are expected to total $22.781 billion, marking a 13.9% increase, while imports are anticipated to be $25.14 billion, growing by 6.1% [1] - Bilateral trade between Costa Rica and China is forecasted to reach $5.073 billion, with a year-on-year increase of 15.1% [1] Export and Import Details - Costa Rica's exports to China are projected at $445 million, representing a growth of 20.6% [1] - Imports from China are expected to be $4.628 billion, showing a 14.6% increase [1]

Core Viewpoint - Banco Cathay in Costa Rica has launched a new service allowing customers to make direct transfers to electronic wallets in Colombia and China, aiming to simplify cross-border payment processes and enhance efficiency [1] Group 1: Service Overview - The new service enables customers to initiate direct transfers via SWIFT and international payment networks to wallets such as Nequi, Daviplata, Movii, WeChat, and Alipay [1] - Banco Cathay is the first bank in Costa Rica to offer this type of service, facilitating real-time fund transfers to mobile wallets through the SWIFT system [1] Group 2: Objectives and Benefits - The service aims to simplify the cross-border payment process by reducing intermediaries, lowering fees, and improving payment efficiency [1]

Core Viewpoint - The local supply rate of passenger cars in Belarus has increased significantly to 58%, up from 27% a few years ago, indicating a shift towards domestic production in the automotive market [1] Group 1: Market Performance - The sales volume of new cars in Belarus decreased by 40% year-on-year in January [1] - The market share of the Belarusian brands Geely and BelGee reached 52.8%, while other car sales have declined [1] Group 2: Import Trends - The import volume of cars from Russia has significantly decreased, with Lada sales dropping by nearly 70% [1] - There is minimal sales of other Chinese cars produced in Russia within Belarus [1]

Core Viewpoint - The South Korean government has decided to proceed with the construction of two new nuclear power plants as part of its 11th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand, despite initial plans for a comprehensive review and public consultation [1][2] Group 1: Government Plans and Policies - The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment has confirmed that new nuclear power construction will continue as planned due to the rapid increase in electricity demand from AI and data centers [1] - The 11th Basic Plan includes the construction of two nuclear power units with a total capacity of 2.8 GW, scheduled for completion in 2037 and 2038, along with a 0.7 GW small modular reactor (SMR) to be introduced before 2035 [1] - The government has reversed its stance on the nuclear power projects after discussions and polling indicated public support, emphasizing the need to reduce coal and LNG power generation to meet climate goals [1] Group 2: Industry Concerns and Requirements - The Korean Atomic Energy Society has indicated that to maintain a nuclear power share of 35% by 2038, an additional 20 large nuclear plants and 12 SMRs will need to be constructed by 2050 [1] - The new nuclear projects will be initiated by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, with the aim to secure approvals in the early 2030s and complete construction by 2037-2038, although there are concerns about potential delays due to policy changes [2] - The government plans to enhance energy storage systems (ESS) and pumped storage to address the intermittency of renewable energy while improving the operational flexibility of nuclear power units [1]

Core Viewpoint - The bilateral trade volume between Russia and Belarus is projected to grow by 5.6% in 2025, with service trade expected to grow at an even higher rate [1] Group 1: Trade Growth - The trade volume of goods between Russia and Belarus is expected to reach 57.6 billion USD in 2024, representing a 7.4% increase compared to 2023 [1] - The growth in trade is supported by a well-established legal framework for economic integration between the two countries [1] Group 2: Economic Cooperation - Industrial cooperation and innovative projects between Russia and Belarus are seen as having significant potential for economic growth [1] - The ultimate goals of this cooperation include ensuring national security and enhancing the welfare of the people [1]

Core Viewpoint - China remains the second largest market for Belarusian agricultural and food products, accounting for 4.5% of Belarus's total agricultural exports, with agricultural products making up 27% of Belarus's total exports to China [1] Group 1: Market Position and Export Strategy - Belarus aims to increase agricultural and food product exports to China, expanding existing product categories and exploring new potential items to diversify export structure [1] - The country is actively working on certification for exports of flour, grains, bran, and cereals to China, which will help tap into new consumer demand areas [1] Group 2: Growth Potential in Specific Product Categories - With the continuous growth in meat consumption in China, the prospects for Belarusian beef and poultry exports to China are promising [1] - The Chinese dairy market, being the second largest globally, presents significant opportunities for Belarus to enhance foreign exchange income and export potential [1]

Core Viewpoint - The integration level between Russia and Belarus is unprecedented globally, covering various sectors including economy, logistics, legislation, and regional connections, and is continuously deepening [1]. Group 1: Logistics and Trade - Russia is the main export market for Belarusian products, providing logistical support for Belarus's trade with other countries. Despite a projected slowdown in Russia's economic growth by 2025, Belarus's total exports to Russia are expected to maintain positive growth [1]. - The bilateral trade volume between Russia and Belarus reached $50 billion in 2024, with a continuing upward trend, and is expected to set a new historical high in 2025. Over 95% of settlements between the two countries are conducted in local currencies, enhancing economic sovereignty and promoting macroeconomic stability [1][2]. Group 2: Transportation and Regional Cooperation - Plans are in place to launch direct intercity trains between Smolensk and Orsha, as well as Smolensk and Vitebsk in April this year, with operations subsidized by the alliance's budget [2]. - Regional cooperation is strengthening, with over 100 commercial contracts signed at the 12th Russia-Belarus Regional Forum held in Nizhny Novgorod. The next forum is scheduled for June 25-26 in Minsk, and there are considerations to establish representative offices in Minsk for Bryansk and Tula regions, as well as a product promotion center for Khabarovsk Krai [2]. Group 3: Defense Cooperation - Joint military exercises, such as "West-2025," demonstrate the capability of Russia and Belarus to counter any threats. Regional troop clusters and a unified air defense system are operational, with Russian nuclear weapons deployed in Belarus starting from 2024, and the "Zhelezny" missile system expected to be on combat duty by December 2025 [2].

Group 1 - The effective implementation of new government policies is crucial for building investor confidence and attracting foreign securities investment and foreign direct investment (FDI) into Thailand [1] - Following the recent elections, domestic political uncertainty has eased, reflected in a significant rise in the local stock market [1] - The new government, led by the Pride Thai Party, is expected to continue existing economic policies in the initial phase, supporting Thailand's economic growth and aiding in attracting foreign capital inflow and FDI [1]

Core Viewpoint - The Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports asserts that the government's decision to shorten the visa-free stay period from 60 days will not negatively impact the tourism industry, as most foreign tourists stay for less than a month [1] Group 1: Visa Policy Changes - The new committee, established by the Prime Minister and chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, plans to revise the visa policy, including allowing tourists from 93 countries to stay visa-free for 60 days [1] - The Ministry of Tourism and Sports has provided supportive research for the committee, which anticipates reducing the visa-free stay duration to 30 days [1] - Discussions with various relevant agencies, including the Immigration Bureau, have led to a general agreement to shorten the stay period to prevent foreign criminals or individuals intending to engage in illegal activities from exploiting loopholes [1]