New York, NY, United States — In 1984, in a rented room and with a borrowed US$25,000, Chinese engineer Liu Chuanzhi and 10 colleagues started a computer business which later became Lenovo. In 2008 Lenovo’s revenue reached US$16.8 billion. This was a remarkable achievement, but Lenovo may have reached the end of its business strategy.

Seoul, South Korea — The fate of South Korea-based automaker SsangYong Motor looks uncertain with the refusal of the Seoul government and its Chinese parent firm to inject bailout cash in the company. Unionized workers in the troubled automaker resist restructuring and other sweeping changes.

Beijing, China — Recently, suspense and anxiety has come to surround housing prices in China, as Chinese central and local authorities are hastily issuing policies aimed at boosting the real estate industry. As the whole world is falling victim to the global financial crisis, China’s real estate industry is no exception.

Tokyo, Japan — To reduce the number of bankruptcies among small and mid-size real estate developers, the Japanese government has announced a US$2.80 billion financing program for the real estate and housing sectors. Also, an emergency loan program will provide loans to real estate developers and investment trusts.

Beijing, China — While U.S. Congressmen were arguing as to whether the government should save General Motors Corp. from bankruptcy, the Chinese government quietly announced a capital injection into two of its largely state-owned airlines – without consulting the National People’s Congress.

Seoul, South Korea — South Korea has vowed to achieve a 3 percent economic growth next year, much higher than its central bank's projection, with aggressive fiscal spending, tax cuts and massive restructuring despite a global economic slowdown. This is expected to get the economy back on its normal growth track.

New York, NY, United States — China is not immune from the global economic crisis. It has shown no interest in lending its support to crippled Western financial institutions, but that doesn’t mean China will stand on the sidelines as other opportunities knock. Detroit could represent a windfall for the Chinese.

Kolkata, India — Ramaa, a 45-year-old widow from a remote village in the Indian state of Bihar, set up a grocery store with US$120 loaned by Casper Microfinance, a lender of small loans to the poor. The mother of two recently spent her savings and wants to borrow again. However, Casper Microfinance has no money to lend.

Tokyo, Japan — Amid the prolonged slowdown in the global economy, the real estate investment market in Tokyo sees a beacon of hope. In the 2009 edition of “Emerging Trends in Real Estate Asia Pacific,” Tokyo ranked first in the Asia-Pacific region in terms of investment prospects and risk ratings.

Kolkata, India — In an all-out attempt to stimulate the country’s sagging economy, the Indian government announced a US$10 billion stimulus package over the weekend. While it is India’s most aggressive fiscal measure to date, it may not be enough to shield the economy from the deepening global financial crisis.