Asia

Thailand has made history by becoming the first country in Southeast Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, following the royal endorsement of the Marriage Equality Bill. The landmark legislation, published in the Royal Gazette on Tuesday (September 24) evening, grants same-sex couples the same legal rights and protections as heterosexual couples. King Maha Vajiralongkorn approved the […]

Citigroup’s ambitions to expand its securities business in China have hit a snag due to regulatory penalties imposed by the US Federal Reserve, reports Bloomberg. The bank is facing delays in setting up a standalone securities firm as it awaits a clearance letter from the Fed, a requirement by Chinese authorities. The setback comes after […]

Sri Lankans elected leftist politician Anura Kumara Dissanayake as the new president in the debt-ridden country’s first election since its economy collapsed in 2022. The 55-year-old defeated his nearest rival, opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, to emerge as the clear winner after a historic second round of counting, which included second-preference votes, after no candidate won […]

Sri Lanka’s newly elected President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has taken a bold step by dissolving the nation’s parliament and calling for early elections, a move he frames as crucial for combating corruption and renegotiating the country’s $3 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In a special gazette issued Tuesday, Dissanayake ordered parliamentary elections […]

India and China are signalling a thaw in relations, with both sides expressing a keenness to move forward following recent diplomatic talks, reports the South China Morning Post. India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has announced that 75% of India’s “disengagement problems” with China have been resolved. He also emphasized India’s openness to economic engagement […]

The United States has pledged an additional $202 million in aid to Bangladesh for its economic growth and development. This commitment was expressed by a U.S. delegation during their visit to Dhaka, reports Reuters. The delegation, led by Deputy Under Secretary of the Treasury Department Brent Neiman, is the first from the U.S. since the […]

The Taliban’s recent implementation of a strict public morality law has exposed deep divisions within the group’s leadership, raising concerns about the future stability of Afghanistan, according to Al Jazeera. The law, which includes bans on music and women speaking in public, has drawn widespread international condemnation and fuelled internal unease. It highlights the dominance […]

In a significant shift in South Asian geopolitics, the long-standing alliance between India and Bangladesh has come under strain following the ousting of former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina. The situation has been further complicated by Hasina’s current residence in India and recent statements from Bangladesh’s interim leader, Muhammad Yunus. Sheikh Hasina, known for her […]

China will raise the retirement age for the first time since 1978, as the world’s second-largest economy faces the problem of an ageing population and a dwindling workforce. Beijing will gradually raise the retirement age for men from 60 to 63, for women in white-collar jobs from 55 to 58 and for women in blue-collar […]

Apple is mass-producing its newly launched iPhone 16 series in India trying to diversify its supply chain because of geopolitical tensions between America and China. Historically, China made all high-end iPhone models, while India churned out low-end and older versions, says the South China Morning Post (SCMP). Now, however, the latest iPhones, including the high-end […]

China is clamping down on investment bankers. At least three top investment bankers have been detained since August. One of them fled abroad but was arrested overseas about two weeks ago and brought back to China, reports Bloomberg. State-backed brokerages recently asked many of their investment bankers to hand in their passports and seek permission […]

China will help to train 3,000 foreign law enforcement officials over the next year to tackle global security issues and better protect Chinese interests beyond its borders, reports the South China Morning Post (SCMP). Chinese Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong Wang Xiaohong spoke about helping law enforcement in other countries at a global public […]

Bali continues to attract tourists with its colourful culture, friendly people and stunning scenery, but there may be no more new hotel rooms for them. Indonesia will stop building new hotels in some areas of Bali to prevent the island’s overdevelopment and preserve agricultural land. Tourism has rebounded in Bali after the COVID-19 pandemic, but […]

India-Bangladesh relations have become bumpy. The new Bangladesh government is trying to extradite former prime minister Sheikh Hasina,  who has taken shelter in India after being ousted from power in August. Now, further straining relations between the two countries, India’s Adani Group is pressing Bangladesh for nearly $500 million in overdue payments. Bangladesh owes the […]

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to Singapore starting on September 4 is expected to give “a big thrust” to Singapore-India cooperation in the semiconductor industry. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Secretary East Jaideep Mazumdar said this at a media briefing on September 2. “Singapore is very well plugged into the global […]