Indonesia expects to clinch US$560 million Chinese loan for high-speed train soon
JAKARTA: Indonesia expects to conclude negotiations with China in the coming weeks on an additional US$560 million loan for a high-speed rail project being built in the Southeast Asian country, a senior minister said on Monday (Apr 10). The cost of the line linking the capital Jakarta with the textileContinue Reading
EU concerned by Chinese drills around Taiwan, calls for restraint
BRUSSELS: The European Union expressed concern on Monday (Apr 10) over Chinese military drills around Taiwan, saying the island’s status should not be changed by force as any escalation, accident or use of force there would have huge global implications. China’s military carried out aerial and naval blockade drills aroundContinue Reading
Japan’s three megabanks to face votes on climate change: Sources
TOKYO: A coalition of climate groups are stepping up pressure on Japan’s top three banks to cut financing linked to fossil fuels, filing shareholder resolutions to be voted on at the companies’ annual general meetings in June, sources said on Monday. The groups are targeting megabanks Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group,Continue Reading
Tiger census: India now has 3,167 tigers, numbers show
India is estimated to be home to more than 70% of the world’s tigers.Continue Reading
Foreign worker jailed for lying to police that he was driver in accident; owned up after learning victim died
Rajendhiran Chelladurai initially agreed to take the rap because he was the assigned driver that day even though he did not take the wheel.Continue Reading
China’s military drills following Tsai US visit ‘more muted’ than after Pelosi’s Taiwan trip: Analysts
China began three days of military exercises around Taiwan on Saturday (Apr 8), simulating precision strikes against the island, a day after Ms Tsai returned from a brief visit to the United States.Continue Reading
Mastercard to remove first-use PVC plastic from its cards by 2028
Sustainable cards to be validated by independent auditor
Roughly 16,000 tons of plastics are used to produce cards globally every year From January 1, 2028, all newly-produced Mastercard plastic payment cards will be made from more sustainable materials â including recycled or bio-sourced plastics such as rPVC, rPET, or PLA and approved…Continue Reading
Ex-NTUC FairPrice team leader jailed for conspiring to take S$523,000 in bribes from fish suppliers
SINGAPORE: A former team leader at NTUC FairPrice was jailed on Monday (Apr 10) for conspiring with a senior team leader to take bribes from fish suppliers over eight years. See Hock Lam, 70, was sentenced to three years and two months’ jail, and given a penalty of S$261,500 (US$196,700). Continue Reading
Crimea or Bust, and Czar Alexander II
President Joe Biden could not make it clearer that the United States fully backs a quick and unambiguous resolution to the Russo-Ukrainian war, even to the extent of backing a near-term Ukrainian counteroffensive to push forces out of the Crimean Peninsula annexed (illegally under international and Russian law) by Vladimir Putin in 2014. The Ukrainian […]Continue Reading
Dalai Lama apologises to young boy after kissing row
A video showing the Tibetan spiritual leader asking a child to “suck” his tongue had sparked controversy.Continue Reading