Prayut’s poll plans stir speculation
All eyes are on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, chief strategist of the United Thai Nation Party (UTN) to see if he will be listed first in the party-list system. The party will make its decision known to the public on Saturday.Continue Reading
Pakistani parliament’s ruling sought over ex-PM Khan’s party
LAHORE, Pakistan: Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Wednesday (Mar 22) sought a parliament ruling to empower authorities to tackle former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party’s alleged involvement in violence. The ruling was asked for in a joint session of parliament convened over the instability caused by the crisis overContinue Reading
Beijing decries Washington’s new chip ‘guardrails’
Washington once again has outraged Beijing, this time by announcing new “guardrails” prohibiting any recipients of US government funding that operate in China from They also are forbidden to expand any existing facility’s production capacity by more than 10% unless at least 85% of its output is incorporated into final products that are consumed locally. […]Continue Reading
Equity holders bear losses before holders of AT1 bonds: MAS
Under the takeover deal of Credit Suisse by UBS, holders of additional tier 1 one (AT1) bonds absorbed losses ahead of equity investors, a move many said went against convention.Continue Reading
Blinken says China has not ‘crossed line’ on lethal aid to Russia
WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday (Mar 22) that China has not provided substantial military aid to Russia despite Beijing’s ramping up of diplomatic support. “As we speak today, we have not seen them cross that line,” Blinken said in response to a question at a SenateContinue Reading
Blinken dismisses China’s ‘marriage of convenience’ with Russia
China has also stepped up diplomacy in the Middle East, where the United States has historically been the top power-broker. China announced last week that rivals and major oil producers Iran and Saudi Arabia would restore ties. Blinken, while saying that the accord had positive results, downplayed China’s role, saying thatContinue Reading
Cambodian opposition activists charged with insulting king
PHNOM PENH: Two Cambodian opposition activists were charged with insulting the king and incitement Wednesday (Mar 22) following Facebook posts the authorities deemed disrespectful to the monarch, according to court warrants. Human rights activists had previously warned enactment of the 2018 lese majeste law, which carries a sentence of betweenContinue Reading
Thai Sang Thai: Scrap conscription
Conscription should be abolished in favour of a full voluntary enlistment programme and better military welfare, says the Thai Sang Thai Party (TST).Continue Reading
Amnesty petitions govt to release activists
Amnesty International Thailand has joined other activists in handing a petition with the signatures of 8,517 people to caretaker Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, urging police to withdraw accusations against all political activists.Continue Reading
US to announce more sanctions against Myanmar junta
JAKARTA: The United States will announce further sanctions against entities inside Myanmar in the coming days, a senior State Department official said on Wednesday (Mar 22). Speaking to reporters in Jakarta, US State Department Counselor Derek Chollet said the sanctions will make it more difficult for Myanmar’s junta to generateContinue Reading