SINGAPORE — The acting defense secretary, Patrick Shanahan, distanced himself on Friday from a Trump administration decision to try to hide a ship named after Senator John McCain during the president’s visit to a naval base in Japan this week. Mr. Shanahan, who was in Singapore for a security conference, told reporters that he would […]
BEIJING (CHINA DAILY/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) – President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to Russia early next month, and attend the 23rd St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry. Officially, the visit is meant to “tamp the political foundation” of China-Russia relations, ascertain greater mutual support on core interests as […]
It is being reported across international media that North Korea’s nuclear envoy has been executed as part of a purge of officials involved in a failed summit between the US and North Korea. But there is a reason we treat reports about North Korean officials being executed with extreme caution. The claims are incredibly difficult […]
BANGKOK (REUTERS) – Both houses of Thailand’s parliament will meet on June 5 to vote for a prime minister, the newly elected speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Chuan Leekpai, said on Friday (May 31). The vote by the House of Representatives and the Senate in a joint session will officially restore civilian rule […]
LONDON (Reuters) – While Turkey’s economy flounders, some foreign funds are buying into everything from fizzy drinks firms to automakers to banks as they winnow out likely survivors in the country’s beaten down corporate bond and equity markets. Many overseas investors and macro-focused asset managers are pulling out, alarmed by a combination of a falling […]
SINGAPORE – Singapore food companies must continue to innovate, create new products and set their eyes overseas if they want to grow, says Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing. In a speech at the opening of the Singapore Food Expo 2019 on Friday (May 31), Mr Chan said: “If we will continue to innovate, […]
A Pakistani general has been sentenced to life for spying by a military court that also gave death sentences to a brigadier and a civil officer. The trio were charged with espionage and leaking “sensitive information to foreign agencies”, Pakistan’s army said. It added that Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa “endorsed” their sentences. The […]
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – The Turkish economy shrank sharply year on year for the second straight quarter in early 2019, laying bare the impact of a punishing currency crisis and soaring inflation and interest rates against a tense political backdrop. The major emerging market economy contracted 2.6% in the first quarter after a 3% percent decline […]
NEW DELHI (AFP) – As the battle-hardened drill sergeant for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr Amit Shah has long been considered India’s second most-powerful person, and his appointment on Friday (May 31) as home minister elevates his position to leader-in-waiting. While Mr Modi is the right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) people person, firing up rallies […]
More US tariffs: When you have a hammer, every problem looks like a nail US President Donald Trump sent shockwaves through the markets and industry when he made what is becoming an increasingly common pronouncement: he is imposing tariffs on a country until he gets what he wants. In this case, the country in question […]