Animal conservationists are alarmed over China’s decision to partially reverse a ban on the trade of tiger bones and rhino horn. Rhinos and tigers are both endangered in the wild and China prohibited their trade in 1993. But on Monday it said parts from captive animals would be authorised for scientific, medical and cultural use. […]
SINGAPORE – Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Tuesday (Nov 13) vows to push for connectivity to strengthen business and investments when Thailand takes over as Asean’s chairman next year. “It is a great honour for Thailand to assume the chairmanship of Asean in 2019 after Singapore,” he said in Thai on the second and […]
PETALING JAYA (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) – Rosmah Mansor, the wife of Malaysia’s former prime minister Najib Razak, will face fresh charges in court on Thursday (Nov 15), together with her former aide Rizal Mansor. Sources said six charges related to the RM1.25 billion (S$412 million) solar hybrid project for rural schools in Sarawak will […]
LONDON (Reuters) – A report from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on Tuesday warned that perceived transparency in government policymaking in its 38 economy bloc had not improved since the start of the decade. The development bank’s annual ‘transition” report which scores the progress of countries in six key areas from competitiveness and […]
LONDON (Reuters) – Natural gas is expected to overtake coal as the world’s second largest energy source after oil by 2030 due to a drive to cut air pollution and the rise in liquefied natural gas (LNG) use, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Tuesday, The Paris-based IEA said in its World Energy Outlook […]
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Oil prices fell by more than 1 percent on Tuesday, with Brent crude sliding below $70 and WTI below $60 per barrel, after U.S. President Donald Trump put pressure on OPEC not to cut supply to prop up the market. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures were at $59.06 per […]
Bollywood superstars Amitabh Bachchan and Aamir Khan have come together for the first time in the $42m (£33m; 3bn-rupee) epic Thugs of Hindostan, one of India’s most keenly awaited films of the year. But, as Sudha G Tilak writes, the glossy period film about a rebellion against British rule has failed to excite critics and […]
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Commerce Department has submitted draft recommendations to the White House on its investigation into whether to impose tariffs of up to 25 percent on imported cars and parts on national security grounds, two administration officials said. The “Section 232” recommendations on ensuring a healthy U.S. auto industry are undergoing an […]
LONDON (Reuters) – The United States is not too concerned by Europe’s idea for a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to get around U.S. sanctions with Iran as companies are already withdrawing from the country in droves, the senior official for financial intelligence said. “I think the bigger news in Europe is that companies are withdrawing […]
SINGAPORE – Myanmar’s State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi on Monday (Nov 12) called on foreign businesses to invest in what she called “the last frontier of South-east Asia”, saying her government is working hard to make the business environment more attractive for investors. The country’s de facto leader said there are opportunities for investment […]