Asia

Quad countries working to arrange first meeting amid China’s growing influence
7Feb mmBy Mike TrudellNo Comments
Asia, China, World

Quad countries working to arrange first meeting amid China’s growing influence

Amid China’s growing influence, members of the Quad countries - the US, India, Japan and Australia - are working to arrange the first meeting of their leaders, according to media reports.This comes as the US President Joe Biden’s new administration has expressed its eagerness to build on renewed attention to the grouping of the four major Indo-Pacific democracies. National security adviser Jake Sullivan even called it “a foundation upon which to build substantial American policy in the Indo-Pacific”.According to a source, the US has already proposed to other countries the idea of holding an online meeting of the Quad leaders.During the envisioned meeting, the Quad members are expected to discuss cooperation for the realisation of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” amid concerns over China’s ma...
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Shares rally, retail surge drives silver to 8-year high
6Feb By Desk TeamNo Comments
Asia, Market, World

Shares rally, retail surge drives silver to 8-year high

LONDON: Global shares bounced and silver markets surged on Monday (Feb 1) as retail investors expanded their social media-fuelled battle with Wall Street to drive the precious metal to an eight-year high. Stock markets were roiled last week after a spike in retail demand to buy the stocks most bet against by hedge funds drove huge gains in companies such as GameStop, and prompted fresh concern that COVID-19 monetary and fiscal support measures were fuelling a market bubble. With chatrooms abuzz with talk that silver was the new target, silver-exposed stocks, funds and coins jumped, helping push spot silver up more than 11 per cent, before gains were trimmed and it last traded up around 9 per cent. The bullish spirit helped London-listed miners post strong gains, including one of mor...
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Thailand reports 819 new COVID-19 cases, 1 additional death
6Feb By Desk TeamNo Comments
Asia, World

Thailand reports 819 new COVID-19 cases, 1 additional death

BANGKOK: Thailand on Wednesday (Jan 27) reported 819 new COVID-19 cases, taking its total infections to 15,465. One additional death was reported, bringing total fatalities to 76. More than 700 of the new infections were in Samut Sakhon province, the epicentre of the most recent outbreak, the Thailand COVID-19 task force said at a briefing. On Tuesday, Thailand's health minister called for understanding and sought to explain the country's coronavirus vaccine procurement plan, following criticism that the government has lacked transparency and been too slow in securing supplies. The strategy came under scrutiny last week when banned opposition politician Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit said the government had been too reliant on a company owned by King Maha Vajiralongkorn to produce va...
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India a major player in the Indian Ocean Region: Madagascar Defence Minister
5Feb mmBy Mike TrudellNo Comments
Asia, World

India a major player in the Indian Ocean Region: Madagascar Defence Minister

India is a major player in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and the neighbouring countries rely on India to play its part in ensuring peace and prosperity in that region, said Madagascar Minister of Defence, General Richard Rakotonirina on Thursday.He was speaking at the IOR Defence Minister’s Conclave on the sidelines of Aero India 2021, Asia’s largest Aero show held at Bengaluru.At the Conclave, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that India was ready to supply various types of missile systems, Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and other weapons systems including missiles, helicopters, tanks and artillery guns to friendly foreign countries in the IOR.He also pointed out that India’s approach and vision to tackle the global challenge in IOR is highlighted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s d...
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Geylang Serai Hari Raya Bazaar to be held online on new digital platform due to COVID-19 outbreak
5Feb By Desk TeamNo Comments
Asia, Singapore, World

Geylang Serai Hari Raya Bazaar to be held online on new digital platform due to COVID-19 outbreak

SINGAPORE: The annual Geylang Serai Hari Raya Bazaar will continue to be held online this year, said the People's Association (PA) on Wednesday (Jan 13). "In view of the evolving COVID-19 situation, physical bazaars and trade fairs, which traditionally attract large crowds, will not resume," said PA in a media release, adding that for residents' safety and wellbeing, the Geylang Serai bazaar will continue to be held online and on a new digital platform. The bazaar will take place from Apr 9 to May 13, and will be a "celebration of the Malay/Muslim culture and heritage, with varied food and lifestyle experiences for Singaporeans from all walks of life to enjoy", the association said. "Similar to last year, the online experience will enable many residents to learn new skills and enj...
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COVID-19 batters Asia’s already-struggling democracies
3Feb By Desk TeamNo Comments
Asia, China, Singapore, World

COVID-19 batters Asia’s already-struggling democracies

Over the past 15 years, democracy across Asia has regressed. Although the region still has strong democracies like South Korea, Japan and Taiwan, many other leading Asian democracies and countries with democratic potential have slid backwards, turning into near-autocracies or outright authoritarian states. While Thailand had been one of the freest states in Asia in the late 1990s and early 2000s, it has suffered two military coups in the past decade and now is run by a parliamentary government that took power after a seriously flawed election in 2019. Bangladesh had built itself into a shaky but increasingly vibrant democracy by the early 2010s, but in the past decade has deteriorated into a de facto one-party regime, with opposition activists, civil society leaders and journalists jailed...
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Asia’s rise doesn’t necessarily mean the West’s decline
3Feb By Desk TeamNo Comments
Asia, China, Singapore, World

Asia’s rise doesn’t necessarily mean the West’s decline

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a growing geopolitical perception of Asia’s rise and the decline of the West. To a large extent, East Asian countries have managed to control the number of infections and particularly the number of virus-related deaths proportional to population. By contrast, case totals are between 50 and 100 times higher in Europe and the United States. Even in Germany, which has put up the best fight against the virus in Europe, the COVID-19 fatality rate is almost 20 times higher than that of Japan or South Korea. While the pandemic has dealt a devastating blow to economic activity in both the East and West, East Asia has a much easier path to recovery. China is acting as an engine of growth. Japan has seen an increase in capital investment (including planned i...
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Indian BSF unfurls 131-feet-high tricolour at India-Pak border in Jammu
27Jan mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

Indian BSF unfurls 131-feet-high tricolour at India-Pak border in Jammu

On India’s 72nd Republic Day on Tuesday, the Border Security Force (BSF) unfurled a 131-feet-high tricolour along the India-Pakistan border in Jammu district of Indian union territory of Jammu and KashmirInspector General of BSF, Jammu frontier, NS Jamwal hoisted one of the largest national flags along the International Border (IB) at Octroi border outpost (BoP) in the RS Pura belt, the Public Relation Officer (PRO) of BSF Jammu said.“The flag measuring 30×20 feet is the tallest in the Jammu region, flying at a 131-feet-high pole,” BSF officials said.“The IG BSF, before hoisting the tricolour at Octroi, unfurled the national flag at the BSF headquarters in Jammu,” PRO said in a release.“The hoisting of the flag at Octroi was possible because of the sponsorship of the Lupin Foundation, the ...
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Indian Embassy in Kathmandu celebrates Republic Day
27Jan mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

Indian Embassy in Kathmandu celebrates Republic Day

On the occasion of India’s 72nd Republic Day on Tuesday, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, Indian Ambassador to Nepal, hoisted the national flag at the Embassy of India in Kathmandu.According to an official statement, the Ambassador felicitated Veer Nari, war widows, and next of kins of deceased soldiers by disbursing their dues worth Rs 3.68 crore and a blanket to each.The embassy also gifted books to 50 libraries and educational institutions spread across all the provinces of Nepal.Kwatra also hosted a reception at India House. Nepal Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali graced the occasion as the Chief Guest, according to the statement.On this occasion, the former Nepal President Ram Baran Yadav launched India-Nepal Alumni Network ‘Sampark’ along with website www.samparkbharatnepal.com.The event was...
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IMF projects 11.5% growth rate for India in 2021
27Jan mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia, China, Market

IMF projects 11.5% growth rate for India in 2021

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Tuesday projected a strong rebound in the Indian economy with an impressive 11.5 per cent growth rate in 2021.The IMF’s growth projections for India in its latest World Economic Outlook Update released on Tuesday makes India the only major economy of the world to register a double-digit growth this year amidst the coronavirus pandemic.“In its latest update, the IMF projected an 11.5 per cent growth rate for India in 2021. This makes India the only major economy of the world to register a double-digit growth in 2021,” it said. “China is next with 8.1 per cent growth in 2021 followed by Spain (5.9 per cent) and France (5.5 per cent).”The IMF said that in 2020, the Indian economy is estimated to have contracted by eight per cent. China is the only majo...
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