When Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla was trying to mend a frayed relationship with Bangladesh in Dhaka last week, one of the offers that he made was that of a possible Covid-19 vaccine. Bangladesh, he said, would gain priority access to an Indian-produced vaccine. India’s vaccine diplomacy comes at a time when Bangladesh has made a similar bid to …

Police intend to prosecute pro-democracy demonstrators on Friday in favor of their colleagues who created violent scenes. Supporters of anti-government activists who arrived at the Samran Rat Police Station to accept charges arising from a July 18 rally breached police barriers and one hurled a paint container at officers, claiming it was a form of art used to respond against …

Limitations on Covid-19 have been progressively relaxed to the point that people’s lives slowly return to normal. All schools, shopping centres, convenience shops, pubs and bars as well as soapy massage parlours can now be opened to boost the economy. Now a panel under the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) is seeing more loosening by allowing normal-sized schools, crowds …

Tensions ni between the US and China over the South China Sea with Beijing firing four missiles on the disputed waterway and the Trump administration stepping up action against companies that helped to set up regional outposts. China fired four medium-range ballistic missiles into the South China Sea on Wednesday during the People’s Liberation Army’s wider military drills, according to …

METRO MANILA – The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has issued a P19 million fine against Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) on contentious power bills during the lockdown period. Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Agnes Devanadera said in a statement that Meralco has failed to provide accurate and timely information to users that created chaos, anxiety and confusion. Devanadera added that this is …

METRO MANILA – Defying China’s call to stop ‘illegal provocative activities’ in the area,  The Philippines continues to patrol the Spratlys Island in South China Sea. According to Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., He needs to reiterate that China has already lost the South China Sea arbitration which also invalidated the nine-dash line Beijing is claiming over the South …

PETALING JAYA – US investment bank Goldman Sachs Group Inc. has made $2.5 billion payment that was promised to the Malaysian government to settle the accusations related to the 1MDB. The funds will be used to repay the outstanding debt of the controversial state fund. The source with knowledge of the settlement has confirmed that the payment was transferred to …

KUALA LUMPUR – The Election Commission (EC) has hired 689 workers to help facilitate the upcoming Slim state by-election tomorrow. The election will involve 12 polling centers and 54 channels. EC chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh said that the polling centers will be at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Changkat Sulaiman; SK Trolak Selatan; SK Kuala Slim; SK Slim River; SK Seri …

Government coalition parties have settled on a single version of the motion to enact constitutional reform, which contains specifics of a commission formed to write a new charter but leaves the Senate unchanged. Deputy chief of government whip Chinnaworn Bunyakiat said the coalition had agreed on one motion to change the constitution. It will be sent to Parliament after the …

Thailand is to ease its novel coronavirus procedures to enable more patients from abroad to undergo next month’s care, a top health official said after hospital appeals eager to treat their patients from overseas. Thailand is a major medical tourism center that attracts patients from Asia , the Middle East and beyond. But restrictions on combating coronavirus have been observed …