Tourist-dependent Bali will impose a $10 tax on travellers entering the Indonesian resort Haven from next year onwards in order to preserve its environment and culture, officials said Wednesday. The fee will have to be paid electronically. While domestic Indonesian tourists would be spared, foreign tourists entering the island from abroad or from other parts of the country would need …

Following nearly ten years of military-backed rule, Thailand’s parliamentary vote for a new prime minister on Thursday will be a turning point in the nation’s transition to democracy. The outcomes of the May elections showed that the Thai people overwhelmingly supported progressive opposition parties, especially the newly formed party Move Forward, which gained the most seats and a sizable portion …

With a stellar lineup of international performers gracing the stage from September 15 to 17, the Formula One Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2023 is expected to be a magnificent event. Famous American band Kings Of Leon, South Korean star Bibi, and renowned British bands Culture Club, Groove Armada, and Madness all contribute to the excitement. These musicians will perform …

After failing to engage Myanmar’s junta in talks, Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai has made a mess by meeting Aung San Suu Kyi in detention. He is the only diplomat to have met the ousted Myanmar leader since she was detained when the army seized power in February, 2021.  Don, who is also the deputy prime minister of Thailand, told …

The Prime Minister of the Republic of India, Narendra Damodardas Modi, departed his country for an official visit to France and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Thursday.  Narendra Modi will visit France on July 13 and 14. He will meet the President of France, Emmanuel Jean-Michel Frédéric Macron, the Prime Minister of France, Élisabeth Borne, President of National Assembly, …

Tan Sri Mohamed Nazir bin Tun Abdul Razak, former Chairman of CIMB Group, one of the largest financial services providers in Malaysia and ASEAN, has been appointed as the chairman of the Malaysia Indonesia Business Council (MIBC).  Mohamed Nazir bin Abdul Razak expressed happiness over his appointment. He wrote on Instagram, “Thank you to the Government for appointing me as …

Indonesia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi held a trilateral meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the Director of the Office of China’s Central Foreign Affairs Commission, Wang Yi, at her office in the capital, Jakarta, on Wednesday. She received Wang around 2:57 pm local time at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pancasila Building. After signing the guest …

More than 124,000 Filipino licensed and registered nurses are currently unemployed, underemployed, or compelled to work in non-nursing occupations, according to recent data from the Department of Health (DOH). This worrying situation has sparked calls for rapid action to alleviate the nation’s rising nursing shortage. LRay Villafuerte, a representative from Camarines Sur, has suggested that the DOH prioritise hiring these …

NATO summits and gatherings have drawn more attention since Russia invaded Ukraine, and the most recent summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, was no exception. The presence of four Asian-Pacific leaders—Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol—is noteworthy, even though the focus is still on NATO’s military …

China’s top economic planner has endorsed projects by 10 leading tech giants, including Alibaba, Tencent and Meituan, to restore national economic growth. The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), a macroeconomic management agency under the State Council that has control over the economy of Mainland China, praised crucial projects by 10 leading tech companies.  The National Development and Reform Commission …