SWEDEN: After decades of neutrality, Sweden and Finland agreed to join NATO, the world’s most powerful military alliance, on May 18, citing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a turning point. The Nordic countries’ bids appeared to be on track to receive the necessary unanimous backing from all 30 NATO members. Then they are thrown a problem: Turkish opposition. President Recep …

SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Health and the expert committee on COVID-19 vaccinations are now conducting investigations on the efficiency and safety of Moderna and Pfizer’s BioNTech vaccines in children. From the age of six months up to four year olds, the trial will evaluate the use of the aforementioned vaccines. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended COVID-19 …

JAKARTA: Due to concerns from two creditors, the ratification of Garuda Indonesia’s deal to restructure the airline’s more than 9 billion dollar debt has been postponed for a week, according to an administrator. Garuda’s restructuring proposal was approved by the majority of its creditors last week, and the agreement was set to be formalized in a meeting on Monday. The …

MANILA: Considering the challenges that the global economy is facing, the Philippine central bank said that it expects the country’s current account deficits to be larger in 2022 and 2023 than they originally had predicted. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) revised its balance of payments (BOP) projections and had estimated a current account deficit of over 19.1 billion dollars …

SINGAPORE: Fish and seafood prices jumped 5.6 percent year over year in April, up from 5.2 percent in March, according to the latest statistics from the consumer price index, which tracks inflation. Sea bass prices also increased, rising from S$11.26/kg in March to S$11.40/kg in April. Singapore imported 134,000 tonnes of fish worth S$760 million in 2020, the majority of …

DOHA: Malaysia Airlines’ chief executive said that the airline aims to announce its decision to replace its fleet of 21 Airbus A330 widebodies with more fuel-efficient new-generation planes in mid-to-late July. Malaysia Airlines CEO Izham Ismail told Reuters at the IATA’s annual convention in Qatar that they are at the end of the process and that they are looking at …

TAIWAN: Buildings in Taipei trembled briefly on June 20 after a 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck Taiwan’s eastern coast, but no damage was reported. According to the meteorology office, the quake had a depth of 6.8 kilometres and its epicentre was in Hualien county, a remote area of the island. It was reported that the quake was felt throughout Taiwan. Taiwan …

BANGKOK: Thailand’s cassava exports increased from January to April last year as importers sought grain alternatives, according to a senior official on Monday (Jun 20), amid a food crisis triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. According to the Commerce Ministry, the world’s top cassava exporter transported 4.6 million tonnes of cassava and related products such as tapioca, cassava starch, and …

METRO MANILA: On Sunday night, the Philippine Consulate General in New York and the family of a visiting Filipino lawyer who was wounded in a random act of violence in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA confirmed that the lawyer, Atty. John Laylo, is still struggling for his life and begged for prayers. Laylo had already been fatally shot. He and his mother …

HONG KONG: On Sunday, China presented new senior officials in Hong Kong under incoming leader John Lee, who promised to push the global financial hub to new heights while dismissing worries about US sanctions against him. Finance Secretary Paul Chan, who is not subject to US sanctions, will keep his job in the Chinese-ruled region, providing comfort to the banking …