Asean ministers praise Malaysia’s proactive role in addressing Myanmar crisis

KUALA LUMPUR: Asean Foreign Ministers have commended Malaysia’s proactive leadership in reviving efforts to implement the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) and facilitating constructive dialogue to address the ongoing crisis in Myanmar. Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo said both the informal and extended informal consultations on the implementation of the 5PC, held Saturday (May […]

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Bangladesh sounds alarm as ‘extreme desperation’ drives Rohingya into deadly sea journeys

DHAKA: Bangladeshi authorities on Saturday raised the alarm over increasing numbers of Rohingya refugees taking risky boat journeys to flee the coastal district of Cox’s Bazar. Bangladesh hosts more than 1.3 million Rohingya Muslims, who, for decades, have fled neighboring Myanmar to escape persecution, especially during a military crackdown in 2017. The majority of them […]

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Morgan Stanley hikes India’s growth forecast to 6.2% for FY26, 6.5% for FY27 on US-China trade war de-escalation

Morgan Stanley, a global financial services firm, on Wednesday modestly upgraded its forecast for the Indian economy to 6.2 per cent year-on-year for financial year 2026, up from 6.1 per cent and 6.5 per cent for FY 2027, up from 6.3 per cent. “We upgrade our growth forecasts modestly to 6.2% YoY (vs. 6.1%) for […]

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Japanese farm minister apologises after saying he has ‘never had to buy rice’

By Kaori Kaneko and Chang-Ran Kim TOKYO, May 19 (Reuters) – Japan’s farm minister Taku Eto apologised on Monday after saying he had “never had to buy rice” thanks to gifts from supporters, angering consumers grappling with sky-high prices for the staple food. After Kyodo News first reported the remarks, made during a political fundraising […]

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Pakistan foreign minister confirms ceasefire with India

Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has confirmed that Pakistan and India have agreed to a ceasefire with immediate effect. “Pakistan has always strived for peace and security in the region, without compromising on its sovereignty and territorial integrity!” he said in a post on X. https://x.com/MIshaqDar50/status/1921175494633943541 His statement follows US President […]

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India, Pakistan agreed to ceasefire from 5pm today: Indian foreign secretary

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said Pakistan called the Director General of Military Operations of India, during which both sides agreed to halt all military action on land, at sea, and in the air starting at 5pm today (10 May). “Pakistan called Indian Directors General of Military Operations at 15:35 hours earlier this afternoon. It […]

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North Korea’s Kim Jong Un leads missile test, stresses nuclear force readiness, KCNA says

SEOUL, May 9 (Reuters) – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised a test of a short-range ballistic missile and long-range artillery on Thursday and stressed the importance of combat readiness of the country’s nuclear forces, state media reported on Friday. The test, which also included an inspection of the operational reliability of its “nuclear […]

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Trump says 80% tariff on Chinese goods ‘seems right’

US President Donald Trump said on Friday (9 May) that 80% tariffs on Chinese goods “seems right” as representatives prepared for weekend talks to contain a trade war between the world’s two largest economies. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and chief trade negotiator Jamieson Greer will meet Chinese economic tsar He Lifeng in Switzerland for […]

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