Singapore can expect spending to rise to 20% of GDP by 2030: PM Wong

Wong says he expects to end with a surplus of $6.4 billion or 0.9% of Singapore’s GDP. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong warned that Singapore’s expenditure will continue to increase due to its need to invest more in workers and to better support a rapidly ageing population. At Budget 2025 on Feb 18, Wong noted that […]

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Arrest warrants issued for both Suu Kyi and junta chief

An Argentine court has issued arrest warrants for Myanmar junta leader Min Aung Hlaing and ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who are under house arrest, on charges of “genocide” and “crimes against humanity” against the Rohingya. However, Myanmar authorities have criticized the warrant, Arab News reported. This week, an Argentine court issued arrest warrants […]

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US says military exercises with Philippines ‘purely defensive’, for force readiness

U.S.-Philippine military exercises are longstanding, “purely defensive” and intended to maintain force readiness and preserve regional security, a U.S. State Department spokesperson said on Saturday. The spokesperson was responding in an email to a request for comment after China’s defence ministry urged Manila on Friday to withdraw U.S. Typhon intermediate-range missiles. The Typhon launchers, part […]

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Cook Islands signs partnership deal with China

The Cook Islands said on Saturday that it signed a comprehensive strategic partnership deal with China, a move expected to raise concerns in New Zealand with which it has constitutional ties. Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown and Chinese Premier Li Qiang signed the deal in Harbin, the capital of northeast China’s Heilongjiang province, Brown’s […]

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Laos, Mongolia ink audit cooperation agreements

Lao and Mongolian state audit agencies will partner to strengthen financial management by enhancing ties between their state inspection organisations. An agreement on cooperation in this field was signed in Vientiane by the President of Laos’ State Audit Organisation, Mr Viengthavisone Thepphachanh, and Chairman of the National Audit Office of Mongolia, Mr Zagojav Deleg, in […]

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Indonesia, Uzbekistan agree to hold more high-level state visits

Indonesia and Uzbekistan have emphasized the importance of state visits by their leaders, according to a joint statement issued by Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono and his Uzbek counterpart, Bakhtiyor Saidov, on Wednesday. “The two ministers highlighted the significance of high-level visits between the leaders of both countries,” the statement noted, following the Second Meeting of […]

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Indonesia to buy Indian Brahmos missiles

Indonesia may buy Brahmos supersonic cruise missiles from India. According to a report by German media Deutsche Welle, Indonesia has reached final talks to buy the $450 million missile from India. According to the report, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto visited India last month on the occasion of India’s Republic Day. Prabowo Subianto met the CEO […]

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Wooing Chinese tourists, Thai leader says she has ‘Chinese blood in her’

Thailand’s prime minister, seeking to allay security concerns among Chinese tourists visiting Thailand, said she had “Chinese blood in her” and that she had personally looked into security protocols in place to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens. Security in Thailand has become a trending topic of conversation among Chinese nationals, by far the largest […]

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Singapore’s DBS flags higher margins, plans capital return

Singapore’s biggest bank DBS Group (DBSM.SI), opens new tab said it expects group net interest income to improve this year and announced a capital return dividend plan on Monday as it posted a 10% rise in fourth-quarter net profit, matching expectations. Southeast Asia’s largest bank by assets said it now expected group net interest income […]

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Burmese refugee dies after discharge from shut US-funded clinic, says family

A Burmese refugee with lung problems died after she was discharged from a U.S.-funded hospital on the Myanmar-Thai border that was ordered to close as a result of U.S. President Donald Trump’s freeze on foreign aid, her family said. Pe Kha Lau, 71, died on Sunday after becoming short of breath four days after she […]

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