'World is grateful': India keeps oil prices cheaper by buying from Russia, Indian oil minister says
India keeps global crude prices affordable by buying oil from Russia, India's energy minister said.
International asian news
Australia hopes to ‘really elevate’ ties with Papua New Guinea amid China concerns, extends rugby diplomacy
Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Thursday said Marape’s speech and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s speech in the PNG parliament last year – a first by a foreign leader – were critical as both countries sought to “really elevate” their relationship.
Malaysia’s Unesco plan for Chinese villages triggers fury among Malay-Muslim groups
In recent years, there have been increasingly frequent and bitter rows over culture and heritage in Malaysia, in step with the poll gains of Islamist parties, who claim to protect the economic and political interests of the multi-ethnic country’s Malay-Muslim majority.
South Korea’s Yoon defends wife over Dior handbag scandal, rejects China policy concerns in rare interview
In a rare interview, the normally media-shy Yoon said first lady Kim Keon-hee was in effect a victim of politically motivated entrapment aimed at hurting the couple’s reputation ahead of crucial parliamentary elections set for April.
Is New Zealand risking ‘reputational damage’ by joining anti-Houthi coalition in Red Sea?
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the Houthis’ attacks against commercial and naval shipping were “illegal, unacceptable and profoundly destabilising”, arguing that the defence deployment was a continuation of his country’s “long history of defending freedom of navigation both in the Middle East and closer to home”.
South China Sea: Filipino bishops urge Manila to ‘defend what is ours’ amid Beijing’s ‘aggression’
In a joint pastoral exhortation, the bishops, who serve in regions surrounded by the resource-rich waterway, said the discord was not only about marine resources but the livelihood and future of the Philippines’ fishermen.
Malaysia 1MDB scandal: watchdog warns of protests over leniency for Najib and ‘political elite’
Najib’s fine was also slashed to 50 million ringgit (US$10.5 million) from 210 million ringgit.
Indonesia election 2024: will Gibran’s chances be hurt by poll body’s ethics scandal?
On Monday, the Election Organization Ethics Council (DKPP) found Hasyim Asy’ari, the chairman of the General Elections Commission (KPU), as well as six commissioners, to be guilty of breaching ethics for not amending the organisation’s internal regulation on the minimum age of candidates before accepting Gibran’s registration.