Vietnam’s leader To Lam on Friday struck a sombre tone at a summit when he warned of three foundational crises converging to cause global instabilities – those of international order, development models and strategic trust.
He was delivering the keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Asia’s premier defence forum, in his first speech on Vietnam’s foreign policy to an international audience since being elected president in April.
Speaking to defence ministers, military chiefs,…
Philippine lawmaker surrenders, posts bail after court orders his arrest
A Philippine anti-corruption court ordered the arrest of a prominent senator on Friday over allegations he pocketed a kickback of millions of dollars in a flood-control project, in the latest crisis to entangle the Senate.
Senator Jinggoy Estrada surrendered and posted bail before the Sandiganbayan court, allowing him to remain free while the case proceeds.
The court barred Estrada from leaving the country while facing the first of two corruption-related charges in relation to the flood control…
Bangladesh seeks more ‘diplomatic room’ with Pakistan outreach amid India concerns
For many years, India was a key training ground for many of Bangladesh’s senior officials, as well as a source of support and regional guidance. Now, some are being trained in Pakistan, a symbolic shift that has unsettled New Delhi and offered an early clue to how Dhaka’s new government wants to deal with its neighbours.
A delegation of 12 senior Bangladeshi bureaucrats attended an executive training programme at the Civil Services Academy in Lahore from May 4 to May 21, a move analysts said…
ICC overhauls arbitration rules to boost efficiency and transparency in line with modern practice
New rule changes to the world’s leading arbitration institutions will bring its approach into clear alignment with modern practice, according to an expert.
Is Sara Duterte’s lead for Philippines’ 2028 presidential race in danger?
Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio, the daughter of former leader Rodrigo Duterte, has long looked like the politician to beat in the Philippines’ 2028 presidential race, with one of the country’s most powerful political brands behind her, a loyal base in Mindanao and early polls showing her ahead of potential rivals.
But two prominent pollsters say her lead is not impregnable.
According to Dr Ranjit Rye, founding president of OCTA Research, and Ronnie Holmes, president of Pulse Asia Research…
Employers reset pension strategy after Royal Assent for salary sacrifice reforms
Chris Thomas tells HRNews why employers are reassessing pension and reward strategy ahead of the 2029 salary sacrifice NICs cap changes.
Celebrity ‘Trump’ buffalo spared sacrifice, sent to Bangladesh zoo
A buffalo in Bangladesh nicknamed “Donald Trump” for its flowing blond hair has been spared from sacrifice after shooting to fame, and will instead be cared for at the national zoo.
Muslim-majority Bangladesh, a South Asian nation of 170 million people, celebrates Eid al-Adha, the “feast of the sacrifice”, on Thursday.
The 700kg (1,500-pound) bull, a rare albino buffalo with a flowing helmet of light hair resembling the signature look of the US president, was due to be slaughtered to mark the…
Central Bank of Ireland identifies compliance gaps across MiFID firms
A new review by the Central Bank of Ireland looking at compliance functions across a cohort of MiFID (Markets in Financial Instruments Directive) investment firms has provided a timely insight into its supervisory expectations.
Philippine ex-president Duterte’s ICC trial to start on November 30
Former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte will face a crimes against humanity trial at the International Criminal Court from November 30, the presiding judge said on Wednesday.
Duterte faces three counts of crimes against humanity, with prosecutors alleging his involvement in at least 76 murders between 2013 and 2018 during his so-called “war on drugs”.
The 81-year-old will be the first Asian former head of state to face trial at the ICC, which prosecutes individuals for the world’s worst…
Indonesia bans Polymarket following bets on Prabowo presidency end date
Indonesia has blocked predictions market Polymarket as part of its crackdown on online gambling, its communications and digital ministry said, days after the site took bets on a premature end to Prabowo Subianto’s presidency.
Gambling is illegal in Indonesia and authorities have been clamping down on online betting.
“The government will not allow any form of online gambling in Indonesia,” the ministry said in a statement.
Ministry official Alexander Sabar late on Friday said Polymarket was…
