India has stepped up its cooperation with Venezuela in the energy sector, seeing Caracas as a key partner while global oil flows are hit by tensions in the Middle East. During a visit that began on June 4, Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez arrived in New Delhi with a sizable delegatio
Thailand’s political world got a surprise this week when former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra learned he won’t finish his remaining jail time. After months of legal back-and-forth, King Maha Vajiralongkorn approved royal pardons for prisoners—including Thaksin—marking Queen Suthida’s birthday. J
India recently set aside 100 billion rupees, roughly one billion dollars, to ease the strain on airlines caused by soaring jet fuel prices. These sky-high costs partly stem from tensions in West Asia, which have disrupted oil supplies and pushed prices up worldwide. Airlines often feel this the most
India is testing fresh ways to pay for its massive ocean and water projects. A government company called Sagarmala wants to sell special bonds called ‘blue bonds’—the first of their kind in the country. These bonds work like regular loans but must be used only for clean-up efforts, port upgrades, sh
Indonesia has taken a firm stand against online prediction markets, specifically targeting Polymarket, which lets users bet on events like elections and sports using cryptocurrency. The government argues that these platforms operate like online gambling, which is illegal in the country. Instead of f
Thailand’s Social Security Scheme gives workers access to healthcare, but it also seems to change how often people use medical services. A study looked at survey data over time and compared people with insurance to those without. The findings suggest that having insurance makes people visit doctors
India’s biggest car maker, Maruti Suzuki, is set to raise the price of its vehicles because the cost of making them has gone up. The price hike comes after a chain reaction that began in the Middle East, where fighting has made it harder for goods to move around the world and has pushed up fuel pric
Indian leaders are telling people to marry in their own country instead of traveling abroad. The reason is the cost of oil and gas that India imports from the Middle East. When tensions rise near the Strait of Hormuz, prices go up and the rupee weakens. A weaker rupee makes it harder for pe
Indonesia throws away huge amounts of plant waste from farms every year. Instead of burning this waste or letting it rot, experts think it could be turned into something useful. Most research in the country focuses on burning the waste for fuel, which is low down on the recycling ladder. Very little
Thailand stands out as a unique case where Buddhism isn't just a religion—it’s deeply tied to the country's political structure. The connection goes back centuries, starting when Indian monks first introduced the teachings of the Buddha to the region. Unlike Christianity or Islam, Buddhism doesn’t r
