On Tuesday, Thai cabinet approved a plan to restructure the Senate and remove its ability to select the prime minister. The appointed Senate, which was first imposed by the military following the coup in 2014, has essentially served as a veto for the military when it comes to selecting the nation's leader. The selection of the next 200 senators will now take place through a complex procedure involving numerous professional fields. However, they will not be involved in the formation of the government. After the current Senate prevented the anti-establishment Move Forward party from formi
On Tuesday, South Korea and Romania committed to strengthening defence sector cooperation to secure Seoul's standing as the fourth-largest arms exporter globally. During their summit, President Yoon Suk Yeol and his Romanian colleague Klaus Iohannis talked about cooperative military production. Furthermore, Polish Deputy Defence Minister Pawel Bejda and South Korea's Shin Won-sik met, intending to conclude a major contract with Hanwha Aerospace for more weaponry. South Korea has landed significant defence contracts in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia in the wake of Russia's invasion of
Emirati and Omani companies recently sealed deals totaling 129 billion dirhams ($35.12 billion) during Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq's visit to the United Arab Emirates this week. These agreements cover several industries, including transport and energy, with a primary emphasis on an industrial and energy megaproject valued at 117 billion dirhams. The involvement of such significant players as TAQA, Masdar, EGA, ESA, OQ Alternative Energy, and Oman Electrical Transmission Co. indicates a concentrated effort towards sustainable energy and industrial development. The Oman Investment Aut
The G7 summit in Capri saw major powers pledging to boost Ukraine's air defences against Russian attacks and calling on China to cease support for Moscow's military. The Middle East and Ukrainian crises were the main topics of discussion at the summit, which was attended by foreign ministers from the US, Italy, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, and the UK. The ministers emphasised the importance of further support for Ukraine, which is up against more powerful Russian forces, while simultaneously advocating for de-escalation in the Middle East to avert a more extensive regional confrontation
The Philippines' foreign ministry described the country's recent decision to strengthen its relations with Japan and the United States—which was brought up at a summit presided over by the U.S. President Joe Biden—as a "sovereign choice" made in response to China's complaints. The purpose of the trilateral meeting between the United States, Japan, and the Philippines was to discuss common worries over China's actions in the South China Sea. The foreign ministry of the Philippines emphasised that this cooperation should not be seen as a threat but rather as a means of promoting econo
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, in a recent meeting, highlighted the importance of deepening defence cooperation between their nations. Their discussions highlighted serious concerns over the situation in the South China Sea, where tensions between the Philippines and China have been notable. China's expansive territorial claims in the South China Sea have been a source of contention, as it asserts almost total control over the region, which serves as a crucial maritime route for global commerce, amounting to over $3 trillion ann
A Eurobarometer survey indicates that 60% of Europeans are very or somewhat interested in the forthcoming European Parliament election, up from 49% in 2019. This represents a significant increase in interest compared to five years ago. During elections, talk about jobs, health, poverty, and defence is frequent. Remarkably, 81% of participants believe that international problems like the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine have made voting more important. In a video statement, President Roberta Metsola of the European Parliament highlighted the serious consequences. France, on
According to sources close to the African oil sector and Reuters, Namibia is being considered for membership in OPEC+, an alliance that is facing withdrawals from countries such as Angola. If it succeeds, Namibia may become the continent’s fourth-largest oil exporter by 2030. With estimates of 2.6 billion barrels, recent findings made by TotalEnergies and Shell might pave the way for production by 2030. OPEC+'s initial goal is for Namibia to accede to its Charter of Cooperation so that it can have longer-term negotiations about energy markets. The African Energy Chamber's executive ch
India and the UK recently discussed accelerating mutual legal aid treaty actions and giving fugitive extradition requests a top priority. Notable targets for extradition by Indian agencies include Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, Sanjay Bhandari, Punjabi separatists, and wanted terrorist sympathisers hiding in the UK. Stephen Kavanagh headed a UK delegation that visited the CBI Headquarters and talked about strengthening operational cooperation. Sharing criminal intelligence, fighting financial crimes, organised crime, cybercrime, terrorism, and international threats were among the subjects cover
Singapore's long-time Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will transfer power to his successor, Lawrence Wong, on May 15, preceding an upcoming election. The 51-year-old Wong became the prime minister-in-waiting in April 2022 after the initial successor withdrew unexpectedly. This move has disrupted the carefully planned leadership transition in the affluent Asian financial hub. As co-leader of the government's COVID-19 task committee, Wong rose to fame and received recognition for his leadership during the pandemic. He served in the government in many key areas, including deputy prime minis