Thaksin Shinawatra Appointed as Adviser to Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim for ASEAN Role Kuala Lumpur - Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has appointed former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra as his personal adviser. Thaksin will support Anwar during his leadership of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year. Anwar announced the appointment on Monday during Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s visit to Malaysia. Paetongtarn is Thaksin’s youngest daughter and the fourth member of his family to hold Thailand's top political post.
France’s new Prime Minister, Francois Bayrou, will meet with parliamentary group leaders on Monday and Tuesday, starting with Marine Le Pen from the far-right Rassemblement National. Bayrou shared this plan during an interview with La Tribune Dimanche. Appointed on Friday, Bayrou is the fourth person to serve as French Prime Minister this year. His primary task is to navigate the 2025 budget through a divided parliament — a challenge that led to the downfall of his predecessor, Michel Barnier. Barnier's three-month term was the shortest in modern French history. Bayrou will meet par
The UK officially became the 12th member of the trans-Pacific trade pact (CPTPP) yesterday, joining countries like Japan, Australia, and Canada. This move aims to strengthen the UK’s trade ties in the Asia-Pacific region and boost global trade connections after Brexit. Last year, the UK announced its decision to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), marking its biggest trade deal since leaving the EU. With this accession, the UK can now apply CPTPP trade rules and lower tariffs with eight of the 11 current members - Brunei, Chile, Japa
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Devin Nunes, CEO of his social media platform, as chairman of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board. Trump also announced that his former intelligence chief, Richard Grenell, will take on the role of "Presidential Envoy for Special Missions," focusing on hotspots like Venezuela and North Korea. “Ric will work in some of the hottest spots around the World, including Venezuela and North Korea,” Trump stated on his Truth Social platform. “Ric will continue to fight for Peace through Strength, and always put AMERICA FIRST.” Trump di
The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill, which aims to streamline elections across India. The bill is set to be tabled during the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament, which runs from November 25 to December 20. The proposal for simultaneous elections has been a key agenda of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for several years. The idea is to synchronize Lok Sabha and state assembly elections to reduce election-related costs and administrative burden. Earlier reports had hinted at the bill’s approval, with governm
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani on Sunday, ahead of the 4th India-Bahrain High Joint Commission (HJC) meeting. Jaishankar will co-chair the HJC alongside his Bahraini counterpart on Monday. “Delighted to meet FM Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani today. Look forward to a productive meeting of India-Bahrain High Joint Commission tomorrow,” Jaishankar shared on X. What’s on the Agenda? The High Joint Commission will review the full spectrum of bilateral relations and explore ways to strengthen the multifac
UK PM Keir Starmer Seeks Stronger Economic and Defense Ties with UAE and Saudi Arabia British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has begun his first multi-day visit to the Gulf region since taking office. His goal is to strengthen economic, defense, and security partnerships with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, two of the UK's most important modern-day partners, according to a government statement. Starmer arrived in the UAE yesterday and is set to meet UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan today. Later, he will travel to Saudi Arabia to hold talks with Crown Prince
Japan and the Philippines have taken a major step toward bolstering maritime security. On Thursday, the two nations signed a 1.6 billion yen ($10.65 million) security assistance agreement to enhance the Philippines’ maritime surveillance capabilities amid ongoing tensions in the South China Sea. As close allies of the United States, both countries have maintained a firm stance against what they perceive as China’s aggressive maritime activities in disputed waters. Under Japan’s Overseas Security Assistance Programme, the Philippine Navy will receive vital equipment, including rigi
India and Bhutan strengthened their cooperation on Thursday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirming India’s support for Bhutan’s Gelephu special administrative region project. During discussions with Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, PM Modi assured continued assistance for the initiative. The “Gelephu Mindfulness City,” an economic hub envisioned by King Wangchuck near the Indian border, was a key focus of the talks. The leaders also discussed India’s support for Bhutan’s 13th Five-Year Plan (2024-29) and the Economic Stimulus Programme. In a joint stat
South America's Mercosur trade bloc is set to meet in Uruguay on Thursday, with a chance they could announce a long-delayed trade deal with the European Union. Last-minute negotiations are ongoing to finalize the agreement. The deal, backed by most South American countries and strongly supported by Germany and Spain, faces resistance from France. French leaders worry that increased agricultural imports could harm their powerful farming sector. Negotiators from all sides met in Brazil last week, according to senior diplomatic and government sources. Virtual talks have continued this week