Thailand says Chinese beggars caught in Bangkok not victims of trafficking

Six Chinese nationals with severe deformities caught begging on the streets of Bangkok were not victims of torture, physical abuse or coercion by human traffickers as believed earlier, Thailand said on Monday (Nov 27).

NASA to train Indian astronaut for ISS voyage in deepening space ties

NASA will train an Indian astronaut for a voyage to the International Space Station as early as next year, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said on Wednesday, amid deepening space ties between India and the United States.

Google is deleting old Gmail accounts: Here’s how to save yours

Beginning on Dec. 1, the tech giant, Google will begin purging all accounts that have been inactive for two years or more. The company says the move is meant to help cut back on the number of accounts that can be hijacked by hackers.

Global South confluence: India’s leadership and vision

India recently took center stage by hosting the second edition of the Voice of Global South Summit on November 12-13, underscoring its unwavering commitment to the Global South. Building upon the success of the inaugural event held in January 2023, this summit witnessed the active participation of 125 nations, providing a robust platform for meaningful dialogue on shared priorities.

MSF doctors killed in strike on Al Awda hospital in Northern Gaza

Médecins sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is horrified by the killing of two MSF doctors, and a third doctor following a strike on Al Awda Hospital, one of the last remaining functional hospitals in Northern Gaza.

Boss of Australian telecom giant quits after nationwide outage

The chief executive of Australian telecom giant Optus has resigned after a nationwide outage this month.

Health authorities across Australia call for return of masks amid eighth COVID wave

Health authorities in several Australian states have recommended the return of masks amid a spike in COVID-19 cases leading up to Christmas.

Spanish police arrested 14 suspected Pakistani jihadists in several provinces

Spanish security authorities busted a suspected jihadist network based in several provinces of Spain in country-wide CT operations arresting a total of 14 individuals.

’Mannequin’ arrested after Warsaw shop burglary

A man has been accused of posing as a mannequin in a Warsaw shop window to steal jewellery after closing time

Cricket’s inclusion in Olympics voted through by IOC members

Cricket’s return to the Olympics for the first time since 1900 has been confirmed after International Olympic Committee members voted to include the sport in the 2028 Games.

Australia fines X for failing to crack down on child abuse content

Australia internet safety watchdog has slapped a A$610,500 ($386,000; £317,360) fine on Elon Musk’s X for failing to cooperate with a probe into anti-child abuse practices.

India cruise to victory against Pakistan in Cricket World Cup

India cruised to victory to maintain their perfect start in the Cricket World Cup after beating Pakistan by seven wickets.

Australians vote No in historic referendum

Australia has overwhelmingly rejected a plan to give greater rights to Indigenous people in a referendum.

’No’ campaigners confident Australian referendum will not pass

igh-profile ’no’ campaigners who oppose a voice to Australia’s parliament are confident the referendum will fail and have called for unity after the vote and greater action to assist Indigenous people.

Hospitals in Gaza at risk of turning into morgues

Hospitals in Gaza are at risk of turning into morgues, Fabrizio Carboni, the regional director for the Near and Middle East for the International Committee of the Red Cross said.

Amidst debt troubles, Sri Lanka’s economy and strategy face Chinese pressure

In the South Asian nation of Sri Lanka, an intricate web of economic challenges and strategic maneuvering is currently unfolding. The island nation finds itself caught between a mounting debt crisis and the strategic influence of China, its largest lender. As Sri Lanka grapples with its economic woes, it is also witnessing China’s growing presence and influence in the region.

New Maldives President to be ’’pro-many countries’’

While Maldives President-Elect Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has been branded as being pro-China, former Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon said that the new President is expected to be ’’pro-many countries’’.

Jailed Maldives’ ex-President transferred to house arrest

Jailed former Maldives President Abdulla Yameen was transferred from prison to house arrest on Sunday, fulfilling the campaign promise of his party candidate who won the presidential election runoff.

Canada-India tensions and the rising Hindu Nationalism in India

Canada and India, two nations with long-standing diplomatic ties, have recently found themselves embroiled in a series of tensions that threaten to strain their historically amicable relationship. Central to this unfolding discord is the rise of Hindu nationalism in India, which has led to a growing polarization within the country and raised concerns about the implications for religious minorities and democratic values.

Bangladesh: A Nation at the crossroads

As Bangladesh gears up for its upcoming election early next year, the country finds itself facing a deepening crisis, reminiscent of the challenges recently witnessed in Sri Lanka.

G20 summit closes with Russia, Brazil and India boasting success

G20 nations have been riven over the Ukraine war since Moscow’s invasion last year, with Russian President Vladimir Putin skipping the summit entirely to dodge political opprobrium.

China’s property crisis: Country Garden registers USD 7bn loss

China’s major private property developer Country Garden has revealed a record USD 6.7 billion loss for the first half of the year.

Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam reject China’s latest map

The Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam have all rejected a map released by China recently that showed Beijing’s territorial sovereignty in the South China Sea, joining India in slamming its neighbour for territorial exaggeration.

’21st Century Belongs to Asia’, Says PM Modi at ASEAN-India Summit

’’21st century belongs to Asia and belongs to us all,’’ Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday in the presence of ASEAN leaders where he emphasised the importance of a rule-based world order.

Biden-Modi bilateral ahead of G20 meet: White House

US President Joe Biden will travel to India next week to participate in the G20 Summit and will have a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 8 on the sidelines of the historic meeting, the White House has announced.

Tharman pledges to build ‘future of optimism, solidarity’ as president

Singapore President-elect Tharman Shanmugaratnam pledged to use his presidency to help build a future of optimism and solidarity among all Singaporeans.

Anti-Drone Systems, 130,000 Security Officers to Guard India’s G20 Summit

About 130,000 security officers will be deployed as India hosts the world’s most powerful leaders at a G20 summit in New Delhi this month, a showcase for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the country’s growing presence on the world stage.

Sahan Arachchige & Nuwan Thusara summoned ’’to travel with the team’’

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced the 15-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup, which begins in Pakistan and Sri Lanka from Wednesday. Two more players have been added as standbyes, it has been learned.

Live worm found in Australian woman’s brain in world first

In a world first, scientists say an 8cm (3in) worm has been found alive in the brain of an Australian woman.

India, ASEAN underscore commitment to strengthen economic ties