Sex, Lies & Videotape as Mercury Soars in India’s Election

Lee Shau-kee, a Hong Kong real estate tycoon who founded Henderson Land Development, passed away at 97, leaving behind a legacy of building affordable housing for middle-class residents. With an estimated net worth of $29.2 billion, he was known for his shrewd investments and philanthropy efforts through the Lee Shau-Kee Foundation, supporting education and vocational training in China and other countries. Despite challenges in the real estate market, Mr. Lee's business acumen and foresight in...

U.S. District Judge John Chun in Seattle dismissed a lawsuit against Amazon.com, alleging fraud in statements about third-party sellers and expansion plans. The dismissal was with prejudice, preventing the lawsuit from being refiled. This decision was made in Amazon's hometown, where the company is headquartered. Full Article

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon of New Zealand is visiting India from March 16-20 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, signifying a pivotal moment in bilateral relations with a focus on economics, trade, and strategic ties. Luxon's participation as the chief guest at this year's Raisina Dialogue highlights New Zealand's commitment to enhancing engagement with India across various diplomatic channels, including discussions on a potential free trade agreement to boost trade relations. The visit...

The US Federal Trade Commission has requested information from Omnicom and Interpublic regarding their proposed acquisition ahead of a shareholder vote next week, with Omnicom stating it is a standard part of the regulatory process. Both companies are engaging with the FTC and expect the transaction to close in the second half of 2025, with shareholders set to vote on the deal, which values IPG at about $13.3 billion, on Tuesday. Full Article

A British woman, Alexandra Clarke, died in a fire on a dive boat off Koh Tao, Thailand, while aboard the Davy Jones Locker en route to the Southwest Pinnacle dive site. Clarke was reportedly inside the toilet when the blaze started, triggered by a crew member filling diving tanks with compressed air which malfunctioned. The incident led to a distress signal being sent and shocked witnesses on nearby vessels witnessing the boat burning. Full Article

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the Comité Maritime International (CMI) are urging governments to ratify urgent maritime treaties, including the IMO Nairobi Convention and the United Nations Convention on the International Effects of Judicial Sales of Ships. The goal is to ensure global regulations are uniformly applied to all ships in international trade, preventing challenges from unilateral regulations. ICS and CMI members are engaging with governments to push for ratification of these critical...