Will India Lean Into the China Thaw in 2025? – The Diplomat

In a Truth Social post, US President Donald Trump stated that there is a "very good chance" that the war between Russia and Ukraine could come to an end after "productive" discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump requested that Putin spare the lives of Ukrainian troops who are surrounded, and US envoy Steve Witkoff had a lengthy meeting with Putin in Moscow to convey signals to Trump about potential next steps in negotiations. Kremlin...

Singapore-based Chocolate Finance, launched in 2024 to disrupt traditional banking for Gen Z, is facing backlash after freezing withdrawals, capping spending, and blocking top-ups, leading to negative sentiment online. The crisis stemmed from a partnership with HeyMax rewards platform and a promotion offering air miles, which was abruptly halted due to unsustainable bill payments, triggering customer withdrawals and criticism. PR experts criticized the handling of the crisis, highlighting the need for preparedness, quick response, and...

A 14-year study by researchers at the Indian Institute of Science found that replacing wild herbivores with livestock in ecosystems leads to cascading impacts, affecting plant composition, soil characteristics, and insect populations like spiders, grasshoppers, ticks, and mites. The study in the Spiti region of the Himalayas showed that livestock grazing disrupts the ecosystem by altering food availability and plant proportions, leading to concerns about the spread of zoonotic diseases and the decline of predator...

In early 2026, Thailand is set to pass the Entertainment Complex Business Act to introduce large-scale gaming facilities aimed at boosting tourism and competing with Singapore and the Philippines, despite concerns from conservative citizens. Major international gaming companies are eyeing investments upwards of US$3 billion, with potential pretax margins of 40-50 percent, but face challenges in obtaining permits and navigating potential corruption. The initiative, backed by Thaksin Shinawatra, faces uncertainty due to political instability and...

Not long ago, making money on the Moon was a concept from science fiction, but now it's a legitimate business plan as nations, private companies, and investors are racing to capitalize on the resource-rich frontier. The Moon offers valuable resources like Helium-3 for clean energy, water ice for deep space missions, and rare earth metals for tech products, attracting investments from governments and companies like NASA, China, and SpaceX. The Global Space Technology Convention &...

Three oil and gas firms are seeking offshore vessels in Indonesia and Brazil, with Petrobras looking for two anchor handling vessels in Brazil with a four-year contract starting in December 2025. BP in Indonesia is searching for a supply and accommodation vessel with DP2 dynamic positioning for its wells intervention campaign on the Tangguh gas project. PNG Saka Energi in Indonesia is in need of two anchor handling vessels to support drilling and well-completion operations...