Kuala Lumpur, March 24 (IANS) Economists have trimmed ASEAN-6 gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast to 4.5 per cent in 2026 from 4.8 per cent, and to 4.7 per cent in 2027 from 4.8 per cent, due to the fallout of the conflict in West Asia. The ASEAN-6 nations refer to Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia.Maybank Investment Bank said in a recent note that the downgrades are larger for the Philippines (-0.4 percentage points), Vietnam (-0.4 percentage points…
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Melbourne, March 24 (IANS) As Australia sits at the far end of the regional fuel supply chain, it may face a fuel supply “crunch time” in the coming weeks, according to local media reports, citing the conflict in the Middle East that has driven up international energy prices and exposed Australia’s heavy structural dependence on imported fuel.The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported that Australia now has only two domestic refineries still operating, while more than 80 per cent of …
Sanya (China), March 23 (IANS) The organisers of the 6th Asian Beach Games 2026 announced on Monday that the torch relay for the upcoming games in Sanya will be held on March 30. Around 1,790 athletes will be taking part in 14 sports, 15 disciplines, and 62 events that will be featured in the Games.Wang Guoping, deputy director of the organising committee, said the torch relay will highlight the city’s coastal scenery and vibrant sports culture.”The torch relay will showcase the unique appeal of…
Bangkok, March 23 (IANS) The Thai government has affirmed that the country maintains sufficient oil reserves to meet demand for up to 103 days, and it is advancing regulatory measures to enhance transparency in the market.Sarawut Kaewtatip, director-general of the Department of Energy Business, confirmed on Sunday that Thailand maintains sufficient overall oil reserves, estimated to last around 103 days, with supply levels exceeding normal demand.Thailand currently produces approximately 35.28 m…
Tehran, March 23 (IANS) Iran’s primary military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, issued a statement warning that power plants in countries hosting US bases would be considered legitimate targets if the United States attacks Iran’s power facilities.The statement came in response to remarks by US President Donald Trump threatening to target Iran’s power infrastructure, Xinhua news agency reported quoting Iranian state media Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting.The Strait of Hormuz …
Washington, March 22 (IANS) US President Donald Trump threatened to deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to provide security at airports amid an ongoing shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which has dragged on for more than a month and left regular security personnel going unpaid.Trump wrote on Truth Social that if Democrats did not “immediately sign an agreement,” “I will move our brilliant and patriotic ICE Agents to the Airports where they will do Securit…
Tehran, March 21 (IANS) Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Iran is seeking “not a ceasefire, but a complete, comprehensive and lasting end to the war,” according to Kyodo News.In a telephone interview with Kyodo News on Friday, Araghchi described the US-Israeli strikes on Iran as “an illegal, unprovoked act of aggression,” calling on the international community to take a stand against the attacks.The foreign minister noted that while several countries are attempting to mediate an…
Beirut, March 21 (IANS) At least 20 people were killed and 57 others injured in Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon over the past 24 hours, according to official figures.The latest casualties, released on Friday (local time), bring the cumulative death toll to 1,021, with a total of 2,641 people wounded since the escalation of hostilities on March 2.Meanwhile, displacement continues to rise sharply as ongoing strikes force more residents to flee their homes. A total of 134,616 displaced people are…
Colombo, March 19 (IANS) Sri Lanka records between 8,500 and 9,500 tuberculosis (TB) cases each year, a senior official at the National Programme for Tuberculosis Control and Chest Diseases (NPTCCD) said on Thursday.The country detected 8,726 TB patients in 2025. About 75 per cent of the patients had pulmonary TB, while around 5,500 carried infectious bacteria that could transmit the disease to others, Mizaya Cader, consultant community physician at the NPTCCD, told journalists.She said nearly 4…
Wellington, March 19 (IANS) New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon warned on Thursday of a prolonged Middle East conflict that could disrupt global oil supplies, as the government considers raising its fuel escalation level next week. Kiwi drivers have queued at petrol stations amid the escalation of the Middle East conflict, but Luxon praised New Zealanders’ restraint in avoiding panic-buying at a press conference, saying national fuel supplies remain adequate for now.Finance Minister Nic…