Total and Chevron strike symbolic blow at Myanmar junta's revenue
BANGKOK -- Oil and gas majors Total of France and Chevron of the U.S. announced on Tuesday that they will suspend some cash payments linked to Moattama Gas Transportation Company, a Myanmar gas pipeline joint venture between three foreign energy companies and state-owned energy producer Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise.
The move suspends just a fraction of Myanmar's earnings from its lucrative gas fields, which amounted to more than $3.3 billion in 2020, according to U.N. data, and
India, can we talk openly about sex please?
Rathina Sankari is a freelance writer based in India.
Famous for its erotic sculptures, the World Heritage-listed Khajuraho Group of Monuments in the state of Madhya Pradesh is but one example of how ancient Indian culture celebrated sex. The world's first sex treatise, the Kama Sutra, is another.
Unfortunately, modern India is not so liberal in its thoughts, and sex remains a taboo subject. It is time that changed. For India to move forward sociologically and economically, sex education is crucial.
To use one
Russia fortifies Central Asia military clout before US Afghan exit
MOSCOW -- Russia is increasing military support for its Central Asian neighbors, with the U.S. deadline for withdrawing troops from Afghanistan fast approaching.
Over the past month, Russia has held large-scale joint military exercises, signed new military cooperation agreements and moved to integrate its air defense system with its partners in Central Asia. Moscow says these moves are meant to help Central Asian governments defend themselves against terrorist threats emanating from Afghanistan, but some experts contend that their real aim is to counter America's potential next
SoftBank pays $64 million to eight executives
TOKYO -- SoftBank Group paid 6.99 billion yen ($64 million) to eight executives for the year ended March, after posting a record 4.99 trillion yen net profit.
SoftBank published a list of executives who earned 100 million yen or more in the notice of its shareholders meeting released on Thursday. The previous year, when SoftBank posted its worst-ever loss of 961 billion yen, six executives made the list, earning a total of 6.42 billion
Myanmar coup latest: Total and Chevron partly halt junta payments
YANGON/BANGKOK -- Myanmar's military on Feb. 1 detained State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint in the country's first coup since 1988, bringing an end to a decade of civilian rule.
The Suu Kyi-led National League for Democracy had won a landslide in a general election in November . But the military has claimed the election was marred by fraud.
For all our coverage, visit our Myanmar Coup page.
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Sony expects PS5 to break 24-year-old console sales record
TOKYO -- Sony Group, which expects to sell the most consoles in its history in the fiscal year beginning April 2022, is aiming to produce at least 22.6 million PlayStation 5s so it can reach that goal.
Jim Ryan, president and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, the group's gaming unit, said during the company's Investor Relations Day presentation on Thursday, that SIE will "make sure FY2022 will be the highest year" for console sales.
Hong Kong property tycoons play nice as China steps up pressure
HONG KONG -- Curious newspaper ads pledging real estate developers' "full support" for the city's National Security Education Day ran in a pro-Beijing newspaper last month.
The ads, purchased by a who's who of Hong Kong's real estate industry, praised the day, which celebrated a sweeping law that Beijing imposed on the semi-autonomous territory last year.
Those participating in the ad purchase included CK Asset Holdings, a property group founded by Hong Kong's richest man , Li Ka
Singtel plans more ASEAN investment to cash in on boom
SINGAPORE -- Singapore Telecommunications will raise its investment in digital service companies in Southeast Asia, attempting to seize opportunities in the region, the company said Thursday, as the COVID-19 pandemic weighs on its traditional mobile carrier business.
"We see ASEAN as an exciting place to invest over the next decade," Singtel's Group CEO Yuen Kuan Moon said in an online media briefing, adding the company is "open to taking significant minority stakes" in digital service companies in the region.
New digital businesses in
It's inevitable: You will spend half your life in digital realm
TOKYO -- When he was a naughty second-year junior high school student in the southern Philippine city of Davao, Reb Buendia's life changed forever.
He acquired his first smartphone, a tool he now has trouble putting down.
On April 30 this year, Buendia, now 21, spent 14 hours and 23 minutes on his smartphone.
He often finds himself glued to his phone while dining with his family, shopping or attending university classes. He chats with pals on Facebook, watches videos
South Korea upgrades GDP growth forecast to 4%, fastest in decade
SEOUL -- South Korea's central bank on Thursday upgraded its economic growth forecast for this year to 4%, reflecting a speedy recovery in exports and corporate investment as well as improvements in private consumption and employment.
The new forecast is in line with a target set by President Moon Jae-in earlier this month, and would be the economy's fastest pace of expansion since the 6.8% jump logged for 2010.
The Bank of Korea's monetary policy board, however, kept
