Following the UN Security Council's approval of the Gaza plan, Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman travelled to the United States for the first time since the Khashoggi murder. At the centre of his talks with Trump are multi-billion dollar defence, technology, and artificial intelligence deals, including the sale of F-35s, previously reserved exclusively for Israel. Riyadh is playing a central role in regional dynamics without formally joining the Abraham Accords.
The diplomatic mission will be operational by the first quarter of next year, to consolidate the growth reported at the start of the 2025 with the Lunar New Year. The People's Republic is currently Sri Lanka’s fifth-largest source country for visitors. The government has set an ambitious target of three million arrivals this year to boost this sector of the economy.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption has arrested two men and one woman on charges of sharing messages urging people to boycott or invalidate their votes in the upcoming legislative elections on 7 December, the second to be held under the ‘patriotic only’ electoral system imposed by Beijing. While 35 MPs will not seek re-election, the government has stepped up activities in the city to increase turnout after the collapse in turnout in 2021.
In southern Malaysia, expansion of water-based cooling systems for data centres has been halted for 18 months. Among the causes are drought and the distribution of water resources, which are lacking in the south, where investments are concentrated. With 48 data centres, Johor would become a regional hub by 2030.
In a video message sent to Church representatives gathered in Belem for a meeting on the sidelines of COP30 - the annual UN conference on the fight against global warming - the pontiff harshly rebuked world leaders: 'Be true leaders. Strong climate actions and policies are an investment in a more just and stable world.‘
Today's headlines: Vietnam orders the arrest of a journalist in Berlin for anti-state activities; 45 Indian pilgrims killed in a bus accident while travelling from Mecca to Medina; Taiwan arrests Chinese citizen for espionage; In Singapore, a 24-year-old Malaysian man is charged with fraud amounting to .5 million.
