What is civet coffee? PETA issues a new warning to Bali tourists

If the idea of drinking civet cat coffee, which is made from feces from the Asian palm civet, is a turn-off, there may be yet another reason to rethink the drink. This week, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) issued a warning aimed at tourists in Bali after an investigator showed undercover footage … Read more

Shareholder payouts hit a record $1.7 trillion last year as bank profits surged

Traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., March 5, 2024. Brendan Mcdermid | Reuters LONDON — Global dividend payouts to shareholders hit a record $1.66 trillion in 2023, according to a new report by British asset manager Janus Henderson. The Global Dividend Index report, published … Read more

Can Indonesia’s next president Prabowo deliver on his big promises?

Prabowo Subianto, Indonesia’s presidential candidate and defense minister, center, waves to supporters in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024. Prabowo declared victory in Wednesday’s presidential vote, citing independent pollsters, putting him on course to lead Southeast Asia’s largest economy after two failed attempts.  Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images JAKARTA — Indonesia’s Defense Minister … Read more

Indonesians are electing Jokowi’s successor

Presidential candidate and former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan, vice presidential candidate Muhaimin Iskandar, presidential candidate and Indonesia’s Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto, vice presidential candidate Gibran Rakabuming Raka, presidential candidate and former Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo and vice presidential candidate Mahfud MD (from left to right) react on the stage during the last presidential election … Read more

Prabowo leads in unofficial presidential vote count

Indonesia’s presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto gestures after he cast his ballot to vote in the country’s presidential and legislative elections at a polling station in Bogor on February 14, 2024. Indonesians began voting for a new president on February 14 with Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto the frontrunner to lead Southeast Asia’s biggest economy despite concerns … Read more

Indonesia’s presidential hopefuls on TikTok to woo Gen Zs, millennials

Indonesia’s presidential election is due 14 February and candidates are going all out to win over voters in this country of 274 million. With millennials and Gen Z voters making up 56.5% of the electorate campaigning is often done on social media. One platform in particular has emerged as key, TikTok. Sopa Images | Lightrocket … Read more

Where to travel in 2024? Here are five spots to avoid crowds

Tired of the usual sights or craving a break from the travel herd? These five travel spots may be the getaway you’re looking for. Adventure travel company Intrepid Travel’s new “Not Hot” list is out — spotlighting overlooked travel spots around the world. The company’s annual list attempts to combat overtourism by helping travelers “beat … Read more

Santa Claus rally is in trouble, may signal weaker stocks

The Santa Claus rally is in trouble. That’s the tendency for the stock market to rise on the last five days of the old year, and the first two days of the new year — typically good for a gain of 1.3%, and historically the best seven-consecutive-day period of the year. But not so far. With … Read more

Economy, Gaza war and China ties dominate

Presidential candidates Anies Baswedan, Prabowo Subianto, and Ganjar Pranowo, along with their vice presidential candidates, are posing for photos after the first presidential candidate debate at the General Election Commission (KPU) office in Jakarta, Indonesia, on December 12, 2023. Indonesia is preparing to hold general elections for president and vice president for the 2024-2029 period … Read more

SAP to pay more than $230 million to settle bribery charges: DOJ & SEC

Christian Klein, CEO of the software company SAP, stands on the podium looking at his cell phone before the start of the company’s Annual General Meeting. Uwe Anspach | Picture Alliance | Getty Images SAP, the $192 billion German enterprise tech company, will pay more than $230 million to settle investigations into worldwide “recidivist” foreign … Read more