Asia Pacific correspondent Sanusha Naidoo says India’s plans to lease state-owned assets to the private sector in a bid to raise 6 trillion rupees ($81 billion) has raised concerns that it may create oligarchs of private sector firms.
India plans to raise the funds to repair public finances battered by the COVID-19 pandemic and fund new infrastructure.
Naidoo also shared updates about Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte running as Philippines vice-presidential candidate in next year’s election, in a move that leaves boxer-turned-senator Manny Pacquiao down but not out in his bid to become the country’s next leader and Sri Lanka's new animal protection law bans the drunk driving of elephants.