Western Asia
Iran urges US to drop ‘excessive demands’ to reach deal
by Masum BillahTEHRAN: Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that in order to reach a deal, the United States will have to drop its “excessive demands,” after the two sides held talks in Geneva. In a phone call with Egypt’s top diplomat Badr Abdelatty, Araghchi said “success in this path requires seriousness and realism from […]
Indonesia eyes investment boost from UAE after leaders’ meeting
by Masum BillahJAKARTA: Indonesia is expecting more investments from the UAE, the Indonesian government said on Friday following talks between President Prabowo Subianto and his Emirati counterpart Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan. Indonesia’s relations with the UAE grew under former President Joko Widodo, who in 2021 secured more than $46 billion investment commitment from the Gulf state. […]
Russia and China Arming Iran for a Showdown with the United States
by Masum BillahBy Samir Muradov The Middle East is once again approaching a period of heightened volatility. Renewed discussions in Washington about potential military action against Iranian targets have coincided with a noticeable acceleration of military cooperation between Iran, Russia, and China. While none of the parties openly frames their actions as preparation for imminent war, the […]
JD Vance: Full-Scale War Between US and Iran Unlikely
by Masum BillahJD Vance has stated that there is “no chance” the United States will become involved in a full-scale war with Iran, even if former President Donald Trump chooses to carry out new military strikes. The vice-president said aboard Air Force Two on Thursday that the president is still weighing his options, with indirect talks ongoing […]
Will Trump’s Luck Run Out if He Attacks Iran Again?
by Masum BillahIn a new analysis for Foreign Policy, John Haltiwanger, a staff writer covering national security and the Middle East, explores whether Donald Trump’s bold approach toward Iran could finally catch up with him – and what further military action might mean for U.S. strategy and influence in the region. Four former generals break down the […]
East Asia
China scours for bargaining chips to put on Trump-Xi summit table: sources
by Masum BillahBY Dewey Simin Beijing and Laura Zhou Beijing has called for all hands on deck to work out what ever-unpredictable US President Donald Trump might demand when he sits down with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in a few weeks. Several sources, all speaking on condition of anonymity, said various Chinese government departments had been […]
Germany’s Merz hails China ties as he seeks reset with Beijing
by Masum BillahBEIJING: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz won a pledge by China to import more high-quality goods from Germany on Wednesday, as he visited Beijing aiming to reset relations that have been clouded by a yawning trade deficit with the world’s second-largest economy. On his first visit to China as Chancellor, Merz, who was accompanied by a […]
Is China flexing its intelligence muscle by tracking US military moves near Iran?
by Masum BillahBy Yuanyue Dang in Beijing and Amber Wang in Beijing A Chinese private company has drawn the attention of security watchers after detailing US military deployments near Iran, a move experts say underlines Beijing’s intelligence abilities. MizarVision, a Chinese commercial intelligence analysis firm, has consistently published monitoring posts regarding American military movements on social media […]
Xi Jinping expresses hope China can open ‘new chapter’ in relations with North Korea
by Masum BillahBy Yuanyue Dang in Beijing Chinese President Xi Jinping has congratulated North Korean leader Kim Jong-un after he cemented his leadership at the latest congress of the country’s ruling party. Xi said Kim’s reselection as general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea on Monday reflected the “high trust and wholehearted support” of the country’s […]
South Korea, Brazil agree to expand cooperation in key minerals, trade
by Masum BillahSouth Korean President Lee Jae Myung held summit talks in Seoul on Monday with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, where they agreed to expand cooperation in sectors including trade, key minerals, technology and culture. The leaders plan to elevate the bilateral relationship into a strategic partnership, and for the countries to work together […]
South Asia
Who is contesting Nepal’s polls and what is at stake?
by Masum BillahNepal will hold a national election next month, its first since deadly youth-led anti-graft protests toppled the government of then-Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in September. As the Himalayan nation prepares for the 5 March polls, here is a look at the key contenders and what is at stake. The voters Nearly 19 million of […]
Canadian PM arrives in India to bolster ties, boost trade cooperation
by Masum BillahNEW DELHI: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Mumbai on Friday on his first official visit to India, as the two countries seek to strengthen ties after years of diplomatic difficulties. India is Carney’s first stop on an Asia-Pacific tour that also includes Australia and Japan — a trip aimed at unlocking new opportunities […]
How do Pakistan and Taliban Afghan militaries stack up as tensions flare?
by Masum BillahCross-border fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan intensified overnight, with both sides claiming heavy losses and the Pakistani defence minister saying his country was in an “open war” with its neighbour. As tensions persist, here is a look at how Pakistan dwarfs Afghanistan’s military forces and arsenals, according to data from the London-based International Institute for […]
Pakistan claims it killed 274 Taliban fighters; Afghanistan says 55 Pakistani soldiers dead
by Masum BillahPakistan and Afghanistan exchanged heavy air and ground strikes on Friday, with both sides reporting sharply different casualty figures in what Pakistani officials described as “open war” along their volatile frontier. Pakistani air strikes hit 22 Afghan military targets, killing 274 Taliban officials and militants, military spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry told reporters. At least 12 […]
Southeast Asia
Indonesia eyes investment boost from UAE after leaders’ meeting
by Masum BillahJAKARTA: Indonesia is expecting more investments from the UAE, the Indonesian government said on Friday following talks between President Prabowo Subianto and his Emirati counterpart Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan. Indonesia’s relations with the UAE grew under former President Joko Widodo, who in 2021 secured more than $46 billion investment commitment from the Gulf state. […]
Retired Myanmar general set for powerful role in new parliament, sources say
by Masum BillahA retired general from an army-backed party that swept Myanmar’s election is set to take the powerful role of speaker of parliament, party sources said, which could help the military cement control of government after a return to democratic rule. A junta that has run Myanmar since a 2021 coup will formally cede power after […]
Can China and Philippines replace ‘disputes with cooperation’ after years of tension?
by Masum BillahBy Alyssa Chen China and the Philippines may soon start joint coastguard patrols in the South China Sea after years of tensions over the disputed waters, according to a Philippine senator. Erwin Tulfo, chairman of the Senate’s foreign relations committee, met Chinese ambassador Jing Quan on Monday, and said afterwards that the two countries’ coastguards […]
Malaysia mulls law to curb premiership to two terms
by Masum BillahKUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia introduced new legislation Monday to restrict the prime minister’s tenure to a maximum of two terms, a move aimed at boosting accountability and curbing the overreach of executive powers. The Southeast Asian nation currently places no cap on how many terms a premier can serve. Former leader Mahathir Mohamad held office for […]
Thailand sees Lunar New Year travel boom as Chinese tourists back in droves
by Masum BillahBy Aidan Jones Resorts are near capacity in Pattaya, Bangkok restaurants are doing a roaring trade and the strict time slots to visit the Louis Vuitton pop-up “hotel” in the Thai capital are fully booked. As this year’s Lunar New Year holiday draws to a close, Thailand’s tourist businesses are totting up the receipts from […]
Central Asia
Kazakhstan, Serbia Sign Multiple Deals to Boost Bilateral Ties
by Masum BillahKazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić have signed a series of agreements in Astana. The deals are aimed at deepening cooperation across multiple sectors, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media. Broad Cooperation Across Key Sectors The two leaders attended an exchange ceremony for 10 interdepartmental memorandums, covering areas such as: Healthcare […]
US Warns Ukraine Over Strikes on Kazakhstan-Linked Oil Routes
by Masum BillahThe US administration has issued a formal diplomatic warning to Ukraine following drone strikes on Russia’s Black Sea port of Novorossiysk that reportedly affected American economic interests tied to Kazakhstan’s oil exports. Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Olga Stefanishyna confirmed that Kyiv received a demarche from the US Department of State after the attacks, […]
How Many Kazakh Citizens Are Eligible to Vote in Upcoming Referendum?
by Masum BillahThe Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan has finalized the number of citizens eligible to participate in the upcoming referendum on amendments to the Constitution. Based on data provided by regional akimats and the administrations of Astana, Almaty, and Shymkent, a total of 12,461,796 voters have been included on the official lists, The […]
Kazakh President congratulates Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
by Masum BillahPresident Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan has offered his felicitations to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, on the occasion of Saudi Founding Day, The Caspian Post reports, citing Akorda. The Head of State emphasized that Saudi […]
Kazakhstan, UNEP Agree to Deepen Environmental Cooperation
by Masum BillahKazakhstan is stepping up its environmental diplomacy as it prepares to host a major regional summit in Astana this spring. Kazakhstan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Office in Nairobi, Ambassador Barlybay Sadykov, held talks with United Nations Environment Programme Executive Director Inger Andersen, focusing on deepening cooperation ahead of the Regional Environmental Summit scheduled for […]
