By Dr. Robert M. Cutler Kazakhstan’s international visibility is reaching a peak this late summer and early autumn of 2025. In August, UN Secretary-General António Guterres visited Astana, praising the country’s role as a stabilizing influence in Central Asia and a supporter of multilateral institutions. In a few days, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will address the […]
Read MoreMANILA: Anxious Filipino parents braved the rain outside Manila’s police headquarters Monday, after more than 200 people – including dozens of children – were arrested in clashes that erupted during weekend anti-corruption demonstrations. At least 88 minors were among those taken into custody as police deployed water cannon and deafening sirens against crowds of mostly […]
Read MoreCountries are still planning to increase production of fossil fuels to levels incompatible with global commitments on climate change, according to new research published on Monday. The report compiled by more than 50 international researchers compares fossil fuel expansion against the goals of the Paris climate accord, and found a chasm between promises and reality. […]
Read MoreLONDON: Britain, Canada and Australia all recognized a Palestinian state on Sunday, with other countries expected to follow suit this week at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. What would that mean for the Palestinians and Israel? WHAT IS THE STATUS OF PALESTINIAN STATEHOOD NOW? The Palestine Liberation Organization declared an independent Palestinian […]
Read MoreCAIRO: The Gaza health ministry said two Gaza City hospitals have been taken out of service due to Israel’s escalation of its ground offensive and damage caused by continued Israeli bombing, as tanks advanced deeper into the territory. The ministry said in its statement that Al-Rantissi Children’s Hospital was badly damaged a few days ago […]
Read MoreSingapore’s acting transport minister Jeffrey Siow has told parliament that while “zero disruptions” across the city state’s rail network is an unrealistic expectation, the government is boosting efforts to strengthen rail reliability and provide better support for commuters when incidents occur. “Train delays happen in every system, in every city,” Siow said during a parliamentary […]
Read MoreGermany today (22 September) reaffirmed its position that it would not recognise a Palestinian state until the Israelis and Palestinians negotiate a two-state solution. The comments came ahead of the United Nations general assembly, where France is expected to become the latest country to recognise a Palestinian state, following Australia, Britain, Canada, and Portugal, who […]
Read MorePakistan’s nuclear umbrella will cover Saudi Arabia, a source close to the kingdom’s government told AFP yesterday (22 September), days after the two allies signed a surprise mutual defence treaty. The source told AFP that the deal had been in the works for years and that Saudi Arabia expected Pakistan’s arch-rival India to understand the […]
Read MoreSingapore will reconsider its position on recognising a Palestinian state if the situation continues to deteriorate, or if Israel takes further steps to extinguish a two-state solution, Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan has said. Singapore has always supported a negotiated two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. “We will recognise the State of Palestine when […]
Read MoreIndonesia’s defence ministry put out a full-page advertisement in the country’s largest newspaper on Monday, detailing and defending key non-defence programmes being run by the military, amid criticism of the force’s increased role under President Prabowo Subianto. Since being elected as president last year, Prabowo has expanded the number of government posts for military personnel […]
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