China has executed several Myanmar criminals. What does that say about their regional influence?

By Sylvie Zhuang in Beijing In less than a week, China has carried out executions on a scale rarely seen in recent decades. Sixteen key members of a mafia-like crime syndicate have been sentenced to death for crimes ranging from murder to fraud and human trafficking. While all of the victims in the case were […]

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Bangladesh, China sign RMB1.67 billion deal to procure four vessels

Bangladesh and China today (8 February) signed a framework agreement worth RMB1.67 billion (around Tk2,486.31 crore) to procure four vessels for the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC), aiming to strengthen maritime transport capacity and energy security. The agreement was signed by Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky, secretary of the Economic Relations Division (ERD), and Yao Wen, ambassador […]

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Israel says Netanyahu will meet with Trump on Wednesday about Iran talks

JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with US President Donald Trump in Washington on Wednesday about American talks with Iran, his office said Saturday, while Iran’s foreign minister threatened US military bases in the region a day after the discussions. “The prime minister believes that all negotiations must include limiting the ballistic missiles, […]

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Iran says talks with US in Oman were ‘good start’, will continue

Iran’s top diplomat said on Friday that nuclear talks with the US mediated by Oman were off to a “good start” and set to continue, in remarks that could help allay concern that failure to reach a deal might nudge the Middle East closer to war. But Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said after the talks […]

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Iran Sanctions and European Energy Security: Compliance Considerations for Caspian Trade

On February 6, 2026, the United States announced a new round of sanctions targeting Iranian petroleum shipping networks, designating 15 entities, two individuals, and 14 vessels involved in transporting Iranian oil and petroleum products in circumvention of existing restrictions. Taken pursuant to existing executive authorities and aligned with National Security Presidential Memorandum-2 (NSPM-2), the measures […]

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Thailand votes in three-way race as risk of instability looms

Polls opened in Thailand on Sunday in a general election defined by a three-way battle between the country’s conservative, progressive and populist camps, with no single party expected to secure a clear majority, prolonging the spectre of political instability. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul set the stage for the snap election in mid-December, amid a raging […]

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A very Chinese time? How memes are paving the way for a soft power shift

By Meredith Chen Drinking hot water, eating warm congee and dressing in red to pray for good luck are daily rituals shared by social media users across the globe who have embraced a new lifestyle trend, declaring: “You met me at a very Chinese time in my life.” The phrase has been popularised over the […]

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Southeast Asian refugees cast out of Trump’s US face exile in unknown lands

By Aidan Jones The tattoo on his arm reads “buc Lao” (Laos boy) but Kham Paneboun is not a Laotian citizen. In fact, he’s not really from anywhere. In February last year, US Homeland Security detained him for a felony committed as a teenager, revoked his work permit and – after decades of legal residence […]

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First China-Philippines talks in over a year: is a South China Sea thaw in the offing?

By Laura Zhou A war of words between Chinese diplomats and Philippine politicians over the disputed South China Sea has prompted calls in Manila to declare the Chinese ambassador persona non grata – the second such call in three years. While Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr has rejected the idea, the latest spike in tensions […]

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