By Liu Zhen and Seong Hyeon Choi Thailand, a US treaty ally, has been adding to its arsenal of Chinese-made weapons with deals for ships, tanks and other high-value hardware. Analysts put the trend down to pragmatic considerations. The Royal Thai Army has finalised a deal to buy an additional batch of Chinese-made VN-1 armoured […]
Read MoreBEIJING: China said on Saturday the senior vice chairman of its powerful Central Military Commission (CMC) and another high-ranking official were under investigation for suspected “serious violations of discipline,” a common euphemism for corruption. The announcement marks the latest push in a sweeping drive to root out graft at all levels of the party and […]
Read MoreJAKARTA: The Gulf Cooperation Council and Indonesia are aiming to finalize their free trade agreement in 2026, trade officials said on Saturday as they wrap up the fourth round of negotiations. Indonesia has been working to enhance trade ties with GCC members, and already has a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with the UAE, its first […]
Read MoreKyrgyzstan’s Deputy Chairperson of the Central Commission for Elections and Referendums, Aidana Zhupueva, has met with Hungary’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Kyrgyzstan, Sándor Dorógi, to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation in electoral processes and exchanging best practices between their election authorities. Dorógi highlighted Hungary’s strong interest in Kyrgyzstan’s experience with advanced digital technologies in elections, […]
Read MoreCOPENHAGEN: Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Saturday slammed US President Donald Trump for saying NATO allies had shied from the front line in Afghanistan. “I fully understand that Danish veterans have said no words can describe how much this hurts,” she said on Facebook. “It is unacceptable that the American president questions the commitment […]
Read MoreRIYADH: Saudi Arabia will host the World Economic Forum Global Collaboration and Growth Meeting in Jeddah between April 22-23, 2026. Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Alibrahim on Friday confirmed the details of the high-level meeting which was announced at the annual WEF meeting in 2025, Saudi Press Agency reported. In his closing remarks at […]
Read MoreFor much of the post-Cold War era, Japan’s relationship with Central Asia unfolded quietly. Tokyo invested in infrastructure, supported education and training, and selectively engaged in commercial projects-most notably in Kazakhstan’s energy and mining sectors. This engagement was shaped less by geopolitical ambition and more by Japan’s long-standing emphasis on “human security,” capacity building, and […]
Read MoreBy Joseph Sipalan Malaysia’s next general election may well be decided by the country’s millions of young voters and its biggest conservative Islamist party is determined to win them over. For the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), winning young people’s support means dominating the online spaces they inhabit. “Whoever controls [online] media will gain their votes,” […]
Read MoreBy Seong Hyeon Choi In the US State Department’s catalogue of priorities for the next five years, Taiwan rates exactly zero mentions. The department’s Agency Strategic Plan does list peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific as a goal but its top focus after national security is the western hemisphere. The plan sets out the direction […]
Read MoreThe Indian military is set to recreate its tri-services campaign against Pakistan from last May during the 77th Republic Day Parade in New Delhi on 26 January. The display, an annual exhibition of the country’s military and diplomatic reach, will feature the specific aircraft formations and hardware used during the 88-hour conflict. Air Commodore Manish […]
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