In the Middle East’s diplomatic drama, Turkey takes centre stage

By Tom Hussain Turkey is closing out 2025 as a pivotal Middle Eastern power broker, its influence resurgent amid shifting alliances that have pushed Ankara to the centre of diplomacy spanning from Syria to Gaza. Twelve months ago, few could have predicted the speed – and irony – with which the tides would turn in […]

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Taiwan’s vice president calls for closer EU ties in rare address to international lawmakers

BRUSSELS: Taiwan’s deputy leader urged the European Union to boost security and trade ties with the self-governing island and support its democracy in the face of growing threats by China, in a rare address to a group of international lawmakers in Brussels on Friday. “Peace in the Taiwan Strait is essential to global stability and […]

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South China Sea: does new US-Philippine task force mark turning point in allies’ ties?

By Sam Beltran The United States and the Philippines have launched a new military task force designed to expand joint operational planning and coordination – a move analysts say underscores both countries’ determination to strengthen deterrence against Beijing’s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea. While the initiative formalises years of expanding defence ties, observers […]

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North Korea sends 5,000 construction troops to Russia: Seoul

SEOUL: North Korea has sent about 5,000 construction troops to Russia since September to help with “infrastructure reconstruction,” a South Korean lawmaker said Tuesday after a briefing by Seoul’s spy agency. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been emboldened by the war in Ukraine, securing critical support from Moscow after sending thousands of troops […]

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China’s Xi seeks to boost investment, expand economic ties with Russia

China’s President Xi Jinping on Tuesday sought to expand mutual investment with Russia and affirmed Beijing’s commitment to advance ties despite “turbulent” external conditions, Chinese state media reported. Xi met Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin in Beijing at the Great Hall of the People, a day after Chinese Premier Li Qiang held a meeting with […]

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Syrian president Sharaa expected to visit Washington, US envoy says

MANAMA: United States Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack said on Saturday that Syrian President Ahmed Sharaa was expected to visit Washington. During the visit, Syria would “hopefully” join the US-led coalition to defeat Daesh, Barrack told reporters on the sidelines of the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain, an annual global security and geopolitical conference. Asked […]

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UNESCO Conference in Samarkand Highlights Uzbekistan’s Heritage

By Sadokat Jalolova At the opening ceremony of the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev highlighted Uzbekistan’s growing role in global cultural dialogue and its expanding cooperation with UNESCO. Held on October 30, the event marked the first time in four decades that the conference had convened outside […]

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