Why Philippines as Asean chair may leave Thai-Cambodian peace problem to US, China

By Sam Beltran The Philippines as Asean chair for 2026 will have to decide how much to intervene in the Thailand-Cambodia row. However, observers warn that the bar for the bloc in conflict-resolution “is not very high”. Analysts expect flare-ups throughout the year between the Southeast Asian neighbours due to long-standing historical differences, despite attempts […]

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What North Korea’s missile test after Maduro arrest says about Kim’s denuclearisation stance

By Park Chan-kyong A missile test by North Korea in the aftermath of the US capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro signals what analysts have said is Pyongyang’s cautionary stance over the vulnerability of countries without credible military and nuclear deterrence. While overseeing the launch of multiple missiles on Sunday, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un […]

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If the US seizes control of Venezuela’s oil, who wins – and who loses?

By Mia Nurmamat After US air strikes hit Caracas on Saturday, Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife were detained and transferred to the United States. US President Donald Trump later said his country planned to “run” Venezuela for the time being and take control of its oil reserves. In the wake of the military […]

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Thailand election 2026: can ‘orange wave’ break conservative grip on power?

By Aidan Jones For any party that wants to change Thailand, bitter experience has shown that winning an election and taking power are two entirely different things. Conservatives hold the keys to government in the kingdom, where politicians, tycoons and generals serving the apex power of the monarchy allow elections, but conjure up coups and […]

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Who is Cilia Flores, power broker and wife of Nicolas Maduro?

Cilia Flores, the wife of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and one of the most influential figures in the country’s ruling establishment, has drawn renewed international attention after US President Donald Trump claimed she was captured alongside her husband during a US operation in Venezuela yesterday (3 January). According to Trump, US forces carried out what […]

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US strike on Venezuela to embolden China’s territorial claims, Taiwan attack unlikely, analysts say

The US attack on Venezuela will embolden China to strengthen its territorial claims over areas such as Taiwan and parts of the South China Sea but will not hasten any potential invasion of Taiwan, analysts said. Chinese President Xi Jinping’s considerations about Taiwan and his timeline are separate from the situation in Latin America, influenced […]

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Where is Venezuela opposition leader Maria Machado? Nobel winner in focus after US takes out Maduro

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, is back in focus after US President Donald Trump said the South American country’s leader, Nicolas Maduro, has been “captured” amid large-scale strikes by Washington. Machado became the global face of the Venezuelan opposition after bagging the Nobel Peace Prize, which was […]

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Why talk of a Japanese nuclear option is resurfacing – and why it alarms critics

By Julian Ryall An editorial in the Sankei Shimbun has reopened a long-taboo debate in Japan over whether the country should even discuss acquiring nuclear weapons, after off-the-record remarks by a senior security official arguing the country should have them sparked domestic and regional backlash. The conservative daily argued that growing threats from Japan’s neighbours […]

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What if China’s KJ-600 aircraft could serve older carriers as well as Fujian?

By Liu Zhen China’s first fixed-wing carrier-based early-warning aircraft may have sacrificed aerial refuelling to be able to operate from both ski-jump and catapult-equipped vessels, according to a Chinese military magazine. The KJ-600 airborne early warning and control aircraft was designed for catapult-launched operations and made its debut at the Victory Day parade in early […]

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Indonesia reaffirms Yemen’s territorial integrity, backs stability efforts amid tensions

JAKARTA: Indonesia has called for respect for Yemen’s territorial integrity and commended efforts to maintain stability in the region, a day after Saudi Arabia bombed a weapons shipment from the UAE at a Yemeni port city that Riyadh said was intended for separatist forces. Saudi Arabia carried out a “limited airstrike” at Yemen’s port city […]

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