Samsung heir enrols to be South Korean naval officer, sparking national service debate

The eldest son of Samsung Group chairman Lee Jae-yong, heir to one of South Korea’s richest families, has enlisted to become a naval officer, one of the most demanding military roles in the country. In doing so, Lee Jee-ho joins a growing cohort of scions of family-run conglomerates who are opting for longer, more demanding […]

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North Korea threatens ‘unfavourable consequences’ over US-led drills

By Park Chan-kyong North Korea has threatened military retaliation in response to joint drills by South Korea, the United States and Japan, with the powerful sister of ruler Kim Jong-un and a top military official issuing parallel statements. Both denounced the ongoing drills and signalled that Pyongyang was prepared to answer with its own show […]

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Young activists who toppled Nepal’s government now picking new leaders

A former DJ and his obscure Nepalese non-profit used a social media app popular with video gamers to drive massive protests and become the unlikely power brokers in installing the country’s new interim leadership. Sudan Gurung, the 36-year-old founder of Hami Nepal (We are Nepal), used the Discord messaging app and Instagram to mobilise massive […]

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Chinese military holds ‘routine’ South China Sea patrol, warns the Philippines on tensions

By Vanessa Caiin Shanghai The Chinese military has carried out a “routine patrol” in the disputed South China Sea, the second such operation in less than two weeks, while cautioning the Philippines against stirring up tensions. Conducted over Friday and Saturday, the latest patrol came just days after Beijing announced plans to establish a national […]

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Young activists who toppled Nepal’s government now picking new leaders

A former DJ and his obscure Nepalese non-profit used a social media app popular with video gamers to drive massive protests and become the unlikely power brokers in installing the country’s new interim leadership. Sudan Gurung, the 36-year-old founder of Hami Nepal (We are Nepal), used the Discord messaging app and Instagram to mobilise massive […]

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Laos embraces China, Russia-led SCO amid frustration with Asean

By Maria Siow In a move analysts see as both a survival strategy and a calculated signal of dissatisfaction with Asean, Laos has joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) as a dialogue partner. The decision was confirmed on September 1 during the SCO summit in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin, where Laotian President Thongloun […]

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The end of IMEC? US-backed answer to China’s belt and road falters amid Mideast strife

By Tom Hussain Two years ago, it was unveiled with much fanfare as a grand riposte to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Today, the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor is being steadily eclipsed by regional hostilities and global disinterest. The architects of the US-backed IMEC, envisaged as a bridge linking India to Europe via the Gulf […]

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