By Mia Nulimaimaiti in London China’s crude oil imports remained robust in July, fuelled by higher Russian shipments, while China’s purchases from the US remained suspended for a second straight month. The latest customs data shows that the volume of inbound crude oil reached 47.2 million tonnes in July, up 11.5 per cent from a […]
Read MoreBy Maria Siow With the next Pacific Islands Forum poised to convene in Honiara next month, the Solomon Islands’ decision to exclude all external dialogue partners has reignited debate over the cost of regional compromise and the Pacific’s ability to chart an independent course. Announcing the move earlier this month, Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele confirmed […]
Read MoreBy Raissa Robles Maritime tensions between the Philippines and China have entered what analysts describe as a risky and potentially volatile phase after an accidental collision between two Chinese vessels near Scarborough Shoal, one of the most contested features in the South China Sea. The rare mishap involving the vessels from the Chinese coastguard and […]
Read MoreBy Lawrence Chungin Taipei Taiwan is moving to buy nearly 50,000 drones over the next two years as it seeks to bolster its asymmetric combat capabilities against mounting military pressure from Beijing. The move comes as the island’s military prepares to classify unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as consumables to accelerate procurement – a policy that […]
Read MoreBy Tom Hussain Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s open endorsement of a maximalist “Greater Israel” vision has unsettled the Arab world, with analysts warning it could mark a turning point in the region’s balance of power. Long seen by Washington and the West as a counterweight to Iran, observers say Israel now risks eclipsing its […]
Read MoreBy Jeoffrey Maitem The Philippine government has reported a marked increase in Chinese maritime activity near Scarborough Shoal, intensifying a stand-off over the disputed South China Sea atoll. Officials in Manila have characterised the build-up as an attempt by Beijing to reassert control after two Chinese ships collided last week during a chase involving a […]
Read MoreBy Joseph Sipalan,Hadi Azmi,Hai Dang and Aidan Jones As he neared his 40th birthday, Hafiz Sujang took a quick inventory of his life – a loving family, a steady job as an IT consultant in Malaysia’s largest city – and found just one missing piece: a home of his own. But as he took the […]
Read MoreBy David D. Lee In Seoul’s hip Hongdae neighbourhood, 19-year-old Choi Jae-eun is already deep in conversation with her friend about the latest anime drop on Netflix. The pair are making their way to Animate, a shop inside AK Plaza whose shelves overflow with Japanese manga, anime figurines and limited-edition merchandise. Pop-up stalls themed around […]
Read MoreNEW YORK: Special US envoy Steve Witkoff said Sunday that Russian leader Vladimir Putin agreed at his summit with President Donald Trump to allow the US and European allies to offer Ukraine a security guarantee resembling NATO’s collective defense mandate as part of an eventual deal to end the 3 1/2-year war. “We were able […]
Read MoreBy Sam Beltran Almost three in four Filipinos believe that schools should teach children about sex and reproductive health, a new survey has shown – a marked shift in public sentiment that advocates say underscores the urgency of combating disinformation and religious resistance as teen pregnancies and HIV cases surge in the Philippines. In the […]
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