Heavy fighting has flared up again between the Druze and Bedouin tribes in the restive southern Syrian province of Suwayda, as another ceasefire has collapsed a day after Syrian troops pulled out of the area. The resumption of clashes on Friday came as the Syrian Ministry of Interior denied reports that government forces are being […]
Read MoreBy Sam Beltran The Philippines is taking part for the first time in Australia’s largest bilateral military exercises with the United States, joining thousands of troops from across the region for war games running until July 27. Analysts say the move reflects Manila’s broader strategy of reinforcing defence ties, not just with Washington but also […]
Read MoreBy Xiaofei Xu in Paris and He Huifeng in Guangdong A week after China said its supercharged rail system has reached speeds of 600km/h (373mph), US President Donald Trump seemingly pulled the plug on American rail progress. In a controversial move being challenged by the state of California, Trump cancelled US$4 billion in federal funding […]
Read MoreBy Maria Siow Cambodia’s government has given itself the legal means to strip dissidents and dual nationals of citizenship, a step denounced as “draconian” by critics who say the government is exploiting border tensions with Thailand to silence opposition and cement its grip on power. The National Assembly unanimously passed a constitutional amendment last Friday […]
Read MoreBy Luna Sunin Beijing The United States’ decision to ease export restrictions on certain advanced chips – part of a broader package of trade agreements with China – is seen by experts as an early sign that high-level negotiations have steered bilateral relations in the right direction. Washington’s move to resume license application reviews for […]
Read MoreBy Marium Ali and Alia Chughtai Gaza’s children and elderly are bearing the brunt of the devastation inflicted by Israel’s war on the enclave, as the United Nations warns of a sharp rise in amputations, long-term disabilities and severe hunger. More than 40,000 children have been injured since the conflict began, and nearly 90 percent […]
Read MoreBy Mark Magnierin New York Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te is planning a US “stopover” trip in August that could take him to New York and Texas en route to South America, sources said, a move that is bound to anger Beijing. On Monday, Paraguayan President Santiago Pena confirmed that Lai would visit his country […]
Read MoreBANGKOK – A wave of criticism has erupted online over claims that Cambodia has registered 22 Thai literary works as part of its intangible cultural heritage with UNESCO, reportedly without objection from the Thai authorities. According to the reports circulating on social media, these literary works, originally composed by Thai authors and historically tied to […]
Read MoreBy Sam Beltran A scheme to traffic Filipinos into Pakistan to work for gaming firms formerly based in the Philippines has exposed the latest evolution of online scam networks linked to the controversial Pogo industry, immigration officials and analysts warn. The case – the first known incident involving Filipinos being trafficked to Pakistan – suggests […]
Read MoreBy Joseph Sipalan A cryptic promise from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has become the latest lightning rod for Malaysia’s restless public, whose patience is wearing thin after months of new taxes, political scandals and economic anxiety. Late on Monday, Anwar posted a stylised silhouette and the words Akan Datang (Coming Soon) across his social media […]
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