China and Central Asia Step Up Fight Against Desertification

China and Central Asian countries are intensifying efforts to combat desertification and protect fragile ecosystems. Reporting for China Daily, Hu Dongmei and Wang Songsong highlight joint initiatives to restore degraded land, implement sustainable farming practices, and curb the spread of deserts across the region, reflecting growing regional cooperation on environmental security. The China-Central Asia Cooperation […]

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Malaysia says no to e-waste dumping but can its ban stop a global trade?

By Ushar Daniele Malaysia has drawn a hard line against becoming a dumping ground for the world’s toxic scrap, but enforcing that pledge means sifting through millions of shipping containers each year – a daunting challenge shared by ports across Southeast Asia. Last week, Kuala Lumpur imposed an immediate ban on e-waste imports, reclassifying the […]

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Why Chinese navy still trails the US in high-stakes game of underwater aircraft recovery

By Alcott Wei in Beijing China’s navy still lacks the advanced underwater equipment and operational readiness needed to effectively conduct salvage operations in the event of a carrier-based aircraft crash, a military magazine tied to the country’s largest state-owned shipbuilder has warned. According to an analysis published this month, Beijing risks exposing sensitive military technology […]

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Why Iran–US talks in Oman matter for global nuclear security

The resumption of Iran-US nuclear negotiations in Oman represents a pivotal moment for global nuclear safety. The airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan in June 2025 showed the vulnerability of global nuclear infrastructure. It is the need of the hour that the diplomacy goes beyond uranium enrichment limits and verification measures […]

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Bangladesh’s BNP set to balance ties with regional powers, US to avoid crossing ‘red line’

By Biman Mukherji The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is poised to recalibrate Dhaka’s ties with India, Pakistan and China, while also addressing US concerns over Beijing’s growing influence in South Asia, following its decisive victory in Thursday’s general election. Analysts said this foreign policy agenda aligned with the party’s focus on economic development, even as […]

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Why Indonesia’s Muslim groups are revisiting Palestinian issue, ‘Board of Peace’

By Resty Woro Yuniar Indonesia’s largest Islamic organisations appear to be recalibrating their stance on Palestine by softening earlier criticisms of President Prabowo Subianto’s decision to join US President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace”, in what analysts describe as a shift from prioritising Palestinian independence to broader security issues. The adjustment, which followed a closed-door […]

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What is China’s Central Military Commission and how does it operate amid anti-graft drive?

By Liu Zhen The Central Military Commission, the top decision-making body overseeing the People’s Liberation Army, is set for a leadership reshuffle after the downfall of most of its members. President Xi Jinping is now in his third term as chairman of the commission. But now five of the other six members of the commission […]

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Trump warns Iran of ‘very traumatic’ outcome if no nuclear deal

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump threatened Iran Thursday with “very traumatic” consequences if it fails to make a nuclear deal — but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was skeptical about the quality of any such agreement. Speaking a day after he hosted Netanyahu at the White House, Trump said he hoped for a […]

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Bangladesh nationalists celebrate landslide win, Islamists cry foul

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party celebrated a landslide victory on Friday in the first elections held since a deadly 2024 uprising, with leader Tarique Rahman to become prime minister. Election Commission figures said the BNP alliance had won 212 seats, compared with 77 for the Islamist-led Jamaat-e-Islami alliance — which said earlier it had “serious questions […]

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What will headline the Xi-Trump summit? Former US envoy weighs in

By Cao Jiaxuan in Beijing Economic issues are expected to take centre stage at the US-China summit in April but regional security will also feature, according to former US ambassador to Beijing Nicholas Burns. Speaking via a video link to the Yale Centre Beijing on Tuesday, Burns said US President Donald Trump would be “right […]

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