For three-quarters of a century, the Middle East operated inside an American frame. Washington was not the only actor, but it was the reference point […]
Category: Asia
News from Asia
South Korea on ‘unfair’ online ads: Helping food firms avoid snags
The South Korean government has published an in-depth handbook on Unfair Online Advertising in a bid to further manage how food products are sold online…See […]
How Japan is putting AI in its cybernetic place
Much of the Western debate about artificial intelligence centers on the machine itself. Will AI become conscious? Will it surpass human intelligence? Could it acquire […]
Australia expands paid parental leave to six months in boost for working families
Australia will expand its government-funded Paid Parental Leave scheme to a full six months from 1 July 2026, marking the final stage of a multi-year […]
Employees in Singapore see stronger real wage gains despite cooling nominal growth
Employees in Singapore saw real wage growth accelerate to 4% in 2025, up from 3.2% in 2024, according to the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) latest […]
Energy drink trends: US startup PHX blends hydration and energy
PHX, a Florida-based functional beverage startup, has launched a hydration-energy drink designed to meet growing consumer demand for multifunctional beverages…See More
What Washington’s Nuclear Gamble with Saudi Means
By: Salman Rafi Sheikh The US-Saudi nuclear agreement is not really about reactors. It’s about rules and Washington deciding its own rules are negotiable. That […]
Pakistan’s only choice is active neutrality in US-Iran war
A war is entering Pakistani homes right now. Not through headlines, but through the electricity bill, the bus fare, the price of vegetables at the […]
Blind spot: The hidden workers behind Indonesia’s digital boom
Today, Indonesia stands as one of the most formidable digital economic powerhouses in Southeast Asia. Bank Indonesia recorded digital payment transaction volumes reaching 5.22 billion […]
Trump’s new tariffs to cost Americans $100 billion per year
US President Donald Trump on Thursday unveiled a new package of tariffs targeting 60 countries that account for over 99% of US imports, a move that—if upheld in court—would cost Americans […]
Politicians vs generals: Ukraine’s long, hidden war within
The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, has dismissed the country’s commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, after a turbulent week in which he also removed his defense minister, Mykhailo […]
SWIFT reforms: India’s push for food safety and traceability
India’s recent reforms span ingredient restrictions and digital trade systems aimed at strengthening food traceability and supporting domestic and global trade…See More
Japan’s fake fury over its free-falling yen
TOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s political fortunes are falling almost as fast as the yen these days — and the two are closely […]
The age of rearmament
Subscribe now with a one-month trial for only $1, then enjoy the first year at an exclusive rate of just $99. Japan’s nuclear taboo is slowly […]
Iran-Iraq-Pakistan ‘axis of sympathy’ signals a reshaping Southwest Asia
Earlier this month, the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was buried in his hometown of Mashhad after a four-day ceremony. Many international delegations […]
New surveillance commons means the end of military concealment
On February 26, 2026 – 48 hours before the United States and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury – Hangzhou-based MizarVision posted AI-annotated satellite imagery of […]
ASEAN reclaims its centrality as newer blocs wobble and wane
With the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) losing much of its diplomatic momentum, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been gradually reclaiming its centrality […]
How can food firms counter the rising prevalence of Chinese brands?
With Chinese brands pushing into Southeast Asia, can competitors keep up on price while sharpening localisation strategies and unique selling points (USPs…See More
Indonesia doesn’t need China to keep its nickel industry afloat
This is the first of a multi-part series on Indonesia’s nickel industry. China’s nickel investors in Indonesia are sending a familiar warning: reverse regulatory uncertainty, […]
AI and human ingenuity may be bringing a new golden age of math
In May 2026, OpenAI released a new math result that sent shock waves throughout the world of mathematical research. A major unsolved problem called the […]