North Korea’s cruise missile launches test regional defence as arms race intensifies

North Korea’s apparent use of different launch methods to fire two types of cruise missiles from a tactical nuclear-capable submarine could complicate regional defence, while raising fresh questions about the operational readiness of its growing undersea arsenal, observers have said.
The North’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said on Thursday it had “test-fired two types of submarine-launched strategic cruise missiles” off its eastern coast.
The tests “contributed to inspecting the…

The China decoupling paradox: why the world still needs its manufacturing machine

Talk of global decoupling from China has persisted for years, as has speculation that emerging economies such as India and Vietnam could soon replace it as the “world’s factory”.
But for Indian hardware engineer Neeraj Arora, the growth of India’s electronics manufacturing industry has not eliminated the need to source components from China. Instead, it has changed the nature of those imports.
A decade ago, Arora imported finished phone chargers from the world’s second-largest economy. Today,…

South Korea’s offender tracking under scrutiny after stabbing spree exposes ‘serious gaps’

A stabbing rampage by a repeat violent offender wearing an electronic ankle monitor has raised questions about whether South Korea’s system can adequately supervise those deemed high-risk and prevent attacks before they happen.
The 59-year-old suspect told investigators he had become frustrated over what he perceived as mistreatment at a hospital, police said on Wednesday.
Three criminal profilers were helping investigators establish the motive for Tuesday’s attack at a shopping centre in…

Singapore open to legal action against errant firms as haze crisis worsens

Singapore will “keep its options open” on taking legal action against errant companies as air quality in the city state deteriorates to very unhealthy levels.
Singapore is collecting data on the haze as it weighs possible action under its Transboundary Haze Pollution Act, the Straits Times reported on Wednesday, citing Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu.
The law, enacted in 2014, targets those responsible for causing or condoning fires if the resulting haze causes the…

Why younger Japanese now fear Trump’s US more than China

A growing number of Japanese regard the United States as the greatest threat to world peace ahead of traditional rival China, according to a new survey.
The annual poll, released by the Japan Press Research Institute on Saturday, found 26.8 per cent of respondents named the US as the biggest threat to global peace. That was up 9.3 percentage points on last year and far above the 6.6 per cent recorded in 2024.
Russia came top of the list in 2025 but slipped to third place this year, with 18.3 per…

Philippines rejects China’s calls for direct contact amid ‘miscalculation’ warnings

The Philippine military has rejected calls to restore direct communication channels with its Chinese counterpart, despite warnings from Beijing that their absence risks “miscalculation” during confrontations and could further escalate tensions in the South China Sea.
On Tuesday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said it would not communicate with its Chinese counterpart in advance of its maritime operations, arguing that such channels were ineffective without mutual respect for international…