A bomb-sniffing dog deployed to the site of an explosion in the Philippine capital has sparked national uproar after a viral photo showed its rib cage and spine protruding sharply, prompting animal rights groups to demand an investigation and better care for the country’s service animals.
The Belgian Malinois, named Kobe, was pictured beside his handler at the blast site in Tondo, Manila, where four people were injured in what police said was the accidental detonation of an air conditioner…
CJEU ruling opens door for review of Court of Arbitration for Sport rulings
Athletes and sports clubs have been given the power to challenge decisions by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within the legal systems of their own countries after a new ruling by the European Court of Justice (CJEU).
Philippines, India mark strategic leap in 75 years of ties amid China tensions
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s state visit to India has culminated in the elevation of bilateral ties to a strategic partnership, marking a symbolic high point as the two countries celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations.
Beyond the ceremony, analysts say the trip reflects a growing convergence between Manila and New Delhi on maritime security, defence cooperation and economic resilience – a relationship shaped by shared democratic values, overlapping interests in the…
Philippines rejects Chinese ‘fake news’ broadcast of South China Sea clash
A Chinese state media broadcast, claiming to show its coastguard towing a Philippine vessel in the South China Sea, has triggered a fresh diplomatic rift between Beijing and Manila, with Philippine authorities dismissing the footage as “fake news” and accusing China of recycling video from past confrontations to manipulate public opinion.
The controversy has renewed scrutiny of Beijing’s information strategy in one of the world’s most contested maritime regions. Analysts caution that while such…
Cases broaden scope of ‘harassment’ for French employers
Recent decisions have broadened the scope of what constitutes harassment under French law, reinforcing the accountability of employers and corporate leadership.
Jetstar Asia’s exit spotlights Asia’s budget airline squeeze
Jetstar Asia’s recent closure highlights the need for budget carriers in Asia to rethink their fare strategies, with analysts warning that the industry is expected to continue facing pressure on its profit margins due to economic volatility, rising costs and intense competition.
The Singapore-based subsidiary of Qantas was the latest casualty in a sector already squeezed by high fuel prices and supply chain bottlenecks. Its exit leaves the Singapore Airlines Group as the only airline group based…
Indonesians fly anime pirate flag in Independence Day protest
As Indonesia prepares to mark its 80th Independence Day, a new symbol of resistance has emerged – not from the pages of history, but from the world of Japanese anime.
Traditionally, the nation’s red-and-white flag adorns homes, vehicles and public spaces in the lead-up to the national holiday.
But this year, many Indonesians have chosen to raise The Jolly Roger pirate flag from the Japanese anime series One Piece in an act of defiance.
The fictional skull-and-crossbones, topped with main…
Foreign universities enter India, raising hopes for end to ‘brain drain’
India’s ambition to establish itself as a premier global education hub is gathering pace, with top institutions from the United Kingdom and Australia launching campuses under a government policy to internationalise the country’s higher education system.
However, analysts caution that the benefits of educational improvements may not be evenly distributed, as most progress will likely be concentrated in major cities. They also indicate that collaborating with foreign universities is unlikely to…
How Singapore’s economic architect Goh Keng Swee shaped its state-linked giants
The First Fools: B-Sides of Lee Kuan Yew’s A-Team is a new anthology about Singapore’s founding leaders. In this excerpt, author Aaron Low spotlights Goh Keng Swee – widely remembered as Singapore’s first finance minister and economic architect – whose lesser-known role as one of the country’s most influential businessmen saw him create a network of state-linked firms that helped define Brand Singapore.
Entrepreneurs start businesses for many reasons. Some do it because of the firm belief that…
Is Thailand’s conflict-hit economy running out of luck?
For days, the piercing whistle of Cambodian rockets sent 69-year-old Kantapong Prakaew scrambling for cover in his makeshift bunker – a frail fortification against the conflict in Thailand’s Surin province.
He is one of the few elderly residents who refused to flee, holding out as artillery fire ravaged the fields and wrecked the livelihoods of a long underdeveloped region.
Across the borderlands, the recent flare-up of violence between Thailand and Cambodia has claimed dozens of lives and…