Cambodia’s powerful former leader Hun Sen on Monday blasted a social media video of a man shooting at his image during a carnival in Thailand, amid simmering tensions over the nations’ disputed border.
Territorial tensions spiralled in July into the deadliest military clashes between Cambodia and Thailand in decades, killing more than 40 people and forcing around 300,000 to flee their homes.
The two countries agreed to a ceasefire after five days of fighting, and have since repeatedly traded…
Landslides and floods kill 64 in Nepal and India after torrential rains
Landslides and floods triggered by heavy downpours in Nepal and neighbouring India have killed more than 60 people, officials said on Sunday, as rescuers raced to reach cut-off communities in remote mountainous terrain.
Torrential downpours have lashed Nepal since Friday, triggering river surges and inundating many areas in the Himalayan nation.
At least 44 people have died in rain-triggered disasters and five are missing, Shanti Mahat, spokeswoman for Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction…
Philippines to boost US presence with naval base deal amid ‘entrapment’ fears
The United States is deepening its military presence in the Philippines with a planned upgrade to a naval base in Palawan, a strategically vital island facing the South China Sea that already hosts American-funded boat hubs and airstrips.
While some observers view the growing American presence as a pragmatic move to enhance the Philippines’ defence capabilities, others caution that the strategy risks creating a precarious dependency under a transactional US administration and leaves Manila…
Trump’s 100% tariff threat puts India’s drug industry on edge
A mood of uncertainty hangs over India’s pharmaceutical sector as US President Donald Trump’s latest tariff threats have unsettled investors and policymakers alike.
But behind closed doors, a tentative deal on digital trade and quiet backchannel negotiations are giving hope to markets and manufacturers in both of the world’s most populous democracies.
“There appears to be recognition that the US needs to lower the rhetoric,” said foreign policy analyst Vivek Mishra, deputy director of the…
Fake coup and CIA plot rumours in Philippines fuelling real political turmoil
A wave of fake news and conspiracy theories has taken aim at the Philippine military, with viral claims of coup plots, foreign interference and high-level defections spreading rapidly on social media.
Observers warn the campaign is fuelling political instability by exploiting public outrage over recent major corruption scandals. Several trace the effort to a network of loyalists and influencers aligned with former president Rodrigo Duterte, the chief political rival of President Ferdinand Marcos…
India says it destroyed Pakistan’s Chinese and US-made fighter jets in clashes
India’s Air Force chief on Friday claimed the military destroyed both Chinese-made jets and US-built F-16s during clashes with Pakistan earlier this year, offering New Delhi’s first detailed account of its rival’s losses.
“As far as air defence is concerned, we have evidence of one long-range strike … along with that five fighters, hi-tech fighters between F-16 and JF-17 class, our system tells,” Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh told reporters, referring to the four days of fighting in May…
JCT 2024 updates offer ‘powerful tool’ to unlock construction disputes
Several recent changes to provisions in the Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) suite of forms could help avoid disputes early on, an expert has said.
Philippines 3D-prints drones for future warfare, boosts security alliances
The Philippine military is now 3D-printing drones in preparation for future warfare and strengthening foreign partnerships, with Manila recently being recognised by Indo-Pacific defence ministers as a “frontliner” in keeping the region “free and open”.
Armed Forces Chief-of-Staff General Romeo Brawner Jnr told the Foreign Correspondents Association on Friday that the 3D initiative had been in place since last year, acknowledging it was still not on a large or sophisticated scale as the objective…
ADGM data protection rules updated
Recent updates to data protection rules applicable in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) are especially relevant to insurers, healthcare providers and schools, an expert has said.
Australian writer accuses Malaysia of using Thai police to silence him
An Australian scholar and writer, arrested in Thailand on a defamation charge he said originated with the Malaysian government, claimed on Thursday that he was a victim of broader collaboration among Southeast Asian countries to silence critics.
Independent scholar and writer Murray Hunter, 66, said that he believes he was improperly arrested by Thai police on Monday for articles he had written about Malaysia in 2024 on his online Substack newsletter, and questioned how his case falls under Thai…