Deeper economic cooperation between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will hinge on whether a code can be laid down to govern maritime territory and activity in the South China Sea, Philippine leader Ferdinand Marcos Jnr has said.
“We cannot institutionalise any of those things until the code of conduct is finalised,” he told a press conference on Friday at the close of the 48th Asean summit in Cebu, when asked about aspects that held the most potential in relations between…
Philippines shifts defence strategy with Japan, eyes wider security focus
The recently concluded Balikatan joint drills have marked a shift in the Philippines’ defence strategy alongside Japan, with Tokyo offering the transfer of warships to its Southeast Asian ally, while a top Filipino official for the first time voiced “serious concern” over islands claimed by Beijing and Tokyo.
Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jnr on Wednesday said Manila now considered the uninhabited Diaoyu Islands, which Japan calls the Senkaku Islands, a security flashpoint in the…
Rules on ‘high-risk’ AI to be delayed under EU ‘omnibus’ deal
EU rules regarding AI systems categorised as ‘high-risk’ will take effect from late 2027, not this summer as is scheduled, if a new deal struck by legislators is adopted in the coming weeks.
Thailand, Cambodia pledge to forge lasting peace at Asean meet after border clashes
The leaders of Thailand and Cambodia agreed on Thursday to pursue trust-building measures to advance a fragile ceasefire and establish peace, after rare talks over last year’s deadly fighting between the two neighbours.
Troops remain deployed on both sides of their long-disputed 817km (508-mile) border after battles in July and December when skirmishes quickly escalated into air strikes and heavy exchanges of artillery and rockets.
The Philippines, which is hosting Asean meetings on the island…
Singapore isolates 2 residents linked to MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak
Two Singapore residents who were on board the hantavirus-hit cruise ship MV Hondius are currently being isolated at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID), where they are being tested for the virus.
“Their test results are pending. One has a runny nose but is otherwise well, and the other is asymptomatic. The risk to the general public in Singapore is currently low,” the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) said on Thursday.
CDA said it was notified on Monday and Tuesday that the…
Stars could move swiftly to protect image as Taylor lodges AI trademarks
A move by global pop icon Taylor Swift to trademark her voice marks the latest step in celebrity fears over AI manipulation, according to an intellectual property expert.
Bus and oil tanker collide in Indonesia, killing at least 16 people
A passenger bus collided head-on with a fuel tanker truck on a highway on Indonesia’s Sumatra island on Wednesday, killing at least 16 people and injuring four others, officials said.
The crash occurred around midday on the Trans-Sumatra Highway in North Musi Rawas regency of South Sumatra province, when an intercity bus carrying at least 20 people struck a tanker truck travelling in the opposite direction, said Mugono, a local disaster management agency official.
Mugono, who uses a single name…
Vietnam, India seek closer ties to hedge against dependence on superpowers
A visit by Vietnam’s leader to India is set to enhance New Delhi’s growing influence with Hanoi while allowing the Southeast Asian country to hedge against China in the event of any escalation in maritime disputes.
Vietnamese President To Lam’s trip underscores concerns from both countries of being “overly dependent” on any superpower, according to political analysts.
Lam arrived in Delhi on Tuesday for a three-day visit, marking his first trip to India since assuming office. The visit coincides…
Finding balance in using AI for workforce management in South Africa
AI is increasingly used in South African workplaces to monitor productivity, generate performance scores and trigger warnings. In high-volume environments, these tools can offer real operational value by improving consistency, reducing inappropriate subjectivity and enabling more data-driven assessments of employee contribution, thus enhancing fairness.
Japan, Philippines to fast-track transfer of navy destroyers
Japan’s defence minister pledged to deepen military cooperation with the Philippines during a visit Tuesday to Manila, aiming for the “early transfer” of Abukuma-class destroyers to the archipelago nation.
The two countries’ shared grievances over Chinese territorial claims have seen them draw increasingly close in recent years, including the signing of a reciprocal access agreement allowing for the deployment of troops on each other’s territory.
Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi’s visit came as…