A reported US pullback in intelligence-sharing with South Korea has exposed a new trust gap between the allies after Unification Minister Chung Dong-young publicly mentioned a suspected North Korean uranium-enrichment site.
Washington viewed Chung’s remark as disclosing sensitive information about Kusong – a site long discussed in outside analyses, but not previously identified publicly by a South Korean official in such terms – and responded by reducing the intelligence it shared with Seoul,…
Philippine army kills at least 10 Maoist rebels during battles on Negros
Government forces in the central Philippines have killed at least 10 Maoist guerrillas in several gun battles, the military said on Monday, in a deadly flare-up of the decades-old insurgency.
Troops were fighting “remnants” of the New People’s Army (NPA) rebel group on Sunday near the municipality of Toboso on Negros island, the regional military command said.
The exact number of dead rebels was uncertain, with Philippine Army spokesman Colonel Louie Dema-ala in Manila saying as many as 19 might…
Can Iran fiasco help China edge out US in key arena of Southeast Asia?
Since America launched its “major combat operation” against Iran, several Nato allies have distanced themselves from Washington. Now America also risks losing ground in strategically important Southeast Asia to China. Could it face an erosion of influence similar to that suffered by Russia in Central Asia as a result of its “special military operation” in Ukraine?
Soon after US President Donald Trump launched massive air and missile strikes on Iran on February 28, it became clear Washington…
Blaze in Malaysia’s Sabah destroys 1,000 homes, displaces over 9,000
Thousands of people have been displaced after a fire destroyed around 1,000 homes in a coastal village in Malaysia’s Sabah state on Borneo island on Sunday, the fire department said.
Authorities were notified of the fire in Sandakan district at around 1.32am, the district’s fire and rescue chief Jimmy Lagung said in a statement.
“Strong winds and the close proximity of the houses caused the fire to spread rapidly, while low tide conditions also made it difficult to obtain an open water…
Japan, Australia finalise contracts to deliver first 3 of planned frigates
Japan and Australia said on Saturday they have finalised contracts to jointly deliver the first three of 11 ships for the Australian navy based on the upgraded Japanese Mogami-class frigate, as the two countries deepen their defence cooperation amid China’s growing assertiveness.
The deal, announced by Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and his Australian counterpart Richard Marles in Melbourne, comes ahead of Japan’s planned easing of its rules on defence equipment exports, which place…
In Bangkok, Malaysia’s first Mr Bear winner finds spotlight queer life rarely gets at home
On Monday afternoon, amid the heat and chaos of Thailand’s Songkran festival, Gavin Chow was crowned Mr Bear International 2026 – the first Malaysian to win the title at a pageant that has quickly become part of Thailand’s growing queer festival circuit.
Back in Chow’s home country, the climate is very different.
Malaysia criminalises same-sex intimacy under federal law, LGBTQ gatherings have faced police raids and the 34-year-old activist’s own national qualifier earlier this year struggled to…
‘Disappointing’ UK tax ruling will hit projects across sectors, say experts
The costs developers commonly incur in carrying out surveys and studies needed to move forward with major projects do not qualify for tax relief in the form of capital allowances under UK tax law, the UK Supreme Court has ruled.
Corporate governance for UK group companies and subsidiaries
Subsidiaries within a corporate group have distinct governance needs from their parent companies. They are separate legal entities with their own customers, employees, suppliers and other stakeholders and, as such, owe legal obligations to each of those constituencies as well as to their shareholder.
Retailers need to respond to the rise of agentic AI in commerce
The fact that consumers can now use agentic AI to make online purchases on their behalf directly from within the AI chat interface should spur retailers to reconsider how they sell goods online.
Arrest of Philippine ex-lawmaker Zaldy Co ‘missing puzzle piece’ in flood-control probe
The arrest of fugitive former congressman Zaldy Co has revived a long-stalled Philippine corruption investigation and sharpened political pressure on President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, whom the wanted lawmaker has accused of personally benefiting from a multibillion-peso kickback scheme tied to flood control projects.
Observers called Co’s arrest a “notable step towards accountability” in a case that had stalled after the collapse of the commission set up to investigate it.
Co resigned from the…