Plans for at least three new towns to be built in England within the next five years have been hailed for their diverse and “sensible” approach by experts.
Unrest in Philippine military? Ire of old guard could spell trouble for Marcos
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr is facing growing unrest from retired generals, with some veterans even urging active commanders to withdraw support for the president, according to multiple senior military sources.
At the centre of the discontent are two flashpoints: allegations that billions of Philippine pesos have been lost to fictitious flood-control projects and proposed pension changes that former officers say would leave them worse off than their civilian counterparts.
The…
‘Startling’: EU accused of sacrificing forests for trade deal with Indonesia
Barely had the ink dried on a long-awaited trade pact between the European Union and Indonesia before Brussels proposed another one-year delay to its long-awaited anti-deforestation law.
The move drew fierce criticism from environmental groups, who see the move as a capitulation to global trade interests.
On September 23, the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA), set to take effect in 2027, was concluded after nearly a decade of negotiation.
The…
EU investigation opened into software support practices
The European Commission is investigating whether SAP may have infringed EU competition laws over practices that it is concerned could unfairly restrict business customers from taking advantage of rival maintenance and support services for certain software SAP supplies.
UK’s new right to work digital ID scheme will be ‘challenging’
Plans for a new mandatory digital ID card in the UK aimed at cutting down illegal working will prove ‘extremely challenging’ to implement, an expert has warned.
Singapore population hits record 6.11 million as foreign worker numbers rise
Singapore’s population has reached a record 6.11 million, driven by a rise in foreign workers and new arrivals, even as data points to deeper demographic pressures, including a rapidly ageing society and persistently low birth rates.
The 1.2 per cent year-on-year rise in total population was mainly driven by the non-resident segment, which grew 2.7 per cent to 1.91 million, up from 1.86 million in June 2024.
The increase was due largely to more work permit holders and foreign domestic workers,…
Why China should lead commission for a phased Rohingya repatriation
The Rohingya people have endured one of the world’s most protracted, yet least visible, humanitarian crises. Nearly one million Rohingya refugees live in what were supposed to be temporary camps in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar. They still have little prospect of returning to Myanmar’s Rakhine state.
But at a recent conference in Dhaka, the Rohingya people were, for the first time, given a voice. Their message was clear: they do not want more aid. They need to go home. China is well placed to help…
Vietnam is too important for US to sanction despite Russia ties
While it has China as its main trade partner and the United States as its primary export destination, Vietnam is strengthening its economic, political and military ties with Russia. The country is carefully balancing its relations with all three powers while trying to get the most economic and strategic benefit from each.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s 2024 visit to Vietnam seems to have been mutually beneficial. On the one hand, it allowed the Kremlin to demonstrate to a Russian audience…
How will the Philippines use its share of US$55 million maritime aid?
The Philippines is among Asian nations to be covered by a US$55 million maritime defence funding from the United States, but Manila is not expected to buy any significant game-changing security assets with its share.
Analysts say while the funding signals Washington’s focus on pulling mid-sized states into its orbit to counter Beijing’s growing regional presence, the Philippines is likely to use its undisclosed allocation on radars, drones and coastguard purchases.
US Secretary of State Marco…
South Korea cannot pay Trump’s US$350 billion trade demand upfront: top aide
South Korea is unable to pay US$350 billion upfront in investment in the United States as President Donald Trump suggested under a deal to cut tariffs and is seeking an alternative solution, Seoul’s presidential adviser has said.
Since a handshake deal by the allies’ leaders in July to lower US tariffs to 15 per cent from 25 per cent, as Trump earlier imposed, South Korea has said the US$350 billion in investment would be in the form of loans and loan guarantees as well as equity.
Trump in…