The significance of reconciling Saudi Arabia and Iran

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In: Asia

It would be wrong to view the restoration of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran as something that happened suddenly. Since the Iranian Revolution of 1979, ties between the two important Muslim neighbors have been strained. For the Saudi elite the revolution was not only anti-monarchical but also a boost to the Shia sect within […]Continue Reading

Asia’s factory activity weakens as global demand falters

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TOKYO: Asia’s factory activity weakened in March as soft overseas demand hurt output, surveys showed on Monday (Apr 3), suggesting that a deteriorating global outlook will remain a drag on the region’s recovery and keep policymakers on their toes. Export-reliant Japan and South Korea both saw manufacturing activity contract inContinue Reading

Xi, Biden show contrasting styles of world leadership

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In: Asia

Early in January, I opined in Asia Times that “2023 bodes poorly for US international relations” under US President Joe Biden. I based my conclusion on China’s impressive success in making new friends versus the Biden administration’s inability to make any. In less than three months since then, developments around the world have been seismic […]Continue Reading

Singapore authorities seize record haul of over 85,000 vape products in warehouse raid

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In: South-East Asia

SINGAPORE: Over 85,000 electronic vaporisers and related components were seized in a warehouse raid conducted by Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority (HSA).  This is the largest seizure of e-vaporiser or vape products by HSA, surpassing a haul in 2021 where more than S$2.2 million worth of products were confiscated, said HSAContinue Reading

US cranking pressure on China in South China Sea

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MANILA – The US Navy has conducted its first major freedom of navigation operation (FONOP) in the South China Sea in 2023 with the deployment of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) close to the China-occupied Paracel Islands. Back in November, the Pentagon deployed the US guided missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG-62) to the contested […]Continue Reading