SEOUL: The United States and South Korea staged drills for the second time in a week on Friday (Feb 3) with some of their latest warplanes, despite North Korean complaints that the exercises were increasing tensions on the peninsula. The two countries conducted a joint air exercise over the seaContinue Reading
The new administration of Ferdinand Marcos has been keen to reverse that. Beijing’s growing assertiveness on Taiwan and its building of bases in the disputed South China Sea have given fresh impetus to Washington and Manila to strengthen their partnership. Given the Philippines’ proximity to Taiwan and its surrounding waters,Continue Reading
The Indonesian government has strongly condemned the burning of the Quran by Paludan and summoned Swedish Ambassador Marina Berg last week, said Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Teuku Faizasyah. “This act of blasphemy has hurt and tarnished religious tolerance,” the ministry said in a statement on Jan 22. “Freedom of expressionContinue Reading
ANKARA: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan signalled on Sunday (Jan 29) that Ankara may agree to Finland joining NATO ahead of Sweden, amid growing tensions with Stockholm. “We may deliver Finland a different message (on their NATO application) and Sweden would be shocked when they see our message. But Finland shouldContinue Reading
SEOUL: North Korea on Sunday (Jan 29) criticised for a second day a United States decision to send tanks to Ukraine, calling it a “criminal act against humanity” aimed at perpetuating an unstable international situation. Washington’s allegations that North Korea has provided arms to Russia are a “baseless” effort toContinue Reading
Russia said on Sunday (Jan 29) it will not hold annual talks with Japan on renewing a pact that allows Japanese fishermen to operate near disputed islands, saying Japan has taken anti-Russian measures. The islands, off the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, are known in Russia as the Kurils andContinue Reading
SEOUL: North Korea on Saturday (Jan 28) denounced US pledges of battle tanks to Ukraine, claiming Washington was “further crossing the red line” to win hegemony by proxy war, state media KCNA reported. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s powerful sister, Kim Yo Jong, made the remarks in a statementContinue Reading
KABUL: The United Nations’ aid chief visited Kabul on Monday (Jan 23) and raised concerns over women’s education and work with the Taliban administration’s acting minister of foreign affairs, an Afghan ministry statement said. The Taliban-run administration last month ordered NGOs not to allow most female employees to work, promptingContinue Reading
MANILA: The United States and the Philippines vowed Friday (Jan 20) to “invigorate” defence cooperation to address shared security concerns including disputes over the South China Sea. Manila hosted a high-level security dialogue with its top defence ally as part of efforts by President Ferdinand Marcos to restore a seven-decadeContinue Reading
SHANGHAI: China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday (Dec 24) expressed “strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition” towards the US National Defense Authorization Act, which was signed into law by US President Biden the day before. It charged that the US$858 billion military spending measure, which authorised up to US$10 billionContinue Reading