The Philippines’ political chameleon: Juan Ponce Enrile’s complicated legacy
Mon Nov 17 9:00 pm
The death of Juan Ponce Enrile has brought an end to one of the most complicated lives in Philippine politics – a man I covered for decades, whose brilliance, ruthlessness and endless reinventions shaped the country as much as they confounded those who tried to understand him.
A central figure in the Philippines’ modern history, Enrile served as Ferdinand Marcos Snr’s defence minister during martial law, defected during the 1986 People Power revolt, and eventually reclaimed power as Senate...
‘Made in China 2025’ cements manufacturing power despite missed goals: US review
Mon Nov 17 9:00 pm
Beijing has not achieved all of its “Made in China 2025” (MIC2025) goals – particularly in aviation and integrated circuits – but has still made “significant gains” and cemented its status as a global manufacturing powerhouse, according to a new US government report.
The assessment, released by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, evaluated China's progress on the 10-year strategy, which was launched in 2015 to achieve self-reliance, innovation and technological prowess across...
Cambodian tycoon linked to scam empire owned luxury condo in Tokyo
Mon Nov 17 8:31 pm
The chairman of a Cambodia-based conglomerate indicted by US authorities over alleged large-scale investment fraud and money laundering had acquired a luxury property in Tokyo as his residence, Japanese corporate registration documents showed on Monday.
Chen Zhi, a Cambodian national of Chinese descent who heads Prince Holding Group, established Prince Group in the Japanese capital in 2022 and is believed to have sought long-term residence status in Japan by starting his own business.
The US...
Has US-China rivalry killed globalisation? Hardly
Mon Nov 17 8:30 pm
Pundits the world over are pointing to a new cold war – the defending champion United States versus a rising China. Deglobalisation and great power rivalry dominate headlines while world leaders prepare for chaos.
Fortunately, a different picture emerges when we look at the data. A century of globalised trade has levelled the economic playing field. Countries are now closer in relative strength, far more interdependent and far less willing to pick sides. The “great powers” of the 21st century...
Trump says planning to sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia
Mon Nov 17 8:16 pm
US President Donald Trump said on Monday he plans to approve the sale of US-made F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, speaking a day before he hosts Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for a day of diplomacy.
“I will say that we will be doing that,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “We’ll be selling the F-35s.”
A sale would mark a significant policy shift, potentially altering the military balance in the Middle East and testing Washington’s definition of maintaining Israel’s...
How League of Legends is still China’s top PC game after 15 years
Mon Nov 17 8:00 pm
US video game developer Riot Games, creator of League of Legends, retains bragging rights to the most popular PC game in China nearly a decade and a half after its launch.
First introduced in 2009 and brought to the mainland in 2011, the multiplayer online battle game has been around longer than many of those who play it – a remarkable feat in an industry known for its rapid shifts.
The secret to the game’s longevity may lie in the sustained appeal of the League of Legends esports scene, as...
Chinese girl gains nationwide sympathy as she scavenges for food in the cold
Mon Nov 17 8:00 pm
A young girl in China who was filmed scavenging for food wearing slippers without socks in the cold weather has attracted attention on social media and placed the plight of her family under the spotlight.
The heart-wrenching video was taken by a woman blogger who met with the girl on a suburban street in the Weiyang District of Xian, Shaanxi province, northwestern China.
The clip was released on social media on November 11.
It shows the girl dressed in a shabby down jacket and wearing a pair of...
Roar trip: Singapore football fans land in Hong Kong for historic Asian Cup tie
Mon Nov 17 7:30 pm
Hundreds of Singaporean football fans have flown into Hong Kong for what some call the city state’s biggest football match when the Lions take on the hosts on Tuesday for a place at the 2027 Asian Cup.
“Singapore has not qualified for the Asian Cup since 1984, when we hosted the games,” said Chue Guo-xian, who works in the sports industry. “So this is probably the biggest match in our national team’s history.”
Chue, who is in his late thirties, said he would be gearing up for Tuesday’s...
South Korea indicts Japanese woman for forcibly kissing BTS’ Jin
Mon Nov 17 7:13 pm
A Japanese woman in her 50s has been indicted without detention for forcing a kiss on Jin of BTS during a public fan event last year.
The Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors’ Office said that the suspect was charged on Monday with indecent assault.
She is accused of approaching Jin (real name Kim Seok-jin) during a fan meeting held at Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Seoul’s Songpa district in June last year, shortly after he completed his military service. She forced a kiss on Jin’s cheek without...
South Korea’s nuclear sub deal signals shift from strategic ambiguity: analysts
Mon Nov 17 7:00 pm
Washington’s approval for South Korea to build nuclear-powered submarines has become a turning point in the alliance, analysts say, one that is already pushing Seoul towards a more explicit role in the United States’ broader Indo-Pacific strategy to counter China.
As the US military reframes the region around a “strategic triangle” linking South Korea, Japan and the Philippines, observers say Washington has already begun “presenting the bill” for its endorsement of the submarine project –...
Could battery fires be the Achilles’ heel of China’s electric vehicle industry?
Mon Nov 17 7:00 pm
A series of electric vehicle fires in China has pushed the issue of battery safety into the public spotlight, triggering a wider public debate about the potential risks.
Last month saw a number of high-profile incidents, including one on October 13 in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, where a Xiaomi EV burst into flames after a high-speed crash, killing the driver.
On October 23 in Shanghai, a Li Auto car suddenly burst into flames on a bumpy road, becoming fully engulfed within 10...
UN Security Council approves Trump plan for the future of Gaza
Mon Nov 17 6:25 pm
The Trump administration’s blueprint to secure and govern Gaza won strong approval at the United Nations on Monday, a crucial step that provides international support for US efforts to move the devastated territory toward peace following two years of war.
The US resolution that passed the UN Security Council authorises an international stabilisation force to provide security in Gaza, approves a transitional authority to be overseen by US President Donald Trump and envisions a possible future...
