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UN Security Council race turns Indo-Pacific vs Eurasia clash

A quiet diplomatic battle is taking shape between the Philippines and Kyrgyzstan over the United Nations Security Council’s sole Asia-Pacific non-permanent seat for the 2027-2028 term. The General Assembly will elect new members on June 3. Long seen as the clear favorite, the

Asia

Silicon shock: the macro of technology inflation

For a quarter-century, the price of computer software and accessories fell by roughly 5% annually. It was the modern economy’s most reliable disinflationary anchor. In late 2025, that anchor snapped. Last week, a technical note by three US Federal Reserve economists, including

Asia

The deep, dark roots of unending US-Russia rivalry

Washington’s relationship with Russia appears likely to continue its decades-long decline, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying on May 22 that formal diplomatic talks over the Ukraine war are effectively frozen. US President Donald Trump’s last meeting with Russian

Asia

The sustained heatwave in India and Pakistan is quite dangerous

India and Pakistan are no strangers to heat. This time of year is the worst, as heat peaks before the monsoon brings cooler conditions from June. But this year’s heat is something else. Intense, sustained heat began in mid-April. Daily maximum temperatures have topped 46°C in

Asia

Shangri-La 2026: US heft, Chinese reluctance, Indian reckoning

Every year, in a gleaming hotel ballroom in Singapore, the Indo-Pacific strategic order gets set for a public display. This happens not through signing of communiqués or conventions but through who shows up, at what level, and what they dare to say in front of an “unscripted”

Asia