Commentary: What's behind North Korea's recent economic boom?
North Korea’s recent economic growth is real but it is built on Russian cash, Chinese trade and illicit activity, says this analyst.
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Lawmakers seek to counter China, Iran repression tactics on US soil
WASHINGTON, July 14 - U.S. lawmakers on Tuesday introduced a bipartisan bill to increase penalties for foreign government agents who threaten people on U.S. soil, a move aimed at countering the rise of what officials call \"transnational repression\" by countries such as China
China’s sanctions on Philippine defense chief puts Japan ties in spotlight
Experts say Beijing is invoking Japan’s wartime past to try to delegitimize Manila's South China Sea claims.
Nine killed in Pakistan-administered Kashmir clashes
MUZAFFARABAD, July 14 - Clashes between security forces and supporters of a banned protest group in Pakistan-administered Kashmir killed nine people on Tuesday, officials said, a day before the group planned a march against controversial electoral arrangements ahead of regional
Singapore, Indonesia launch network of defence alumni to strengthen ties
The two countries also reaffirmed plans to deepen military cooperation.
Singapore, Indonesia launch defence alumni initiative
Singapore Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing - who is in Jakarta for a working visit - and his Indonesian counterpart Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin also reaffirmed their countries’ commitment to explore new areas of bilateral cooperation.
Singapore, Malaysia reaffirm need to 'deepen cooperation' in areas including food security and energy
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who is currently on a state visit to Malaysia, met Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Monday (Jul 13), during which they exchanged views on geopolitical developments, including the Middle East situation.
Bear enters house, apparently opens fridge for food in northeastern Japan
The police believe the bear entered and later left the house through a back door.
Deadly Bangkok blaze exposes enforcement gaps despite existing safety laws
Experts say weak enforcement – not a lack of laws – lies behind repeated fire tragedies.
Most support refuge for people fleeing persecution, Ipsos poll shows
GENEVA, July 14 - Most people back the idea of providing refuge to those fleeing war or persecution, even in countries where governments have restricted refugee intakes, such as the United States, an Ipsos poll showed on Tuesday.
India says committed to combating organised crime after US indictment in Canada murder case
NEW DELHI, July 14 - India said on Tuesday that it is committed to working with its partners to combat transnational organised crime, a week after the U.S. charged the imprisoned head of an Indian criminal gang with directing the 2023 murder of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada.
Lithuania's new PM says allowing Taiwan's de-facto embassy was 'maybe too brave'
VILNIUS, July 14 - New Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevicius said on Tuesday the 2021 decision to allow Taiwan to open a de-facto embassy in the country was \"maybe too brave\" as he sought to repair relations with China on his first day in the job.
UK approval for China's mega embassy in London challenged in court by locals
LONDON, July 14 - Britain's approval for China to build a vast embassy in London was challenged in court on Tuesday, as a group of local residents argue that officials failed to consider the impact on protests and potential targeting of dissidents.
India to ban import of goods made using forced labour amid US probe
The Asian nation is facing proposed new US trade tariffs of up to 12.5 per cent.
Tokyo Disney Resort to raise maximum entrance fees in October
According to the price list for the next three months, the cost of a one-day ticket will rise by up to 1,500 yen (S$12).
Whither ASEAN? A decade of silence on the South China Sea
This article first appeared on Pacific Forum and is republished with permission. Read the original here. July 12 marked the 10th anniversary of the arbitral tribunal ruling in favor of the Philippines on its South China Sea submission — a ruling China ignored, and one that has
ASEAN envoy meets Myanmar opposition groups in Thailand
But critics say re-engaging with Myanmar's new nominally civilian government could weaken ASEAN's leverage.
Days before Johor voted, one viral Malay phrase already hinted at BN’s landslide win
At the recent state election, "Onn tak Onn" would tell you who the winner would be.
South Korean prosecutors indict man for using AI-powered glasses to cheat in national exam
The man was caught while taking a fire protection facilities engineer certification exam in Gwangju in May.
India is the canary in the global inflation coal mine
Global inflation has been climbing back for months. India’s June print — 4.38%, up from 3.93% in May and above every forecast — isn’t a shock out of nowhere. It’s the sharpest data point yet in a trend that started well before this week’s Gulf escalation, and it shows how bad
China does not seek 'sphere of influence' in ties with Pacific island nations, foreign minister says
BEIJING, July 14 - China \"has no geopolitical intentions and does not seek a so-called 'sphere of influence'\" in its dealings with Pacific island nations, Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his counterpart from the Solomon Islands in Beijing on Tuesday.
Philippine President Marcos visits Singapore for talks with PM Wong, investment push
He will meet investors and business leaders as Manila steps up efforts to attract foreign capital.
Singapore court orders Bloomberg to pay $356,000 to ministers in defamation case
The ministers claimed the piece, which cited their luxury bungalow deals, had tarnished their reputation.
Anwar’s PH coalition quits Melaka government over strains with ally BN
Four PH members will resign from their positions in the state administration, party officials said.
India protests to Iran over killing of seafarer in Hormuz
NEW DELHI, July 14 - The Indian foreign ministry said on Tuesday that it had lodged a strong protest with Iran after summoning its deputy ambassador over the killing of an Indian seafarer in the Strait of Hormuz.
US-Israel military merger bill a threat to American democracy
It’s called Section 219. Tucked away in the massive congressional spending bill known as the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, this provision of the law would effectively require our nation to permanently entangle the American military with the Israeli military.
US wartime buildup races against China’s industrial clock
The US push for a wartime industrial base is accelerating, but its real test is whether new weapons can be produced, delivered and sustained fast enough for a multi-front Indo-Pacific conflict. This month, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) released a
How flammable decor and lax rules turned Bangkok pub into a death trap
At least 30 people have died as a result of the fire and 75 are injured, 24 of them critically.
Malaysia says it is investigating tech commune in Forest City run by ex-Coinbase executive
There are claims that the Network School hosted Israelis who had entered Malaysia on second passports from other nations.
Crunch time looms over Myanmar’s grinding civil war
Following the dramatic shifts on the battlefields of Myanmar’s civil war in recent years, 2026 was always likely to be a year of decision. By the halfway mark of early July,the broad implications of “decision” have become increasingly clear: Crunch time for the viability of
Indian activist urged to give up hunger strike over exam leaks
Sonam Wangchuk has been fasting since June 28 in solidarity with the founder of India’s youth Cockroach Janta Party.
China’s Africa lending model has a split personality
Over the past two decades, China’s rise as the world’s largest bilateral creditor has profoundly altered the global development finance landscape. Yet international scholarship on Chinese sovereign lending — especially to Africa — remains trapped in a binary: Western-centric
India antitrust body finds HP guilty of rigging bids on government procurement platform
The authority said HP India dictated bid prices to its resellers and selectively withheld authorisation documents.
China urges Europe to stop backing 'illegal' South China Sea ruling to avoid harming ties
BEIJING, July 14 - China's foreign ministry on Tuesday called the European side to be cautious in its words and deeds on the South China Sea and stop endorsing the \"illegal ruling\" to prevent impact on China-EU ties and cooperation.
Malaysia probes startup community based in Johor's Forest City over alleged Israeli links
The Network School brands itself as a physical co-living and co-learning community for tech founders, remote workers, and content creators located “on a Malaysian island off the coast of Singapore”.
India's AI training boom draws professionals seeking an edge, but questions remain over quality
In the first of a two-part series on how India is preparing for an AI-powered future, CNA examines the growing business of artificial intelligence upskilling and the questions surrounding the value of these programmes.
Thailand’s Moo Deng picks France and England to reach 2026 World Cup final
Her choice prompted cheers and smiles from watching visitors.
Ex-Malaysian PM’s wife Rosmah files defamation suit against Harith Iskander over comedy show
The alleged defamation occurred during Harith’s performance in Melaka on Jan 17.
Malaysian PM Anwar plays down need for snap poll after Johor election defeat
Before the weekend vote, Anwar is said to be considering calling a general election by October.
Iran says it struck US air base in Jordan, US military ends five hours of attacks
CAIRO/DUBAI/WASHINGTON, , July 14 - A U.S. air base in Jordan was targeted by Iranian ballistic missiles on Tuesday, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said, while calling on Jordanians to dismantle American bases in the kingdom.
Bangkok governor vows tighter regulations as pub fire death toll rises to 30
BANGKOK, July 14 - The death toll from a devastating fire at a live music pub in Thailand's capital climbed to 30 on Tuesday, officials said, as Bangkok's governor vowed stricter inspections and police investigated possible negligence and safety breaches.
Bangkok bar fire: Families claim bodies, governor vows stricter inspections as death toll rises to 30
The authorities are investigating a potential electrical fault and whether emergency exits were blocked.
Egg-free school meals scramble politics in India
Critics accuse the government of trying to turn schoolchildren into vegetarians.
Japan tightens social media rules for elections
New rules follow allegations of AI being used to smear candidates in recent elections.