POLITICS

A collection of 1184 posts

POLITICS

Taiwan and Rhode Island Renew Education Pact, Put AI and Chip Talent in the Spotlight

TAIPEI/PROVIDENCE — Taiwan and the U.S. state of Rhode Island have renewed their cooperation on postsecondary education, opening the door to deeper exchanges in language education, talent development, artificial intelligence and semiconductor-related fields. The renewed memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed on September 3, 2026, at the Rhode

ASIA

Thailand’s ฿3.78 Trillion Budget Faces a Showdown—Now the Opposition Wants to Know Where the Money Is Going

BANGKOK — Thailand’s opposition People’s Party is putting the government’s ฿3.78 trillion (about US$116 billion) fiscal 2027 budget under renewed scrutiny, warning that it will oppose the spending bill if the government refuses to remove allocations it considers duplicative, unnecessary or potentially vulnerable to irregularities. The

ASIA

Thailand Orders 3 Israeli Remains Moved From Cemetery — Then Officials Uncover a Much Bigger Problem

BANGKOK — Thailand has ordered the removal of three sets of Israeli remains from a Jewish cemetery in Chachoengsao after authorities determined that the burials apparently took place after the cemetery's operating licence had expired. Deputy Interior Minister Polapee Suwunchwee said local authorities will issue a written order requiring

POLITICS

Taiwan Prepares China Travel Guide as Beijing Tightens Security Rules

TAIPEI — Taiwan is preparing new travel guidelines for citizens heading to mainland China as Taipei grows increasingly concerned that Beijing’s expanding national-security and entry-exit rules could expose travelers to greater legal and personal risks. The planned guidance comes as China moves to strengthen its control over cross-

ASIA

South Korea Sounds the Alarm as U.S.-North Korea Talks Loom — Then Kim Min-seok Reveals What Seoul Must Prepare For

SEOUL — South Korea’s ruling Democratic Party chief Kim Min-seok is urging Seoul to strengthen its independent security capabilities as the possibility of renewed U.S.-North Korea diplomacy raises difficult questions about the future of the Korean Peninsula. In a major National Assembly speech on September 7, Kim

ASIA

US, South Korea and Japan Launch New Military Drills—But North Korea’s Latest Move Is Raising the Stakes

The United States, South Korea and Japan have launched a major three-way military exercise near South Korea's Jeju Island, putting renewed focus on regional security at a time when Washington has simultaneously scaled back a major bilateral exercise with Seoul. The five-day Freedom Edge 2026 exercise

BUSINESS

Germany Battles Gaza Genocide Claims at UN's Top Court as Nicaragua Targets Arms Support for Israel

THE HAGUE — Germany has asked the United Nations' highest court to throw out a case accusing Berlin of helping facilitate genocide in Gaza through its military and political support for Israel. The case, brought by Nicaragua before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), has placed Germany's long-

ASIA

South Korea and France Forge New Industrial Alliance — But Seoul Is Already Demanding Changes From Paris

South Korea and France are moving to deepen economic cooperation with a new ministerial-level channel focused on strategic industries, trade and supply chains, as both countries seek to strengthen their industrial partnerships amid growing global competition. The agreement was reached Monday in Paris during talks between South Korean Industry

POLITICS

PH Foreign Reserves Rebound to $104.8 Billion in August as Dollar Buffer Strengthens

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines' foreign exchange reserves staged a strong rebound in August, climbing to $104.8 billion as the country's external financial buffer recovered from the previous month's decline, according to preliminary data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). The country's

ASIA

North Korea and Russia Open First Road Bridge — But What This New Link Could Mean for Their Growing Alliance

SEOUL/MOSCOW — North Korea and Russia have opened their first dedicated road bridge across their shared border, creating a new transportation link as the two countries deepen economic, political and military cooperation amid the war in Ukraine. The approximately 1-kilometer, two-lane bridge spans the Tumen River, connecting North

ASIA

South Korea Faces a Dangerous Hormuz Choice as Trump Turns Up the Pressure — Seoul’s Next Move Could Change Everything

SEOUL — South Korea is facing a high-stakes foreign-policy dilemma as the United States presses Seoul to contribute to efforts to keep the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz open, while Iran warns that military involvement could carry “serious consequences.” The Korea Herald's latest reporting comes as the

ASIA

South Korea Makes a Bold Global Security Promise — And It Could Change Seoul’s Role on the World Stage

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea is signaling a bigger role in global security, with Prime Minister Han Seong-sook saying Seoul will use its advanced manufacturing capabilities, growing defense industry and other national strengths to help build a safer and more prosperous world. Speaking Tuesday at the Seoul Defense Dialogue,

ASIA

South Korea Takes a Major Step Toward Nuclear-Powered Submarines — But the IAEA Has One Critical Condition

South Korea has formally notified the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that it intends to begin consultations on a special safeguards arrangement for its planned nuclear-powered submarines, marking a significant step in Seoul’s long-running effort to develop a new generation of undersea military capability. IAEA Director General

ASIA

Lee Jae Myung Signals New North Korea Strategy — But South Korea Won’t Give Up Deterrence

SEOUL — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is signaling that Seoul wants to reopen the path toward peaceful coexistence with North Korea, but his latest message makes one thing clear: dialogue will move forward alongside strong military deterrence. Speaking Tuesday in a video message for the opening ceremony of the

POLITICS

DOE Eyes Partial Relief for Visayas, Mindanao Grid Alerts as Power Plants Return This September

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Energy (DOE) is racing to stabilize the electricity supply in the Visayas and Mindanao this month, with several major power-generating units scheduled to return to service after prolonged outages triggered repeated yellow and red grid alerts. Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said Monday that the

POLITICS

Romualdez Served Arrest Warrant at Hospital as ₱7.4-Billion Plunder Case Rocks Philippine Politics

Former House Speaker and incumbent Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez was served an arrest warrant at a hospital on Monday, September 7, after the Sandiganbayan ordered his arrest in connection with a ₱7.4-billion plunder case linked to alleged kickbacks from government flood-control and infrastructure projects.

ASIA

Oil Nears $100 as Middle East Conflict Drags On — What Happens If Hormuz Disruptions Get Worse?

Oil prices pushed higher on Tuesday as the risk of a prolonged U.S.-Iran conflict intensified, raising fresh fears that disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz could tighten global energy supplies and send fuel costs even higher. Brent crude futures rose 34 cents, or 0.35%, to $97.34

ASIA

Japan and U.S. Stay Aligned on Yen Policy — But the Currency’s Sudden Surge Is Changing the Game

TOKYO — Japan and the United States remain closely aligned on foreign-exchange policy and are continuing to communicate on how to keep currency markets orderly, Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said Tuesday. Katayama said Tokyo’s position has not changed since Japan and the United States coordinated to support the

ASIA

UK’s Burnham Takes Aim at Israeli Settlements — Now Trump Faces a New Foreign Policy Test

LONDON — Britain is preparing one of its strongest policy shifts yet on Israel, with Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s government expected to announce trade restrictions targeting Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank — a move that could put his new government on a collision course with U.S. President Donald

ASIA

Putin’s Shadow Grows in Europe as Germany’s Far Right Scores Historic Election Victory — What Comes Next?

Germany’s political landscape has shifted sharply after the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) secured a historic victory in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, raising fresh concerns over the future of Berlin’s support for Ukraine and Europe’s increasingly divided approach toward Russia. The AfD won nearly

ASIA

Trump’s 33% Approval Rating Sparks a GOP Alarm — And the Midterms Could Change Everything

WASHINGTON — The warning signs are becoming harder for Republicans to ignore. With the 2026 U.S. midterm elections only about two months away, President Donald Trump’s declining approval ratings, voter frustration over the economy and the unpopular war with Iran are creating serious political headwinds for Republicans fighting to

ASIA

Sondhi Returns to Thailand's Political Streets With New 'Take Our Thailand Back' Campaign

BANGKOK — One of Thailand's most recognisable protest leaders is stepping back into the political spotlight, raising the prospect of fresh street demonstrations at a time of growing pressure on Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's government. Veteran activist and media mogul Sondhi Limthongkul, a central figure in some

POLITICS

Chris Horton Launches Mandarin Edition of ‘Ghost Nation’ in Taiwan as Taiwan’s Global Identity Takes Center Stage

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Journalist and author Chris Horton has brought his acclaimed book Ghost Nation: The Story of Taiwan and Its Struggle for Survival to a new audience with the launch of its Mandarin-language edition, putting Taiwan’s complicated history, international isolation and uncertain future back under the spotlight. The

ASIA

Iran Warns US Energy Assets Across the Gulf Are Exposed — But the Real Pressure Point May Be the Strait of Hormuz

DUBAI — The confrontation between Washington and Tehran is again moving dangerously close to the infrastructure that keeps much of the global energy market running. Iran has warned that American-linked oil and gas interests across the Persian Gulf could become targets if the United States launches further attacks on Iranian

ASIA

Israel’s Strikes Kill 12 in Southern Lebanon Despite a Ceasefire — But the Bigger Battle Is Over One Strategic Ridge

KFAR RUMMAN, Lebanon — A fragile ceasefire meant to pull Israel and Hezbollah away from another full-scale confrontation is facing one of its most serious tests yet after Israeli airstrikes killed at least 12 people in southern Lebanon, including children and a paramedic, as fighting intensifies around a strategically important