Former US president Donald Trump ’s return to the White House could reshape the Philippines ’ defence strategy, with experts debating whether his robust approach would strengthen Manila’s security ties with Washington or push it into a risky stand-off with Beijing in the contested South China Sea . Alan Chong, a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, predicted that Trump would potentially play “hardball with China” and prioritise the US economy after his return. “If Beijing does not play ball, Trump will arm the Philippines for a confrontation in the South China Sea,” Chong told This Week in Asia. Trump, who initiated a trade war with China during his first term, has said his administration would raise tariffs to 60 per cent on all
Category Archives: WORLD NEWS
The descendants of chief Hosea Kutako claim they have been excluded from an unveiling ceremony of the chief’s memorial homestead. The Memorial Museum and Homestead Shrine unveiling ceremony is scheduled to take place on Friday at Toasis in the Aminuis constituency, to commemorate Kutako’s role in Namibia’s liberation. Kutako, who died in 1970, petitioned the United Nations (UN) to remove the then South West Africa from South Africa’s rule. He also founded the South West Africa National Union (Swanu). Family spokesperson Kejamuina Mungendje says the Office of the President, which is organising the unveiling, invited a different clan of the family, despite his side of the family’s involvement with the shrine from the beginning. He says N$4 million for the shrine was donated by a German organisation through the government.
Nov
Two Chinese technology firms involved in the development of pharmaceutical drugs have clinched partnership agreements in Southeast Asia and the Middle East , as the industry increasingly looks beyond China’s shores with its cutting edge technology in search of growth opportunities. Fosun Group ’s Shanghai Henlius Biotech subsidiary struck a deal with the Fakeeh family’s Al Tiryaq Al-Khalawi Medical Company (SVAX) to set up two ventures in Saudi Arabia to produce and market pharmaceuticals, according to an announcement at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai. QuantumPharm, a drug discoverer powered by artificial intelligence (AI) that has been renamed XtalPi, signed a partnership with Sinar Mas Multiartha to use quantum physics, AI and robotics to spur the research and development of innovative products, including drugs and new materials in Indonesia.
Nov
France’s highest civil court on Wednesday rejected an appeal by the heirs of a former sultan who sought nearly US$15 billion from Malaysia’s government, drawing a line under a lengthy legal battle stemming from an 1878 land deal . Malaysia ’s law minister described the ruling as a “historic victory”, while Paul Cohen, a lawyer for the heirs, said they were disappointed by the decision as it made “no sense”. Malaysia had been left stunned when the Filipino heirs of the last Sultan of Sulu won a US$14.9 billion award in a French arbitration court in 2022, prompting them to go after Malaysian assets. But a Paris court later upheld the Malaysian government’s challenge against enforcing a partial award. The Cour de Cassation on Wednesday confirmed the decision, ruling that
Nov
Nigerian Medical Association Logo The Nigerian Medical Association, Kano State Branch, has announced the immediate withdrawal of services from the Emergency Paediatric Unit of Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital. This action follows the expiration of a 48-hour ultimatum given to the state governor, Abba Yusuf, to dismiss the State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Amina Abdullahi HOD, over the alleged assault of a female doctor at the hospital. The Public Relations Officer of NMA Kano, Dr Muhammad Musa, confirmed the strike on Wednesday, stating that it results from the Kano State Government’s failure to take concrete action. “An investigation by the Ministry of Health confirmed that the doctor was not at fault in the incident, affirming that she acted with full professionalism in her duties. “Despite this, no action has been taken
Nov
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz sacked his finance minister on Wednesday and said he will hold a parliamentary confidence vote in the government in January, triggering political chaos in Europe’s largest economy hours after Donald Trump won the US presidential election. After sacking Finance Minister Christian Lindner of the Free Democrats (FDP) party, Scholz is expected to head a minority government, either alone with his Social Democrats or with the Greens, the second-largest party, relying on cobbled-together parliamentary majorities. The collapse of Scholz’s three-way coalition caps months of wrangling over budget policy and Germany’s economic direction, with the government’s popularity sinking and far-right and far-left forces surging. “We need a government that is able to act, that has the strength to make the necessary decisions for our country,” Scholz told reporters.
Nov
Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo, who left Manchester United amid controversy, may still find the door open for a return to Old Trafford, according to former United striker Teddy Sheringham. According to a report by Mirror UK, Sheringham believes Ronaldo would be warmly received if he ever wanted to come back, particularly with fellow Portuguese Ruben Amorim set to take over as manager. Ronaldo’s celebrated return to United in 2021 was initially seen as a dream comeback. However, his time quickly soured, ending after a highly publicised interview with Piers Morgan that led to his departure for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. Now a major star in Saudi Arabia and the league’s leading scorer, Ronaldo has embraced a new chapter in his career. Despite the past tensions, Sheringham thinks
STOCKHOLM — South Korean author Han Kang was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature Thursday for a poetic and unsettling body of work that the Nobel committee said “confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life.” A slow-burning literary success who was won multiple awards in Korea and Europe, Han is the first Asian woman and the first South Korean writer to win the Nobel literature prize. Nobel committee chairman Anders Olsson praised Han’s “physical empathy for the vulnerable, often female lives” of her characters, in novels such as “The Vegetarian” and “Human Acts.” “She has a unique awareness of the connections between body and soul, the living and the dead,” Olsson said. Nobel literature committee member Anna-Karin Palm said Han writes “intense lyrical prose that is both
Four Russian naval vessels, including a nuclear-powered submarine, will be in Cuba from Wednesday to Monday for joint exercises in the Caribbean Sea. Despite the capability of some of the vessels to carry nuclear-capable long-range missiles, Havana and Washington have both stated that there is no direct threat to the United States. While the location […]
Israeli airstrikes in the southern Gaza city of Rafah have reportedly killed at least 35 people, mostly women and children, and injured dozens more. The attack occurred after Hamas launched rocket attacks towards Tel Aviv for the first time in months. Palestinian medics reported that the strike hit tents for displaced people, resulting in heavy […]
A Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight from London’s Heathrow Airport to Singapore encountered severe turbulence, resulting in one passenger’s death and injuries to 30 others. The aircraft was diverted to Bangkok, where it made an emergency landing at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 3:45 pm. According to a Facebook post by SIA, 18 passengers have been hospitalized, while […]
Asare Konadu Yamoah — President of the Ghana Book Publishers Association, addressing the press
May
The Ghana Book Publishers Association (GPA) has called for the removal of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) from its role in book assessment and approval. The GPA believes that Parliament should collaborate with the industry to establish a suitable body for the task, as they cannot trust NaCCA to be an impartial […]
The pass-out parade follows a six-month training of new Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) personnel/PCS
May
President William Ruto has urged the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to help combat climate change, which he identified as the biggest threat to the country’s development and prosperity. Speaking at a pass-out parade for KDF officers in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, the President expressed confidence in the military’s ability to tackle climate change. He asked […]
Russia and China, facing challenges from the West, seek to further distance themselves from Western influence. Vladimir Putin is set to visit Beijing to meet Xi Jinping, aiming to strengthen their most important international relationship. Vladimir Putin, having secured a mandate to extend his rule in Russia for three decades, is expected to travel to […]
Ukraine strengthened its defenses in the northeastern Kharkiv region to repel a Russian attempt to breach local defenses, a tactical shift by Moscow that Ukrainian officials have anticipated for weeks as the war enters its third year. Intense nighttime shelling targeted Vovchansk, a town in the Kharkiv region and less than 5 kilometers (3 miles) […]