Across the strategic waterway of the South China Sea, claimant countries are increasingly relying on long-endurance aerial drones to carry out continuous patrols – overcoming the geographic and logistical limitations of traditional aircraft and ships. The US Marine Corps last month deployed MQ-9A Reaper drones to the Philippines, at Manila’s request, to “support Philippine regional…
VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) — Lithuania’s prime minister said Monday that her country has drawn up plans to shut its border crossings with Belarus indefinitely, after flights at the capital’s airport were disrupted repeatedly by suspected sightings of balloons used to smuggle cigarettes across the frontier. Lithuania’s National Security Commission met after balloon sightings prompted the…
US President Donald Trump’s bid to regain control of the strategic Bagram airbase in Afghanistan has achieved an unlikely feat – bringing India, Pakistan and China onto the same side in opposition. At the 7th Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan in Moscow on Tuesday, the three Asian powers – often at odds over borders and…
But beneath the surface, the opposition’s view of the transatlantic campaign to squeeze Lukashenko has evolved. They’re still leaning on the Trump administration to promote prisoner releases. But Europe, Tsikhanouskaya’s team now believes, is best positioned to champion the cause of Belarusian freedom — with ever-tightening sanctions key to the pressure campaign. Donald Trump called…
China’s recent high-profile diplomatic activity, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin and the Victory Day parade in Beijing in the same week, conveyed more than international headlines suggested. Although much of the media spotlight focused on the optics of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and North Korean leader…
Hong Kong will be able to contribute more to dispute resolution efforts as courts in the Greater Bay Area will refer cases requiring mediation to locally based organisations after a global body was set up in the city, a delegate to the nation’s top legislative body has said. Starry Lee Wai-king, the city’s sole member…
Hong Kong will be able to contribute more to dispute resolution efforts as courts in the Greater Bay Area will refer cases requiring mediation to locally based organisations after a global body was set up in the city, a delegate to the nation’s top legislative body has said. Starry Lee Wai-king, the city’s sole delegate…
Last Updated:September 12, 2025, 00:07 IST Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda confirmed the safe arrival of the freed prisoners across the Lithuanian border on Thursday. The timing of the release is significant, coming just a day after Russian drones were spotted over Polish territory (Image: AP) Belarus has released 52 political prisoners on Thursday, following US…
A slew of foreign leaders took China’s signature high-speed railway from the northern port city of Tianjin to Beijing on Monday and Tuesday, having departed from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit to attend a Victory Day parade. Seven state leaders arrived on Monday night: President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko, Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz…
The Russian president defends the military campaign in Ukraine, blaming NATO and Western policies for the conflict. Published On 1 Sep 20251 Sep 2025 Russian President Vladimir Putin has blamed the West for igniting the war in Ukraine, insisting Moscow’s assault was provoked by years of Western provocations. Speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)…