The Asia-Pacific Policy Strategy Dialogue (APPSD) concluded in London with a resounding call for a new organising principle: “America First, Allies Always.” The summit, attended by defense and policy leaders from the U.S., U.K., Japan, Australia, and South Korea, emphasized the need for integrated deterrence against the rising influence of the China-Russia-Iran-North Korea axis —…
Japan clinched its second consecutive East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) E-1 Championship title by defeating host South Korea 1-0 in Yongin. While the match was billed as a sporting event, right-leaning observers saw deeper implications tied to national pride, regional rivalry, and soft power projection. The lone goal came in the 8th minute, when Japan’s…
On July 15, ASEAN finance ministers convened an emergency summit in Jakarta to address the escalating impact of U.S. tariffs on regional exports. The meeting, prompted by President Trump’s July 10 announcement of expanded duties on electronics and textiles, marks a turning point in Southeast Asia’s economic diplomacy. Indonesia and Thailand led the charge, proposing…
On July 15, the Philippines saw another round of fuel price increases, with diesel rising by ₱1.40 per liter and gasoline by ₱0.70—a trend that has pushed total fuel hikes to over ₱11 per liter since January. While mainstream coverage frames this as a routine market adjustment, critics argue it exposes deeper vulnerabilities in the…
The U.S. Supreme Court’s July 15 ruling has cleared the path for President Trump to dismantle the Department of Education without congressional approval, triggering a seismic shift in federal oversight of public schooling. The decision, delivered unsigned but backed by the conservative majority, allows the administration to lay off over 1,400 federal employees and redirect…
🩺 Title: “Rural America’s Health Left Behind Again” ArticleThe first installment of Rural Health Resilience by former Senator Bill Frist exposes a grim truth: rural Americans are dying younger and suffering more than their urban counterparts. With over 130 rural hospitals shuttered since 2010 and 600 more at risk, the crisis is no longer silent—it’s…
In a show of growing military coordination, the Pacific Alliance Naval Coalition (PANC) — comprising Australia, Japan, the United States, and the Philippines — launched a series of joint naval drills in the Coral Sea, marking the largest coordinated maritime exercise in the region since 2021. The drills, dubbed Operation Sovereign Wake, are designed to…
A groundbreaking study published in Communications Earth & Environment has revealed that East Asia’s aggressive air pollution cleanup — particularly in China — has inadvertently accelerated global warming. The report, based on simulations from eight climate models, shows that a 75% reduction in sulfate aerosol emissions over the past 15 years has unmasked the warming…
As digital threats escalate across Southeast Asia, Jakarta is preparing to host the ITSEC Cybersecurity Summit 2025, the region’s largest gathering focused on protecting critical infrastructure. Scheduled for August 26–28, the summit is drawing attention not just for its scale, but for its strategic implications: Southeast Asia is finally confronting the vulnerabilities that come with…
In a bold assertion of maritime sovereignty, the Philippine Navy deployed two additional patrol vessels to the contested waters near Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), following reports of Chinese coast guard ships allegedly harassing Filipino fishermen. The move comes on the ninth anniversary of the 2016 arbitral ruling, which invalidated Beijing’s expansive claims in the…
