https://iwpr.net/global-voices/do-philippines-anti-corruption-protests-signal-change Tens of thousands of Filipinos are protesting after revelations that up to one trillion pesos (USD 17 billion) were lost to corruption in fake or substandard flood-control projects. The scandal, involving nearly 10,000 projects since 2022, comes as the country faces frequent typhoons, severe flooding, and chronic disaster vulnerability—conditions that disproportionately harm the poor. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has… Read more »
https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/west-scrambles-fill-heavy-rare-earth-gap-china-rivalry-deepens-2025-11-19 The West’s effort to build an independent rare-earth magnet supply chain is being undermined by a severe shortage of heavy rare earth elements—especially dysprosium and terbium—which are essential for high-temperature magnets used in electric vehicles, defense systems, and wind turbines. Although the U.S. is heavily supporting MP Materials to create a fully domestic supply chain, its Mountain Pass mine… Read more »
https://apnews.com/article/indonesia-jordan-king-abdullah-visit-investment-danantara-c259b8b75f4724519d4505d410048bd9 Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Indonesia’s President Pradowo Subianto met in Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital, to strengthen military cooperation and economic ties between their two Muslim majority nations. The 2 leaders share a long personal history dating back to their time as military officers at the US For Benning academy and Subiantos years of self exile in jordan in the… Read more »
https://www.ft.com/content/4b73bf1c-76a4-426f-a335-de8528b24acb This article discusses a recent incident taking place in Taiwan. Yesterday, an unmanned Chinese drone flew into Taiwanese airspace. The drone was there for 4 minutes and is a model WZ-7 which is otherwise known as a Soaring Dragon. This drone violated the airspace of a Taiwanese island called Pratas and is the most recent escalation by China into… Read more »
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/16/world/asia/meloni-takaichi-italy-japan.html This article discusses a recent meeting between the leader of Japan and the leader of Italy. This came about following a recent meeting between Sanae Takaichi of Japan and Giorgia Meloni of Italy. During this meeting the two discussed the unique positions as the first female leaders of their respective countries. The two seemed to share a close bond,… Read more »
Article Link: http://aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/9/us-to-support-cambodian-thai-ceasefire-with-45m-aid-pledge This article discusses the United States providing 45 million dollars in aid to support a fragile ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia. The truce was brokered by President Donald Trump and formalized through the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords. According to U.S. Assistant Secretary for East Asia Michael DeSombre, the aid package includes 20 million dollars to help both… Read more »
Article Link: https://www.abc27.com/international/ap-china-urges-canada-to-break-from-us-influence-as-pm-carney-visits-beijing/ This article focuses on Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to China and how it fits into larger global tensions between China and the United States. As Carney arrives in Beijing, Chinese leaders and state media see an opportunity to weaken Canada’s close relationship with the U.S. by encouraging Canada to pursue what China calls “strategic autonomy,”… Read more »
Article Link: https://www.euronews.com/2026/01/15/japan-and-the-philippines-sign-defence-pact-to-counter-growing-china-threat This article explains a new defense and logistics agreement between Japan and the Philippines called the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement, or ACSA. The agreement was signed in Manila by Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro. The pact allows both countries to provide each other with military supplies such as fuel, ammunition, food,… Read more »
Article: Amid China-Japan Spat, Both Countries Court South Korea | TIME Jan 13, 2026 The article explains rising tensions between China and Japan have placed South Korea at the center of regional diplomacy. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks suggesting Japan might consider military action if China attacked Taiwan angered Beijing and sparked retaliatory measures, including travel advisories, cultural restrictions,… Read more »
Article: The Latest on Southeast Asia: The 2nd Cambodia-Thailand Ceasefire | The Latest on Southeast Asia | CSIS Cambodia and Thailand recently agreed to a second ceasefire on December 27,2025, after weeks of intense border clashes that marked one of the most serious escalations of their long term territorial dispute. Both sides agreed to halt hostilities, continue communicating between military… Read more »
