Global Rivalries

On June 12, former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to 30 years in prison for an incident in which he sent military drones into North Korea, adding another major conviction to the legal fallout from the country's 2024 martial law crisis.   Prosecutors argued that the drone flights in 2024 were part of a security operation. Instead, they made the case that Yoon orchestrated the missions as part of a broader effort to creat...

For decades, the Gulf states depended heavily on the United States for military protection and political support. American bases, weapons deals, and security agreements shaped the region after the Cold War. But that system is now under pressure.   The US-Israel-Iran war has pushed Gulf leaders to rethink their alliances. Countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Oman now appear to be building stronger ties with Euro...

A passenger can check in a clean suitcase at Toronto Pearson, board a flight, and still land in another country with their bag packed with drugs.   That is the nightmare now facing travelers after investigators uncovered at least 17 cases in which innocent passengers were allegedly dragged into a baggage tag-switching scheme. The criminals in charge of the scheme would remove a real passenger’s luggage tag and attach it to a drug-fil...

Tensions are rising between Malaysia and Israel after a Gaza-bound humanitarian flotilla was intercepted in international waters. More than 400 activists aboard the Global Sumud mission were detained during the operation, including 29 Malaysians who later claimed they faced harsh treatment while in custody.   The flotilla aimed to challenge Israel’s naval blockade of the Gaza Strip by delivering humanitarian aid. Israeli authorities ...

The United States is stepping up its return to Central Asia as competition over critical minerals grows more intense. Washington is now looking at the region not just as a security partner, but as a major source of resources needed for artificial intelligence, clean energy, and defense industries.   Recent meetings between United States officials and leaders from Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan show that Central Asia is moving bac...