LATEST PULSE

Ten years after one of Southeast Asia’s worst environmental disasters, questions of accountability remain unresolved.   In April 2016, a toxic waste discharge from Formosa Ha Tinh Steel, a Taiwanese-owned plant in Vietnam, contaminated more than 250 kilometers of coastline. The spill devastated marine life and disrupted the livelihoods of thousands of fishermen and coastal communities.   A decade later, the environmental damag...

The Philippine Navy is moving fast to upgrade its defense strategy by getting new autonomous drone ships and by participating major international military drills. These changes come at a time of rising tension between Manila and Beijing in the South China Sea, indicating that the Philippines is trying to strengthen both its military reach and disaster response systems.   Autonomous Drone Ships Transform Maritime Defense The Navy has teame...

Russia is shifting its focus east. For decades, Moscow’s economic and political ties were centered on Europe. Now, it is building deeper connections across Asia, especially with China.   This shift is not just about diplomacy. It reflects a broader strategy to secure trade, energy markets, and influence in a region that is driving global growth. As Asia becomes more central to the world economy, Russia’s position there will sha...

The arrest of former congressman Zaldy Co in Prague has pushed one of the Philippines’ most sensitive corruption cases into a new phase. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. confirmed that Co is now in Czech custody after allegedly entering without proper documents. Manila is working to bring him back.   This is not just about one politician. Co was a former Ako Bicol representative and chaired the House appropriations committee, one of th...

In the eastern Mediterranean, defense deals often mean more than just security. New agreements between Greece, Israel, and Cyprus are being seen by Turkey as part of a bigger regional shift. This is happening in a region already full of tensions, including military buildups, sea disputes, and long-standing rivalries.   For Turkey, this concern is shaped by its long and difficult history with Greece. The two countries have faced wars, dispu...