LATEST PULSE

For decades, the Indo-Pacific was defined by oceans. Today, it is being increasingly defined by islands.   From Japan and Taiwan to the Philippines and Indonesia, a vast island chain cuts across the western Pacific and some of the world's busiest sea lanes. As strategic competition between China and the United States intensifies, these islands are emerging as critical pieces of a regional security network that could shape the future of Asi...

Seventeen years after Air France Flight 447 plunged into the Atlantic and killed 228 people, two corporate giants have finally been branded responsible for one of aviation’s most haunting disasters.   A Paris appeals court has convicted Air France and Airbus of corporate manslaughter, overturning an earlier acquittal and rejecting the idea that two dead pilots should carry the blame alone. The ruling turns a long fight by victims&rsq...

Turkey and Indonesia are moving beyond traditional diplomacy and trying to build a long-term strategic partnership. During talks on June 3, 2026, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto welcomed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for discussions covering trade, defense, energy, transportation, artificial intelligence, and halal industries.   Indonesian diplomats say the countries are aiming to boost their bilateral trade to a stunning $1...

A new defense agreement between the United States and Indonesia has put one of the world's most important shipping routes under a spotlight. The Major Defense Cooperation Partnership aims to strengthen maritime security near the Strait of Malacca, a key waterway that carries about 25% of global seaborne trade. While officials describe the deal as a security measure, analysts are debating its wider impact on regional politics and economic competit...

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in North Korea on June 8, 2026, for a rare state visit that quickly made headlines across the world.   The trip comes at a pivotal moment in Northeast Asia's trajectory. North Korea is expanding its weapons programmes, Russia is emerging as an increasingly important partner for Pyongyang, and the United States is strengthening its military presence in the region. As Moscow deepens its ties with North Ko...