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A political storm erupted after remarks by US Senator Marco Rubio at the Munich Security Conference on February 14, 2026. His speech, which praised the West's "missionaries, its pilgrims, its soldiers, its explorers" who helped build and expand "vast empires extending out across the globe," drew sharp criticism from leaders and commentators across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.   For critics, the language echoed colonial nostalgia. Frami...

As geopolitical tensions escalate across the world and concerns about a potential global war intensify, the Philippines and South Korea are expanding cooperation in defense, technology and energy. During South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s state visit to Manila, the two countries signed a package of agreements in sectors increasingly central to economic competition and regional security.   The relationship between Manila and Seoul...

Malaysia is racing to become Southeast Asia’s top AI and data center hub, but public backlash and energy concerns are forcing a strategic reset. On February 24, 2026, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told Parliament that Malaysia will now restrict new data centers unless they are tied to artificial intelligence innovation.   The message is clear: Malaysia wants high value AI investment that creates skilled jobs, not facilities that simpl...

Missiles lit up the sky on February 28, 2026, after tense talks collapsed and the United States and Israel launched a major strike campaign against Iran. In a dramatic escalation, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in a strike, leaving Tehran in shock and the region bracing for wider conflict. Global markets reacted immediately, pushing oil prices sharply higher and hitting families from Asia to Europe with rising fue...

For decades, national security meant tanks, troops, and missiles. The COVID-19 pandemic changed that thinking overnight. A virus brought nations to a standstill, overwhelmed health systems, shut borders, and crashed economies faster than any armed conflict.   COVID-19 exposed the hard truth that weak public health systems are a national security risk. Governments deployed militaries to build hospitals, transport supplies, enforce lockdowns...