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A new Human Rights Watch report warns that shrinking human rights across Asia are no longer just a political issue. The impact is being felt in wages, job safety, fraud risks, and everyday life. The report, released on February 5, says weaker protections are increasing inequality and exposing millions of people to abuse and exploitation.   When governments silence critics and weaken laws, powerful groups gain more control while ordinary pe...

The latest US National Security Strategy may signal a major shift in Washington’s view of Europe. Published on December 4, the document marks a break from decades of policy that placed Europe at the center of US global strategy.   Instead of treating Europe as a strategic anchor, the strategy reflects a narrower focus on American national interests, strategic restraint, and a reduced willingness to shoulder what Washington sees as un...

Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has claimed victory in the country’s general election held on February 8, 2026. His conservative Bhumjaithai Party is on track to win at least 194 of the 500 seats in parliament, putting him in a strong position to remain in power despite falling short of an outright majority.   Anutin thanked voters after early results were confirmed, saying the outcome “belongs to all Thais,...

The United States and China are competing for influence at the southern tip of the Americas. By backing a new military and logistics hub in Argentina’s Ushuaia region, Washington aims to secure access to Antarctica and prevent China from gaining a foothold in the far south.   Antarctica Enters the US-China Rivalry Antarctica is no longer just a domain of science and international cooperation. As rivalry between the United States and...

Even as Western sanctions tighten on oil exports, tankers linked to the so-called "dark fleet" continue moving crude through Southeast Asian waters toward China. This week, two very large crude carriers detained near Penang, Malaysia over an illegal ship-to-ship transfer were released and quickly returned to sea.   Detained, Then Back at Sea Malaysia’s Maritime Enforcement Agency intercepted the two vessels about 24 nautical miles w...