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Antarctica is one of the last untouched regions on Earth. It’s rich in fisheries, minerals, and possibly even oil. While harsh conditions and international agreements keep it largely off-limits, countries are quietly positioning themselves for future competition over it.   A Frozen Continent Worth Billions Antarctica contributes about $180 billion a year to the world economy through fisheries, tourism, and climate regulation. Explor...

The idea sounds bold. The Philippines and Indonesia are exploring a possible joint bid for the 2036 Olympic Games. After a recent regional sports meeting, the proposal resurfaced and quickly drew public attention. For some officials, bringing the world’s biggest sporting event to Southeast Asia signals ambition and confidence.   Can a Country With Failing Infrastructure Afford an Olympic Dream? Ambition, however, cannot hide the pro...

With the United States and Donald Trump shifting focus to domestic issues, the future of Europe’s defense is becoming more uncertain. A major question looms: Can it protect itself if the US pulls back from its long-standing security commitments?   The US Steps Back For years, the US has been a key part of Europe’s defense through the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a political and military alliance of countries from...

Catastrophic floods and landslides have torn through South and Southeast Asia in recent weeks, as powerful tropical storms and cyclones hit Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.   The destruction has been overwhelming. More than 2,000 people are dead across Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand alone, with many are missing. In Sri Lanka, over 1.1 million people were displaced, prompting President Anura Kumara ...

The 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal has taken a new turn after the Singapore High Court approved a $2.7 billion case against Standard Chartered Bank on November 24. This major development adds a powerful new player to the growing list of global institutions linked to the scandal, where over $4.5 billion meant for Malaysia’s development was stolen and diverted into luxury spending and Hollywood projects.   The UK-based Sta...