TOPIC

/ location

Ukraine

Ukraine is the second largest country in Europe after Russia, gaining independence from the Soviet Union and declaring neutrality in 1991. In February 2022, Russia's President Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion of Ukraine under the auspices of a "special military operation" to "de-nazify" the country. The move turned Moscow into a global pariah, and the Ukrainian army - backed financially and militarily by the US and western European countries - continues to fight off the invading forces. Nuclear-armed Russia has warned of consequences if Nato interferes in the war, while strategic ally China urges a peaceful, diplomatic solution.

Capital

Kyiv

Head of State

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Head of Government

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will visit China from Monday to Wednesday, including a trip to Shenzhen, before heading to India. Photo: EPA

China-UK relations

In sign of easing UK-China ties, British Foreign Secretary set for 3-day visit

Announcement comes days after delegations from both countries sat down at Shangri-La Dialogue to discuss concrete military engagement.

31 minutes agovideocam

Malaysia

Malaysia blasts ‘conspicuously muted’ response over axed Norway missile deal

32 minutes agovideocam

Ukraine war

Russia says Ukraine drone struck Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

6 hours agovideocam

Ukraine war

Nato and Romania accuse Russia after drone hits block of flats

Drone strikes a 10-storey building in Galati, causing an explosion and civilian injuries in an apparent spillover of the Ukraine conflict.

29 May 2026 - 9:10PM

Investigators examine the rooftop impact zone of a building in Galați, Romania, after it was struck by an exploding Russian drone. Photo: AFP

War and conflict

Israel, Russia hit back after being added to UN blacklist for sexual violence in conflicts

UN documentation of alleged abuses sparks furious denials from both nations.

29 May 2026 - 4:25PM

Diplomacy

Opinion | 3 paths to stability in a conflict-ridden world

History moves in cycles, and today’s turbulence will settle into a new order. Will the US reassert dominance, China emerge as the leader, or will we see a world with two centres?

28 May 2026 - 8:30PMvideocam

Drones

South Korea aims to join top tier of ‘loyal wingman’ combat drone race

Planned indigenous engine for the most complex UAV technology to support crewed fighter jets ‘a deliberate bid’ by Seoul.

27 May 2026 - 6:19PMvideocam

Hanwha Aerospace and the South Korean space agency plan to jointly develop engines capable of powering the most complex drone technology in the world. Photo: Handout

United States

As I see it | Trump makes everything worse but he didn’t start it

Essays from over a decade ago show that America’s institutional decay and populist revolt predate the current US president’s rise to power.

26 May 2026 - 8:30PMvideocam

Ukraine war

Russia tells US to pull its diplomats and citizens from Ukraine capital

Sergey Lavrov warns Marco Rubio of Russian plans to attack Kyiv facilities and ‘decision-making centres’.

26 May 2026 - 3:16PM

Ukraine war

Exiled Belarus opposition leader visits Ukraine as Kyiv warns of escalation

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya meets foreign minister during working trip as Kyiv reels from heavy Russian strikes.

26 May 2026 - 2:16PM

Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha in Kyiv. Photo: Reuters

Ukraine war

Ukraine demands emergency UN Security Council meeting over Russia strikes

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also called for a ‘strong response’ after the overnight attacks, which mainly targeted the Kyiv region.

25 May 2026 - 2:20AM

Firefighters work at the scene of a fire in a destroyed block of flats following a Russian missile attack in Kyiv, Ukraine on Sunday. Photo: SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire / dpa

Ukraine war

‘Deranged’: 600 drones, 90 missiles, hit Kyiv in retaliation for dorm attack

The latest strikes – including the use of a nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile – killed four people and wounded dozens.

24 May 2026 - 7:54PM

Cannes Film Festival

‘Fjord’ by Romania’s Mungiu wins Palme d’Or at Cannes

The film stars Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve as a couple who have their children taken from them by child services for spanking them.

24 May 2026 - 9:03AM

China manufacturing

China told the solar industry to cut capacity. Firms built new factories anyway

Beijing has been striving to rein in severe overcapacity in the solar industry. But the sector is still plagued by illegal facilities, an insider says.

23 May 2026 - 4:00PMvideocam

Chinese workers prepare panels that will be part of a large floating solar farm project in the central Anhui province. Photo: Getty Images

Iran

UN event on nuclear non-proliferation treaty stumbles, US and Iran clash

There was no consensus among the 191 parties to the NPT, the third failure in a row at a conference reviewing the treaty.

23 May 2026 - 10:09AM

A plenary session of the review conference for the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty held on Friday at the UN headquarters in New York. Photo: Kyodo

War and conflict

As I see it | How China wins by avoiding war

Trump, Putin and Netanyahu have all gone to war to prove how strong and powerful they are. The results should give any strongman pause.

23 May 2026 - 9:30AMvideocam

Ukraine war

Putin accuses Ukraine of deadly attack on student dorm, vows retaliation

Ukraine says it struck an elite drone command unit in Starobilsk, denying Russia’s accusations.

23 May 2026 - 2:06AM

Science

China’s Tsinghua University honours German Gref, Russian banker sanctioned by US

Sberbank CEO accompanied Vladimir Putin during Russian leader’s recent trip to Beijing for summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

22 May 2026 - 12:00PMvideocam

Sberbank CEO German Gref (right) at the Great Hall of the People ahead of a signing ceremony during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to China, in Beijing on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

Singapore

Singapore drone trials spotlight regional rush for uncrewed systems

As Southeast Asian militaries adopt cheap, lethal systems, experts warn a lack of established rules could prove dangerous.

29 May 2026 - 1:57PM

Britain

UK relaxes sanctions on Russian oil, leaving Ukrainians ‘very let down’

UK inventories of diesel and jet fuel are set to shrink to their lowest since 2023 this month.

20 May 2026 - 7:28PM

Hong Kong politics

China will actively help to resolve international conflicts, diplomat says

Han Zhiqiang delivers pledge at Global Prosperity Summit, where political heavyweight Regina Ip also calls for creating Apec think tank council.

19 May 2026 - 8:47PM

Chinese diplomat Han Zhiqiang delivers his keynote speech at the Global Prosperity Summit in Hong Kong on Tuesday. Photo: Edmond So

China-Russia relations

Putin hails ‘unprecedented’ ties ahead of China visit hot on Trump’s heels

Russian leader’s trip is widely seen as a move to boost energy relationship with Beijing as the Iran war disrupts global supply.

19 May 2026 - 3:59PMvideocam

President Vladimir Putin has visited China more than 20 times, and has met his Chinese counterpart in person more than 40 times since 2013. Photo: Handout

China-Russia relations

Vodka, bullet train and boat rides: how Xi and Putin built up a personal rapport

Xi Jinping’s friendship with Vladimir Putin has been cultivated over many visits and informal events, from pancakes to lakeside teas.

19 May 2026 - 4:39PM

United States

US extends Russian oil waiver by 30 days as Hormuz closure chokes supply

US Treasury secretary says reprieve will allow energy-vulnerable nations to access Russian seaborne oil.

19 May 2026 - 12:59PM

Ukraine war

Belarus begins nuclear weapons drills with Russia

Minsk claims drills pose no security threats ⁠in the region, but Kyiv urges tightened sanctions in response.

19 May 2026 - 1:11PMvideocam

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo: Reuters

2026 Xi-Trump summit

Unbeatable China? Beijing a focal point amid Russian hopes for Putin-Xi summit

Beijing says both sides will advance ties, while the Kremlin says Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline to be discussed in ‘great detail’.

18 May 2026 - 11:00PMvideocam

Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit China on Tuesday and Wednesday, arriving just days after US President Donald Trump. Photo: AFP

World Health Organization (WHO)

‘Crises’: WHO kicks off annual assembly amid Ebola, US withdrawal

Aid cuts ‘have disrupted health systems, widened inequalities’ said UN chief Antonio Guterres, with WHO budget down by almost US$1 billion.

18 May 2026 - 10:07PMvideocam

North Korea

North Korea to turn southern border into ‘impregnable fortress’

Experts say the plans reflect awareness of drone and other types of hi-tech warfare amid the Russia-Ukraine and Iran conflicts.

18 May 2026 - 11:37AMvideocam

Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.

SUPPORT NOW

Ukraine

In sign of easing UK-China ties, British Foreign Secretary set for 3-day visit

Announcement comes days after delegations from both countries sat down at Shangri-La Dialogue to discuss concrete military engagement.

Malaysia blasts ‘conspicuously muted’ response over axed Norway missile deal

Russia says Ukraine drone struck Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

Nato and Romania accuse Russia after drone hits block of flats

Drone strikes a 10-storey building in Galati, causing an explosion and civilian injuries in an apparent spillover of the Ukraine conflict.

Israel, Russia hit back after being added to UN blacklist for sexual violence in conflicts

UN documentation of alleged abuses sparks furious denials from both nations.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | 3 paths to stability in a conflict-ridden world

History moves in cycles, and today’s turbulence will settle into a new order. Will the US reassert dominance, China emerge as the leader, or will we see a world with two centres?

South Korea aims to join top tier of ‘loyal wingman’ combat drone race

Planned indigenous engine for the most complex UAV technology to support crewed fighter jets ‘a deliberate bid’ by Seoul.

As I see it | Trump makes everything worse but he didn’t start it

Essays from over a decade ago show that America’s institutional decay and populist revolt predate the current US president’s rise to power.

Russia tells US to pull its diplomats and citizens from Ukraine capital

Sergey Lavrov warns Marco Rubio of Russian plans to attack Kyiv facilities and ‘decision-making centres’.

Exiled Belarus opposition leader visits Ukraine as Kyiv warns of escalation

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya meets foreign minister during working trip as Kyiv reels from heavy Russian strikes.

Ukraine demands emergency UN Security Council meeting over Russia strikes

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also called for a ‘strong response’ after the overnight attacks, which mainly targeted the Kyiv region.

‘Deranged’: 600 drones, 90 missiles, hit Kyiv in retaliation for dorm attack

The latest strikes – including the use of a nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile – killed four people and wounded dozens.

‘Fjord’ by Romania’s Mungiu wins Palme d’Or at Cannes

The film stars Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve as a couple who have their children taken from them by child services for spanking them.

China told the solar industry to cut capacity. Firms built new factories anyway

Beijing has been striving to rein in severe overcapacity in the solar industry. But the sector is still plagued by illegal facilities, an insider says.

UN event on nuclear non-proliferation treaty stumbles, US and Iran clash

There was no consensus among the 191 parties to the NPT, the third failure in a row at a conference reviewing the treaty.

As I see it | How China wins by avoiding war

Trump, Putin and Netanyahu have all gone to war to prove how strong and powerful they are. The results should give any strongman pause.

Putin accuses Ukraine of deadly attack on student dorm, vows retaliation

Ukraine says it struck an elite drone command unit in Starobilsk, denying Russia’s accusations.

China’s Tsinghua University honours German Gref, Russian banker sanctioned by US

Sberbank CEO accompanied Vladimir Putin during Russian leader’s recent trip to Beijing for summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Singapore drone trials spotlight regional rush for uncrewed systems

As Southeast Asian militaries adopt cheap, lethal systems, experts warn a lack of established rules could prove dangerous.

UK relaxes sanctions on Russian oil, leaving Ukrainians ‘very let down’

UK inventories of diesel and jet fuel are set to shrink to their lowest since 2023 this month.

China will actively help to resolve international conflicts, diplomat says

Han Zhiqiang delivers pledge at Global Prosperity Summit, where political heavyweight Regina Ip also calls for creating Apec think tank council.

Putin hails ‘unprecedented’ ties ahead of China visit hot on Trump’s heels

Russian leader’s trip is widely seen as a move to boost energy relationship with Beijing as the Iran war disrupts global supply.

Vodka, bullet train and boat rides: how Xi and Putin built up a personal rapport

Xi Jinping’s friendship with Vladimir Putin has been cultivated over many visits and informal events, from pancakes to lakeside teas.

US extends Russian oil waiver by 30 days as Hormuz closure chokes supply

US Treasury secretary says reprieve will allow energy-vulnerable nations to access Russian seaborne oil.

Belarus begins nuclear weapons drills with Russia

Minsk claims drills pose no security threats ⁠in the region, but Kyiv urges tightened sanctions in response.

Unbeatable China? Beijing a focal point amid Russian hopes for Putin-Xi summit

Beijing says both sides will advance ties, while the Kremlin says Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline to be discussed in ‘great detail’.

‘Crises’: WHO kicks off annual assembly amid Ebola, US withdrawal

Aid cuts ‘have disrupted health systems, widened inequalities’ said UN chief Antonio Guterres, with WHO budget down by almost US$1 billion.

North Korea to turn southern border into ‘impregnable fortress’

Experts say the plans reflect awareness of drone and other types of hi-tech warfare amid the Russia-Ukraine and Iran conflicts.

Opinion | 3 paths to stability in a conflict-ridden world