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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

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Mariinsky Palace in Kyiv, Ukraine. Photo: EPA

Ukraine war

Ukraine is preparing for further talks with Trump envoys, Zelensky says

‘We will do everything we can ‌so that war ⁠does ⁠not remain the ‌only option for how events ‌unfold further,’ the Ukrainian president ‌said.

16 minutes agovideocam

European Union

Icelandic voters reject proposal to restart negotiations to join European Union

2 hours agovideocam

European Union

New UK PM Burnham’s honeymoon ends as Trump, first budget loom large

4 hours agovideocam

Taiwan

PLA shift to systems warfare means Taiwan’s defences need to change: experts

Conflicts in Ukraine and Iran have shown the power of integration and the extension of targets to include critical civilian infrastructure.

5 hours agovideocam

Taiwan's annual Han Kuang military exercises in August included a simulated missile attack on communication infrastructure, as part of an urban resilience air-defence drill. Photo: Reuters

Russia

Finland says it ‘makes no sense’ for Russia to risk attack on a Nato nation

President Stubb said he did not believe Moscow was ⁠in a position ⁠to go to war with the military alliance.

30 Aug 2026 - 12:38PM

China-Russia relations

Xi, Putin to meet in Bishkek for Power of Siberia 2 talks: Kremlin

Second face-to-face talks this year to come as leaders of China and Russia visit Kyrgyzstan for Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit.

29 Aug 2026 - 9:00PMvideocam

Ukraine war

Russian drone strike near Kyiv kills at least 37

The strike hit a depot that appeared to have been storing ‘explosive objects’.

29 Aug 2026 - 7:47PMvideocam

Firefighters try to extinguish a fire at a destroyed warehouse after Russian drone attacks on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine on Friday. Photo: AP

Banking & finance

Opinion | The end of history? No, the world’s thermodynamic bill is coming due

When energy, technology, money and power are linked, governments can’t escape the laws of nature.

28 Aug 2026 - 4:49PMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

US Patriot missile shortage in Europe ‘beyond critical’ due to Iran war

In the event of a Russian ballistic missile assault, Nato could be forced ‘to take punch after punch in the mouth’.

28 Aug 2026 - 3:29AM

Ukraine war

‘Playing with fire’: Russia slams UK, France over Ukraine missile tech transfer

Moscow warns of potential strikes on British military targets, urging London to change its stance on supporting Kyiv.

27 Aug 2026 - 6:12PM

The Storm Shadow cruise missile is on display during the 2023 Paris Air Show in France. Photo: AP

The Philippines

Why Philippines is betting on drones to boost maritime security

Manila plans to use drones as force multipliers, but analysts warn building a credible deterrence network will require multi-year investment.

26 Aug 2026 - 6:07PMvideocam

A drone hovers above a Philippine Coast Guard patrol vessel in Bataan province in April 2025. Photo: EPA-EFE

Ukraine war

Zelensky urges China to use diplomatic weight to end Russia’s war with Ukraine

Kyiv releases Chinese president’s Independence Day greeting as top envoy urges broader Black Sea security cooperation.

26 Aug 2026 - 4:35PMvideocam

North Korea

North Korea’s Japan-bashing hits fever pitch as Russia ties grow

Pyongyang slams Tokyo’s record defence budget and war shrine visits, framing regional tension as a Cold War-style clash.

26 Aug 2026 - 10:00AM

United States

Russia says CIA chief Ratcliffe did not meet Putin during Moscow visit

Unannounced trip marks the first known visit to the Russian capital by a US spy chief since 2021.

26 Aug 2026 - 11:12PM

Middle East

Opinion | Could Mecca defence pact be first step to new Middle East order?

As security deal shakes up calculations for the US, China and Russia, a regional order shaped by regional states is no longer unthinkable.

25 Aug 2026 - 8:30PM

Britain

UK police arrest 12 after deadly wrong-way crash that killed 7

Police have denied the collision on Saturday was linked to filming for the TikTok online platform.

24 Aug 2026 - 11:51PM

Ukraine war

Zelensky says Ukraine wants peace but won’t ‘simply surrender’

The country marks 35 years of independence from the Soviet Union as Zelensky vows to find a solution to Putin’s ‘ballistic terror’.

24 Aug 2026 - 8:46PM

Britain

UK PM Andy Burnham to visit Kyiv as Ukraine marks independence anniversary

On his first international visit as UK leader, Burnham will co-chair his first Coalition of the Willing meeting of countries supporting Kyiv.

24 Aug 2026 - 7:25AMvideocam

Britain’s Prime Minister Andy Burnham (left) and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky in Portsmouth, UK on July 27. On Monday, Burnham will travel to Kyiv for a meeting with Zelensky. Photo: AFP

Ukraine war

Zelensky details rift with Ukraine’s dismissed defence minister Fedorov

The president said inaccurate defence ministry information contributed to an awkward encounter with Trump over the use of Starlink in Russia.

24 Aug 2026 - 2:20AMvideocam

Ukraine war

Zelensky says Ukraine had no role in Nord Stream pipeline blast

Croatian police have detained a second Ukrainian national in connection with the 2022 sabotage of the pipelines linking Russia to Europe.

24 Aug 2026 - 12:35AM

Russia

Putin wants to draft 300,000 new troops for war, Ukraine’s Zelensky says

Russia could draft more troops in 2027 to reach its goal of 500,000 and aims to produce up to 1,300 ballistic missiles per year, he adds.

23 Aug 2026 - 10:14PM

Russian servicemen march during the Victory Day military parade on the Red square in Moscow on May 9. Photo: EPA

Ukraine war

Ukrainian drones kill at least 10, hit warehouse of Russian online retailer Ozon

Ukraine has opened a ‘Pandora’s box’ of Russian retaliation, Putin said. Kyiv said it is seeking to choke financing for Russia’s war effort.

23 Aug 2026 - 1:40AMvideocam

Smoke rises from an Ozon warehouse following a Ukrainian drone attack in Chapayevsk, Samara region, Russia on Saturday, in a screen grab taken from a social media video. Photo: Social Media via Reuters

Ukraine war

Russian drone strikes on Ukraine shopping centre kill 16

A second drone strike targeted rescuers 30 minutes after the initial attack, Ukraine’s president said.

22 Aug 2026 - 9:03AM

China's military weapons

Why China’s reusable rocket breakthrough matters for the PLA’s ‘kill chain’

Defence experts say breaking reusability bottleneck could give Chinese military a combat edge through rapid satellite deployment.

21 Aug 2026 - 9:31PMvideocam

India

How a German submarine deal could test ‘Make in India’ ambitions

The deal is expected to give India critical design and engineering know-how to help build a long-term domestic submarine industrial base.

21 Aug 2026 - 8:15PM

A submarine is docked in a shipyard of warship maker TKMS in Kiel, Germany, in April. Photo: Reuters

Ukraine war

Australia charges dual citizen accused of spying for Russia in Ukraine

The Russian-Australian man who enlisted in Ukraine’s military has been accused of sharing unit locations and troop data with Moscow.

21 Aug 2026 - 7:23PM

Tourists are seen in front of Australia’s Sydney Opera House in July. Photo: AFP

Music

5 of the best things to do in Hong Kong this weekend, August 21-23

Enjoy live music, karaoke and barbecue, a festival of sports, a Chinese animated film and Ukrainian Culture Day this weekend in Hong Kong.

20 Aug 2026 - 4:19PMvideocam

South Korea

South Korean ship will test Arctic route to Europe amid Western concern

The Northern Sea Route, chiefly used by Chinese and Russian vessels, could shorten voyages and save fuel, but requires Russian cooperation.

20 Aug 2026 - 6:33AM

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Ukraine

Ukraine is preparing for further talks with Trump envoys, Zelensky says

‘We will do everything we can ‌so that war ⁠does ⁠not remain the ‌only option for how events ‌unfold further,’ the Ukrainian president ‌said.

Icelandic voters reject proposal to restart negotiations to join European Union

New UK PM Burnham’s honeymoon ends as Trump, first budget loom large

PLA shift to systems warfare means Taiwan’s defences need to change: experts

Conflicts in Ukraine and Iran have shown the power of integration and the extension of targets to include critical civilian infrastructure.

Finland says it ‘makes no sense’ for Russia to risk attack on a Nato nation

President Stubb said he did not believe Moscow was ⁠in a position ⁠to go to war with the military alliance.

Xi, Putin to meet in Bishkek for Power of Siberia 2 talks: Kremlin

Second face-to-face talks this year to come as leaders of China and Russia visit Kyrgyzstan for Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit.

Russian drone strike near Kyiv kills at least 37

The strike hit a depot that appeared to have been storing ‘explosive objects’.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | The end of history? No, the world’s thermodynamic bill is coming due

When energy, technology, money and power are linked, governments can’t escape the laws of nature.

US Patriot missile shortage in Europe ‘beyond critical’ due to Iran war

In the event of a Russian ballistic missile assault, Nato could be forced ‘to take punch after punch in the mouth’.

‘Playing with fire’: Russia slams UK, France over Ukraine missile tech transfer

Moscow warns of potential strikes on British military targets, urging London to change its stance on supporting Kyiv.

Why Philippines is betting on drones to boost maritime security

Manila plans to use drones as force multipliers, but analysts warn building a credible deterrence network will require multi-year investment.

Zelensky urges China to use diplomatic weight to end Russia’s war with Ukraine

Kyiv releases Chinese president’s Independence Day greeting as top envoy urges broader Black Sea security cooperation.

North Korea’s Japan-bashing hits fever pitch as Russia ties grow

Pyongyang slams Tokyo’s record defence budget and war shrine visits, framing regional tension as a Cold War-style clash.

Russia says CIA chief Ratcliffe did not meet Putin during Moscow visit

Unannounced trip marks the first known visit to the Russian capital by a US spy chief since 2021.

Opinion | Could Mecca defence pact be first step to new Middle East order?

As security deal shakes up calculations for the US, China and Russia, a regional order shaped by regional states is no longer unthinkable.

UK police arrest 12 after deadly wrong-way crash that killed 7

Police have denied the collision on Saturday was linked to filming for the TikTok online platform.

Zelensky says Ukraine wants peace but won’t ‘simply surrender’

The country marks 35 years of independence from the Soviet Union as Zelensky vows to find a solution to Putin’s ‘ballistic terror’.

UK PM Andy Burnham to visit Kyiv as Ukraine marks independence anniversary

On his first international visit as UK leader, Burnham will co-chair his first Coalition of the Willing meeting of countries supporting Kyiv.

Zelensky details rift with Ukraine’s dismissed defence minister Fedorov

The president said inaccurate defence ministry information contributed to an awkward encounter with Trump over the use of Starlink in Russia.

Zelensky says Ukraine had no role in Nord Stream pipeline blast

Croatian police have detained a second Ukrainian national in connection with the 2022 sabotage of the pipelines linking Russia to Europe.

Putin wants to draft 300,000 new troops for war, Ukraine’s Zelensky says

Russia could draft more troops in 2027 to reach its goal of 500,000 and aims to produce up to 1,300 ballistic missiles per year, he adds.

Ukrainian drones kill at least 10, hit warehouse of Russian online retailer Ozon

Ukraine has opened a ‘Pandora’s box’ of Russian retaliation, Putin said. Kyiv said it is seeking to choke financing for Russia’s war effort.

Russian drone strikes on Ukraine shopping centre kill 16

A second drone strike targeted rescuers 30 minutes after the initial attack, Ukraine’s president said.

Why China’s reusable rocket breakthrough matters for the PLA’s ‘kill chain’

Defence experts say breaking reusability bottleneck could give Chinese military a combat edge through rapid satellite deployment.

How a German submarine deal could test ‘Make in India’ ambitions

The deal is expected to give India critical design and engineering know-how to help build a long-term domestic submarine industrial base.

Australia charges dual citizen accused of spying for Russia in Ukraine

The Russian-Australian man who enlisted in Ukraine’s military has been accused of sharing unit locations and troop data with Moscow.

5 of the best things to do in Hong Kong this weekend, August 21-23

Enjoy live music, karaoke and barbecue, a festival of sports, a Chinese animated film and Ukrainian Culture Day this weekend in Hong Kong.

South Korean ship will test Arctic route to Europe amid Western concern

The Northern Sea Route, chiefly used by Chinese and Russian vessels, could shorten voyages and save fuel, but requires Russian cooperation.

Opinion | The end of history? No, the world’s thermodynamic bill is coming due