Power
The world’s next decade is being decided in rooms most Western readers never see. These are the elections, alliances, and military standoffs across Asia-Pacific — and what each one costs the West.
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May- 2026 -28 May
Philippines ends Angeles City rescue as 16 remain missing after building collapse
A four-story commercial building under construction collapsed on May 26, 2026, in Angeles City, Pampanga, killing at least four workers and leaving 16 others officially listed as missing. Philippine authorities…
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27 May
US arms failures in Taiwan and Japan spark anxiety at Asia security forum
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth arrived in Singapore for the Shangri-La Dialogue facing allied anxiety over two concrete weapons delivery failures: a paused USD 14 billion arms package to Taiwan and…
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27 May
China, Iran, Myanmar, Venezuela build shadow internet to fight state censorship
Across China, Iran, Myanmar, and Venezuela, a permanent shadow digital infrastructure has taken shape to fight state-controlled internet censorship. Freedom House's Freedom on the Net 2025 report scores China at…
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27 May
Laos cave rescue: divers face 23-inch tunnels in gold mine, 30 meters from 7 trapped
Seven villagers have been trapped inside a flooded gold mine in Laos' Xaisomboun province since Wednesday, May 21, 2026, after flash flooding sealed the exit to a hand-dug tunnel network…
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27 May
China’s seized Bitcoin reserves challenge US dollar-backed crypto dominance
China's 2021 crypto ban has resulted in substantial seized Bitcoin reserves, creating an unexpected strategic asset for Beijing. This contrasts with the US's push for dollar-centric crypto dominance through spot…
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24 May
Quetta train blast kills 10, challenging China-Pakistan Economic Corridor security
A powerful explosion struck a cargo train travelling through Quetta, the capital of Pakistan's Balochistan province, on May 24, 2026, killing at least 10 people and injuring more than 50.…
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24 May
Rubio signals Hormuz de-escalation progress as India seeks trade deal, worker visas
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in New Delhi, citing progress on a framework to de-escalate tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical…
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24 May
Sydney gangland kingpin murdered in Vietnam, testing new Australia-Vietnam security pact
Lorenzo Lomalu, leader of Sydney's Coconut Cartel, was shot dead in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on May 23, 2026. This assassination tests the Australia–Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, signed March…
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23 May
Pakistan seeks China’s backing to mediate US-Iran tensions, Afghanistan border dispute
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is in Beijing for a four-day state visit, seeking Chinese backing to mediate between the United States and Iran, and for support with Afghanistan. The…
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21 May
China and Russia deepen strategic ties with 20+ agreements, challenging Western sanctions
On May 16–17, 2026, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin signed two joint statements and over 20 bilateral cooperation documents in Beijing, deepening their strategic partnership. China–Russia bilateral trade reached a…
