India's BrahMos draws global interest, Philippine first family's feud: 7 Asia highlights
subscribing
India's BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system has reportedly drawn interest from at least 15 countries spanning from Asia to South America after its use in cross-border strikes against Pakistan enhanced the global profile of the Indian weapons industry.
Malaysian police arrested a 21-year-old Chinese national on Monday on suspicion of slashing his ex-girlfriend's neck with a knife at Taylor's University on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur.
Illustration: Mario Rivera
As Ferdinand Marcos Jnr touches down in Washington this weekend, his mind may well be half a world away, fixed not on the security and trade talks that await him but on the family feud back home: one born of betrayal, blind ambition and the wounds of history.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
an hour ago
- South China Morning Post
US-India trade talks seen unlikely to produce deal by August 1 deadline
Months of intense negotiations appear unlikely to produce a trade deal between the US and India before the August 1 deadline, despite US President Donald Trump having teased one for months as 'coming soon', according to three people familiar with the situation. One person described the current state of discussions as a 'total mess' behind the scenes as Trump and his trade representative, Jameison Greer, continue to push for a pact that would secure greater market access for American produce, dairy, and poultry in India. 'Despite bullish comments by India's trade minister, securing a deal by August 1 seems nearly impossible', said Rick Rossow, chair in US-India Policy Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank. He said that while 'negotiations seemed to move pretty fast in the early days', the closing stages are 'always the most difficult'. Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh on Thursday told the Indian Parliament that negotiations with the US were 'active' and revolved around 'enhanced mutual market access, reduction of tariffs and non-tariff barriers and closer integration of supply chains'. Rajesh Agarwal, India's chief negotiator and Commerce Department special secretary, was in Washington last week for trade talks but the July 14-17 negotiation ended without any announcement.
South China Morning Post
3 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Police slap HK$200,000 bounties on 15 members of subversive ‘Hong Kong Parliament'
The city's national security police have placed a new round of bounties on 15 overseas activists wanted for their involvement in a group called 'Hong Kong Parliament', which the force has deemed subversive and has accused it of violating the Beijing-imposed security law. The HK$200,000 (US$25,640) reward offered for each fugitive was supported by the Office for Safeguarding National Security in Hong Kong, which said the group's actions, including holding an unlawful election 'posed a serious threat to national sovereignty, security and developmental interests of the country'. The activists included members of a Taiwan-based outfit that advocates Hong Kong independence. New arrest warrants were announced on Friday for Chan Lai-chun, Feng Chongyi, Sasha Gong, Ng Man-yan and Tsang Wai-fan, who were accused of establishing a so-called parliament-in-exile in 2022 That year, the group, mainly founded and run by self-exiled activists, formed an 'electoral committee' in Canada to hold elections that it said 'represents, solidifies and revives Hong Kong people's rights of self-determination'. The vote planned in 2022 was postponed to May this year. The group said 15,702 votes were cast to elect 15 members from 18 candidates for its first 'parliament' and a 'virtual swearing-in ceremony' was held on July 14. But five winners refused to be sworn in or announced their departure from the group after winning. Another 10 people were accused by Hong Kong national security police of taking part in the election and swearing in as so-called parliament members – Chin Po-fun, Ha Hoi-chun, Hau Chung-yu, Ho Wing-yau, Alan Keung Ka-wai, Tony Lam, Agnes Ng, Wong Chun-wah, Wong Sau-wo, and Zhang Xinyan.
South China Morning Post
4 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
China promised the Philippines billions in development aid. Why did it fall so short?
China pledged US$30.5 billion in development aid to the Philippines between 2015 and 2023 – the most for any Southeast Asian country – but only a sliver of that funding ever arrived, according to new data from an Australian think tank report. Advertisement Of the total pledged, just US$700 million was actually disbursed – a shortfall analysts attribute to derailed infrastructure projects, changing political winds in Manila and rising tensions with Beijing. These factors have not only stalled flagship ventures under the Belt and Road Initiative but also cast doubt on the long-term viability of Chinese development finance in the region. The report by the Sydney-based Lowy Institute, released on Sunday, found that while the Philippines received the highest total commitment from China among Southeast Asian nations, it ranked near the bottom in actual disbursements. Indonesia, by contrast, received and spent US$20.3 billion out of the US$20.7 billion Beijing had pledged, mostly on energy and transport projects. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (left) and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing in 2017. Duterte pursued closer ties with Beijing through a wave of high-profile infrastructure agreements. Photo: AP The bulk of China's pledged financing to the Philippines was made during the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte , who held office from 2016 to 2022 and pursued closer ties with Beijing through a wave of high-profile infrastructure agreements.
