A most militarised cabinet – New Mandala

Intelligence reports from Ukraine and South Korea reveal that North Korean special forces have proven to be highly skilled and disciplined in the Russian war effort, contrary to initial dismissals. While they excel in small arms and close-quarters combat, they struggle with trench warfare and drone countermeasures. Their rigid ideological discipline has caught the attention of Chinese military analysts and private security contractors, who see them as valuable assets due to their loyalty and willingness...

Since 2016, Sen. Risa Hontiveros has been pushing a bill in the Philippine legislature to address the high rate of teen pregnancies in the country, which is one of the highest in Asia. The bill aims to prevent teen pregnancies that have led to a staggering birth rate among girls aged 10-14, reaching 40.3 per…, highlighting the urgent need for legislative action to protect the health and rights of young girls in the Philippines. Full...

In 2024, Amazon's advertising business surpassed US$50 billion for the first time, generating $56.2 billion from sponsored ads, display, and video advertising, marking an 18% increase from the previous year. CEO Andy Jassy revealed a $69 billion run rate for advertising revenue, driven by growth in streaming ads, particularly on Prime Video, which now includes limited ads in various countries. Despite Q4 2024 ad revenue slightly missing analyst estimates at $17.29 billion, Amazon's advertising segment...

Southeast Asia's ride-hailing giants Grab and Gojek are in talks for a potential merger, with Gojek possibly valued at over US$7 billion, offering shareholders a 20% premium. Maybank Investment Bank highlights significant synergies, estimating cost savings of up to US$209 million by 2027, despite regulatory challenges from the Indonesian Competition Commission. If the deal goes through, it could reshape the region's tech landscape, with Grab solidifying its dominance and Gojek securing a stronger position in...

Malaysia strongly opposes the forced resettlement of Palestinians in Gaza proposed by U.S. President Trump, labeling it as ethnic cleansing and a violation of international law. Trump suggested the U.S. taking over Gaza for development, prompting backlash from Malaysia, which has historically supported Palestinian rights and rejected diplomatic relations with Israel. Malaysia calls for a permanent solution acceptable to Palestinians and emphasizes the need for independence and self-determination for the Palestinian people. Full Article

DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup, has expressed concern over misinformation being spread about its chatbot app, which has surpassed OpenAI in downloads but faces bans globally due to security issues, censorship, and ties to the Chinese government. Despite warnings, DeepSeek did not address the increasing bans by various governments on its app, including Australia, South Korea, and Italy, with Taiwan also prohibiting its use in the public sector. A study by Cisco and the University...