Japan Warms up to NATO  – The Diplomat

President Trump's executive order freezing most U.S. foreign aid for 90 days has disrupted critical programs worldwide, accusing the U.S. Agency for International Development (U.S.A.I.D.) of corruption without evidence. The order has led to a reduction in U.S.A.I.D.'s workforce and a shift in oversight to the State Department, impacting health services, disaster relief, anti-poverty efforts, and security aid. Despite Trump's claims, U.S. foreign aid serves strategic interests, strengthens allies, and helps prevent conflicts, with funds...

Premier League champions Manchester City narrowly avoided a shock defeat in the FA Cup fourth round against third-tier Leyton Orient, with Kevin De Bruyne coming off the bench to secure a 2-1 win. Orient initially took the lead with a stunning goal from Jamie Donley, but City fought back with a goal from Abdukodir Khusanov before De Bruyne scored the winner in the 79th minute. Despite a late chance for Orient, City held on to...

Ankit Panda and Katie Putz, hosts of The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast, discuss the early days of the second Trump administration in the United States. Listeners can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or Spotify for more insights on geopolitical issues in Asia. If you enjoy the content, leave a review and rating on iTunes and TuneIn, and reach out to host Ankit Panda for any suggestions. Full Article

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...