Trump might cut aid to Africa but bankroll projects ‘aimed at displacing China’

Funding is likely to continue for key projects that can help US counter China and Russia and secure critical minerals, observers say.

Mexico’s new president confronts wave of violence: cars bombs, massacres and a cartel war

Much of Mexico is contested by warring criminal groups that operate with near impunity.

Philippines boosts coastguard fleet with 49 new ships from France, Japan

The French deal also promises local vessel production and technology transfer – as Manila plans to add 7,000 coastguard personnel by 2026.

China’s weapons systems

Almost a decade has passed since the People’s Liberation Army pulled the trigger on President Xi Jinping’s plans for a massive overhaul of the world’s biggest military. In this series, we examine all things related to China’s missile programme.

Why the J-20 Mighty Dragon is a symbol of China’s military modernisation

Stealth fighter jet is seen as China’s answer to the American F-22.

South Korea slaps Johnny Somali with travel ban over US live-streamer’s ‘commotion’ case

A convenience store worker reported Johnny Somali, real name Ramsey Khalid Ismael, to the police last month.

Pentagon secrets leaker Jack Teixeira sentenced to 15 years in US prison

Jack Teixeira, 22, pleaded guilty to six criminal counts and said ‘I’m sorry for all of the harm’.

US sidesteps own 30-day deadline for Israel to improve Gaza aid

State Department spokesman says some progress has been made, but aid groups dispute US findings.

Zhuhai car attack tragedy sees 35 die, Trump taps billionaires for China diplomacy, Toraji threatens Hong Kong and more

These are some of our most-read stories over the past 24 hours. Find out what people have been reading.

TikTok and ByteDance hire hundreds of Chinese workers in US despite scrutiny

More than 60 per cent of the over 1,000 approved H-1B hires for TikTok and ByteDance last financial year were from China.