Gabon

France withdraws from Senegal, ending military presence in West Africa

18 Jul 2025 - 11:52AM

Chinese Super League

Fans in China voice anger as club play hours after striker Boupendza’s death

17 Apr 2025 - 2:52PM

Gabon junta chief Oligui Nguema wins presidential election

President faces litany of problems in oil-rich country, from crumbling infrastructure to widespread poverty, while dealing with heavy debt.

14 Apr 2025 - 8:39AM

Junta chief Brice Oligui Nguema celebrates victory in Gabon’s presidential election in the capital Libreville on Sunday. Photo: Reuters

In Africa’s Gulf of Guinea, China is proving it is master of the sea

China’s naval presence in an area notorious for piracy is both protecting its investments and stretching its military muscles.

29 Dec 2024 - 4:00PMvideocam

Gabon’s ruling junta praises constitutional referendum as a ‘turning point’

The vote follows a military coup that overthrew the Bongo family, which ruled the central African nation from 1967 to 2023.

16 Nov 2024 - 5:59PM

Why is China choosing Gulf, Russia over Africa for crude oil supplies?

A report has highlighted the struggle among African oil suppliers as China moves towards other trading partners.

7 Jul 2024 - 6:11PMvideocam

Angola in central Africa pioneered the concept of oil-backed loans as a way to get Chinese financing for infrastructure building. Photo: AFP

Chinese funding keeps Cameroon’s deep seaport expansion project afloat

An ambitious plan to turn an African fishing town into a major trading port is set to enter its second phase of construction with backing from China Eximbank.

26 May 2024 - 5:00PMvideocam

Malaysia

US delegation in Malaysia to discuss Iranian oil shipped by ‘dark fleet’

Malaysia has been accused by the West of helping Tehran evade sanctions through the supply of Iranian oil to China via a “dark fleet” in its waters.

6 May 2024 - 4:51PMvideocam

Timepieces

7 timepiece highlights in March and April 2024, beyond Watches and Wonders

There have been lots of updates in the watch world beyond Watches and Wonders 2024 this spring, from celebs sporting new releases to charity watch auction Only Watch’s return …

5 May 2024 - 2:00PMvideocam

This spring John Mayer was made “creative conduit” for Audemars Piguet. Watches & Wonders took place in Geneva, and Kyle Kuzma sported a new De Bethune timepiece. Photos: Audemars Piguet; Keystone; @themikeec/Instagram

Old Hong Kong

Then & Now | Good luck finding expert guides to tell tourists truths about Hong Kong

Tourists to Hong Kong have long been fed rote-learned clichés about its history by uninspiring and uninspired guides. In today’s new normal, who would dare risk offering them anything different?

28 Apr 2024 - 8:17AM

A tour group visits Hong Kong. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

Chinese navy steps up African port calls in push to cement diplomatic ties

After pausing them during the pandemic, Beijing’s growing military diplomacy is seeing more frequent port visits.

13 Apr 2024 - 6:00PMvideocam

China’s cyberspace regulator vows to work with Africa on AI governance

Forum hosted by China’s internet watchdog urges Beijing and African countries to work with UN to establish artificial intelligence governing institution and calls for bigger role for developing countries in regulating the technology.

4 Apr 2024 - 7:28PMvideocam

China-Russia relations

Some stranded Russian Sokol oil cargoes begin to move to China and India

Two of the tankers, NS Century and Nellis, are carrying a combined 2.2 million barrels of Sokol to Chinese ports, according to data analytics firm Kpler.

20 Feb 2024 - 1:45AM

An oil pump jack outside Almetyevsk in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. On Monday three tankers with Russian Sokol oil, which had been stranded at sea due to Western sanctions, started to move towards China and India. Photo: Reuters

Belt and Road Initiative

The View | As China’s economy slows, Africa stands at a critical juncture

With Chinese lending to Africa shrinking, the continent must find ways to support its own development. It could do so by increasing internal trade, diversifying tradeable goods away from commodities and developing its relationship with the US.

16 Jan 2024 - 7:30PMvideocam

An exhibitor introduces skincare products made in Africa during the second China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in Changsha, the capital of central China’s Hunan province, on September 27, 2021. Photo: Xinhua

China debt

My Take | The West’s privatising of lending to poor nations is laying the real debt traps

Spreading debt distress and rising extreme poverty in Global South have more to do with Western private-public lending practices, often promoted by Washington, than China.

9 Jan 2024 - 9:00PM

Indonesia

Centre-left party seeks to shake up ‘hackneyed ideas’ in Indonesia politics

The Labour Party, made up of trade unionists, is looking to become the first centre-left party to enter Indonesia’s House of Representatives.

9 Jan 2024 - 5:00PM

Sierra Leone charges ex-president with treason over foiled coup

Gunmen attacked a military armory and overran prisons in Freetown on November 26, in what was called a coup attempt.

4 Jan 2024 - 12:54PM

Ernest Bai Koroma as Sierra Leonne’s president in 2014. File photo: AP

Science

New test reveals origins of pangolin products illegally sold in China

Scientists say southern Cameroon is emerging as poaching hotspot for endangered animals whose scales are prized in traditional Chinese medicine.

15 Dec 2023 - 3:00AM

Sierra Leone government says army base attack was coup attempt

The developments in Sierra Leone come after military takeovers in Gabon and Niger this year, and coups in Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso and Chad over the past three years.

29 Nov 2023 - 12:28PM

US and Russia bids on Israel-Gaza war fail at UN Security Council

A Washington-led draft resolution was vetoed by Russia and China, while a text led by Moscow did not draw sufficient support.

26 Oct 2023 - 4:24PM

A Palestinian woman reacts at the site of an Israeli strike on a residential building in Gaza City on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

K-drama news

K-drama casting latest: Bae Doona eyed for thriller Family Planning

Parasite actor Choi Woo-shik, who stars in the movie Wonderland, has been offered a part in romcom series Melo Movie, while Stranger star Bae Doona is considering a role in sci-fi thriller Family Planning.

21 Oct 2023 - 7:15PM

Bae Doona (above, in a still from “The Silent Sea”) has received a casting offer for Korean drama Family Planning. Photo: Netflix

Israel-Gaza war: US vetoes UN resolution seeking ‘pause’ for humanitarian aid

The US vetoes a UN Security Council resolution calling for a ‘pause’ in the Israel-Hamas conflict, with ambassador urging ‘let diplomacy play out’.

19 Oct 2023 - 9:14AM

UN Security Council rejects Russia’s resolution on Israel-Hamas war

Russian resolution condemned violence against civilians and all acts of terrorism, but did not name Hamas, which killed 1,300 people in Israel on October 7.

17 Oct 2023 - 10:35AM

Why the Global South is choosing Palestine and China over Israel and US

Middle East conflict showcases deep divisions between Washington-led position and newly ascendant grouping of postcolonial and developing countries.

17 Oct 2023 - 4:59PMvideocam

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In India, social activists, students and pro-Palestine activists hold a silent anti-Israel protest in Bangalore on October 16. Despite the Biden administration calling on the world to stand by its ally Israel, many in the Global South have criticised the Jewish state. Photo: EPA-EFE

African coups make life difficult for China’s belt and road projects

Political instability in African countries put brakes on China’s multibillion-dollar trade and investments

1 Oct 2023 - 6:00AMvideocam

Fashion

Mary Janes are trendy and timeless: here are 6 shoes to shop right now

Mary Janes have a rich history, evolving from everyday children’s footwear to a luxury staple … Style has curated 6 pairs that you should add to your wardrobe this season, from Prada to Dr. Martens

28 Sep 2023 - 4:00AM