US foreign policy

Marco Rubio tells diplomats to play down talk of American tech ‘kill switch’

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during a press conference on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Pasay, Metro Manila on July 22, 2026. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / POOL / AFP) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s talking points, which were circulated worldwide, show how US diplomats are trying to deal with the international backlash from the Trump administration’s efforts to control how and to whom American AI companies release their models.

Why it makes sense for Trump to back off on Iran, for now

Iran – and particularly the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps that now seems to run much of the show -- seems anything but cowed by the US aggression.

What does Trump want? Gulf states have no answer as Iran war escalates

An anti-US graffiti on a street in Tehran, Iran, on July 20.

US to tighten visa regulations for foreign students, journalists

International students at American universities on F visas currently enjoy open-ended stays.

How long will Asia’s ‘long peace’ last?

The maintenance of peace in East Asia depends in large part on how leaders manage the legacies of unfinished history.

Who won the Iran war?

Dislike for US President Donald Trump and reluctance to give him credit for anything, amplifies emotions and colours too many assessments of Iran.

Vance, Rubio strike different tone on Iran and Israel

Statements by US Vice-President J.D. Vance (left) and Secretary of State Marco Rubio (right) have at times diverged over the past week, especially on the subject of Israel.

How Iran turned the tables on Israel

US President Donald Trump (right) with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago last December. Relations between the two leaders have soured over the US-Iran deal.

As deal to end war emerges from chaos, Iran and China sweep the stakes

Iran could be said to have enhanced its geostrategic weight in the West Asian region by proving it could stand up to both Israel and the US.

News analysis

‘Charismatic but naive’: Taiwanese opposition KMT chief’s peacemaker pitch leaves US unimpressed

KMT chair Cheng Li-wun is welcomed on June 8 with lion dance performances at New York’s Chinatown by the overseas Taiwanese community.

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MDDI (P) 046/10/2025. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No.202120748H. Copyright © 2026 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.