Sholto Byrnes

There could be all sorts of reasons for this change in attitudes, too many to go into here. But I wonder if Mr Maniki has put his finger on one of them. In the Gulf, Africa, South-East Asia and beyond, many are more than happy to share the table with China. No one in Europe and North America would be as crass as to say they preferred the situation in the 19th century, when China and the Global South were all on “the menu” as far as some predatory Western powers were concerned. But they seem reluctant to draw up a chair.

The US presidential election is understandably commanding enormous attention, but this week marks a significant new chapter in the world's third-largest

High on the walls of the lobby in the Royal Lake Club, Kuala Lumpur, hang several boards listing the names of all the club's past presidents, including my Malaysian father-in-law.

If he can keep to his words, 'I’m not going to start a war. I’m going to stop wars', that will be more than good enough

I’ve been an avid follower of US presidential elections for 40 years, and ever since I was a 12-year-old in Jeddah eagerly devouring the coverage of the 1984 contest between Ronald Reagan and Walter Mondale, I’ve rooted for the Democratic candidate. But not this time. In fact, I could not be more delighted that Donald Trump has triumphed and the Democrats will soon be banished from the White House.

The rest of the world should take note of their deal to jointly develop a disputed area in the South China Sea

Is it possible for major news organisations to report impartially on major events? In the recent US presidential election, many didn't even try.

Something akin to a new middle power may be on the cusp of appearing at the heart of the Eurasian landmass

South Korea's declaration of martial law on Tuesday night, and then abrupt reversal a few hours later, came as a shock to the vast majority of the country's population.

What strikes UK politicians as big news has hardly resonated in most of the original members of the bloc