News

Summit of unity, as the U.S., Japan and South Korea join forces

Published

2 years ago

August 18, 2023

In a strategic move aimed at countering China’s growing influence, the leaders of Japan, South Korea, and the United States are convening this week at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland.

This historic summit marks a significant step towards quelling the longstanding animosity between Japan and South Korea, which Beijing has historically exploited as part of its divide and conquer strategy.

The leaders aim to project unity and announce a series of defense, economic, and diplomatic agreements designed to challenge China’s geopolitical dominance.

US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol will gather on Friday for talks aimed at strengthening ties and presenting a unified front.

The leaders are expected to unveil defense cooperation, economic collaboration, and diplomatic initiatives geared towards pushing back against China’s expanding presence in the region.

Christopher Johnstone, a senior fellow at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and former CIA analyst, remarked, “China, they will certainly not say anything positive and will be very critical of the trilateral statement.

They have always seen the difficulties between South Korea and Japan as a freebie for them, one where they wouldn’t have to work very hard to split the allies. Now that that has been repaired, the Chinese see very little advantage.”

Potential outcomes

While this isn’t the first time the three leaders have met, it is the first standalone summit of its kind, underscoring the gravity of the occasion.

Potential outcomes of the summit, colloquially referred to as “deliverables,” include a collective security agreement, joint military exercises, enhanced communication channels, frequent military dialogues, deeper cooperation in supply chains and emerging technologies, increased people-to-people exchanges, and a commitment to holding trilateral summits on an annual basis.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the importance of the trilateral cooperation, stating, “Strengthening our trilateral cooperation is critical to delivering for our people, for the region and for the world,” after meetings with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts.

China, not taking this development lightly, recently engaged in a three-way meeting with North Korea and Russia’s defense ministers.

It also attempted to foster closer ties with South Korea and Japan, signaling its desire to disrupt the unity of the trilateral group. However, analysts suggest that these efforts might fall short due to the significance of the strengthened alliance.

News

Coalition cracks deepen as Nationals break ranks over Labor reforms

Nationals senators defy party lines, voting against Labor’s reforms as Coalition faces internal rifts and leadership concerns.

Published

17 hours ago

January 21, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Nationals senators defy party lines, voting against Labor’s reforms as Coalition faces internal rifts and leadership concerns.

A rift has emerged in the Coalition after three Nationals senators crossed the floor to vote against Labor’s post-Bondi hate group reforms, defying party lines and raising questions about their future in the shadow cabinet.

Their proposed amendment calling for greater scrutiny was rejected, and Labor’s legislation passed the Senate 38 votes to 22, cementing the reforms into law despite opposition pushback.

Coalition leadership will meet Wednesday to assess the political fallout, though some MPs consider the issue minor in terms of potential resignations. The incident highlights growing tensions within the party as internal discipline comes under pressure.

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News

Trump escalates Greenland rhetoric as Davos leaders push back on sovereignty

Trump claims U.S. alone can ensure Arctic peace, sparking backlash as Greenland’s sovereignty faces geopolitical tensions at Davos.

Published

18 hours ago

January 21, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Trump claims U.S. alone can ensure Arctic peace, sparking backlash as Greenland’s sovereignty faces geopolitical tensions at Davos.

President Trump has intensified his remarks over Greenland, claiming the U.S. is the only nation capable of ensuring peace in the Arctic, sparking sharp pushback from European leaders. His rhetoric, including hints at potential tariffs, comes as international attention turns to the strategic territory.

The debate has dominated discussions at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where Trump confirmed plans to meet regarding Greenland following a positive conversation with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Meanwhile, Greenland’s leadership has warned that the territory must be ready for potential military scenarios.

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney also weighed in from Davos, drawing a firm line on sovereignty, declaring Greenland’s independence non-negotiable. The unfolding standoff highlights rising geopolitical tensions in the Arctic, with global powers increasingly staking their claims.

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News

OpenAI prepares first consumer device amid revenue boom

OpenAI plans to launch a screenless smart speaker by late 2026, shifting focus to hardware amid significant revenue growth.

Published

2 days ago

January 20, 2026

Harvey Vargas

OpenAI plans to launch a screenless smart speaker by late 2026, shifting focus to hardware amid significant revenue growth.

OpenAI is gearing up to launch its first-ever consumer hardware device in late 2026. The product is expected to be a screenless smart speaker, signalling the tech giant’s move beyond software and into the world of physical devices.

The device comes after OpenAI acquired a promising hardware startup to accelerate development.

The company is also pushing a strategy to strengthen domestic manufacturing, working closely with U.S. manufacturers to secure efficient production of essential components.

Despite the progress, technical hurdles remain, especially around the device’s listening capabilities, which could delay the rollout.

This development comes on the heels of OpenAI reporting an annualised revenue of over $20 billion in 2025, representing a staggering 233% increase from the previous year. The combination of massive revenue growth and expansion into hardware marks a new era for the AI pioneer.

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