The lesson from the history of totalitarianism is clear: The controlling logic behind the acts of a closed regime is paranoia. It sees enemies everywhere. North Korea's unusually bellicose statements and provocative actions of late may be best understood, then, as paranoid — but, to borrow Henry Kissinger's infamous phrase, even a paranoid has real enemies.

The work of the Transition Commission for the Bangsamoro region got under way the other day; it is no exaggeration to say that the undertaking is burdened with the high expectations of millions of Filipinos.

It is no fun being a saver any more — just look at Cyprus. Choose the wrong bank to look after your savings and you could find yourself wiped out virtually overnight if you are not careful.

North Korea's decision to boost its nuclear capability is a blatant provocation made in defiance of a U.N. Security Council resolution, which prohibits Pyongyang from conducting further nuclear tests or ballistic missile launches.

The Russian bear is set to supply more weapons to the Chinese dragon, and this trend, observers say, will continue going forward even though suspicions remain between both sides.

Well, it was the first time a pope had resigned in more than 600 years. So it was only fitting that it would also be the first time a pope would come from other than Europe in more than 1,300 years.

“The rise of the south” was what the United Nations Development Program flagged as a selling point for its human development report (HDR) this year.

The Nation/Asia News Network

The results of the 13th general election (GE) aside, it is already several things to many people.

Prompted by Japan's recent announcement it would join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) talks, various large-scale, free trade agreement initiatives have begun materializing one after another.