Trump has attacked pillars of democracy, Human Rights Watch says

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called for closer cooperation with Uruguay to promote what he described as an “equal and orderly multipolar world,” as he met Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi during a state visit to Beijing.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned that any military strike on Iran by the United States would ignite a wider regional conflict, as tensions rise amid a growing US military presence near Iranian waters.

US President Donald Trump has warned that Washington would take strong retaliatory action if Canada moves ahead with a trade agreement with China.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has signalled a major shift in the UK’s China policy, telling President Xi Jinping that London wants a `more sophisticated relationship` with Beijing to support economic growth and global security, as the two leaders held rare high-level talks in Beijing.

Saudi Arabia on Monday described its relationship with the United Arab Emirates as `vital` to regional stability, seeking to ease tensions after a recent rift between the two Gulf allies over developments in Yemen.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has described China and India as “good neighbours, friends and partners,” signalling continued efforts to stabilise ties between Asia’s two largest nations despite lingering border tensions.

US President Donald Trump has warned he would impose sweeping 100 percent tariffs on Canadian goods if Ottawa proceeds with what he claims is a trade deal with China, escalating tensions between the two longtime allies.

Myanmar began the final phase of its general election on Sunday, with polling under way in 60 townships including major urban centres such as Yangon and Mandalay.

The Philippines has hosted a meeting involving political and ethnic stakeholders from military-ruled Myanmar, marking a renewed attempt by ASEAN to revive its long-stalled peace efforts in the conflict-hit country.

The United States and Iran have escalated their exchange of warnings, raising fears of a wider regional conflict as both sides signal readiness for confrontation. 

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will not recognise or certify Myanmar’s ongoing election and will not deploy observers to monitor the vote, Malaysia’s foreign minister said.

China’s birth rate dropped to its lowest level on record last year, official data showed on Tuesday, highlighting deepening demographic challenges as the country’s population shrank for a fourth consecutive year despite policy efforts to encourage larger families.

Asia continues to dominate the top of the global passport power rankings. Singapore once again secured the number one position worldwide in 2026, with its citizens enjoying visa-free access to 192 destinations. Japan and South Korea jointly ranked second, offering access to 188 destinations. 

US President Donald Trump has threatened to sharply escalate trade pressure on several European allies, vowing to impose sweeping new tariffs unless the United States is allowed to purchase Greenland.

The United States has completed its first sale of Venezuelan crude oil worth about $500 million, a senior administration official said on Wednesday, marking a key shift in Washington’s control over Caracas’s energy assets following political upheaval in the country.

The year 2025 was the world’s third-warmest on record, capping an unprecedented run of extreme heat that has pushed global temperatures beyond key climate thresholds, European scientists said on Wednesday.