Australia and Indonesia announce new security treaty

Australia and Indonesia have reached a landmark agreement on a new security treaty aimed at strengthening bilateral defence ties and ensuring regional stability, officials announced on Wednesday.

At least 11 people have been confirmed dead after a boat carrying Rohingya refugees capsized near the Thailand-Malaysia maritime border, officials from both countries said on Monday.

China has called on Germany to avoid what it termed “megaphone diplomacy” and to stop making “groundless accusations” that could harm bilateral relations, according to a statement released by Beijing on Monday.

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, Tom Andrews, has accused the international community of abandoning the country amid a spiraling humanitarian and political crisis, warning that the situation has grown “exponentially worse” since the 2021 military coup.

US President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he had agreed to reduce tariffs on Chinese imports to 47 percent following high-stakes talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea.  a meeting aimed at resetting the world’s most consequential trade relationship.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday expressed optimism about reaching what he described as a “great” trade deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping during their upcoming meeting in South Korea, amid growing anticipation over the future of US-China economic relations.

World leaders convened in Kuala Lumpur on Monday to explore new avenues for economic and trade cooperation across Asia and beyond, following the departure of US President Donald Trump from the ASEAN summit to continue his regional tour.

Senior officials from China and the United States held a second day of intensive trade negotiations in Malaysia on Sunday, just days before a highly anticipated meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Thailand and Cambodia have signed an expanded ceasefire agreement aimed at cementing peace along their long-disputed border, following months of deadly clashes that killed dozens and displaced hundreds of thousands.

Myanmar’s military junta has regained several key territories in recent months, reversing major losses from last year’s insurgent offensive with the help of Chinese backing, drone warfare, and intensified airstrikes that have devastated towns and displaced thousands.

Japan made history on Tuesday as the National Diet elected Sanae Takaichi, leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), as the nation’s first-ever female prime minister, breaking a political glass ceiling in a country long dominated by male leadership.

Myanmar’s military ruler Senior General Min Aung Hlaing acknowledged on Wednesday that the junta will be unable to hold its long-promised general election nationwide, citing continuing armed conflict and widespread instability nearly four years after the 2021 coup that plunged the country into civil war.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump are expected to visit South Korea next month for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, officials said on Wednesday.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has reportedly decided to resign in order to prevent a deeper rift within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), according to public broadcaster NHK on Sunday. The Prime Minister’s Office has not yet issued an official statement regarding the reports.

China staged its largest-ever military parade in Beijing, rolling out an array of advanced weaponry—including new nuclear missiles, drones, and laser systems—in a powerful display aimed at demonstrating its growing military dominance.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday called on member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to deepen economic cooperation and harness the advantages of their vast markets, warning against the growing impact of US tariffs on global trade.