Singapore boosts support for Timor-Leste as it prepares to join ASEAN

By Hariz Baharudin The Straits Times SINGAPORE – Singapore will intensify its support for Timor-Leste’s government capacity building, as the region’s youngest nation prepares to join Asean as a full member. The upgraded Singapore-Timor-Leste Asean Readiness Support (Stars) package, now known as the enhanced Stars (eStars) package, will provide tailored assistance to help the South-east […]

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Xi Jinping hails ‘turnaround’ in China-Australia relations as PM Albanese visits Beijing

By Laura Zhou China’s relations with Australia have “turned around” after overcoming “setbacks”, President Xi Jinping told visiting Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Beijing on Tuesday. “The most important thing we can learn from this is a commitment to equal treatment, to seeking common ground while sharing differences, pursuing mutually beneficial cooperation, serving the […]

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Japanese FM offers support for Palestine in talk with Salameh

TOKYO: Japanese Foreign Minister IWAYA Takeshi met with Estephan Anton Salameh, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation of Palestine, at CEAPAD IV and expressed his hope that the conference would contribute to promoting CEAPAD’s objectives of expanding assistance to Palestine. The Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian […]

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Jaishankar meets Singapore’s counterpart Vivian Bala, says “Singapore is at heart of India’s Act East Policy”

Singapore City [Singapore]: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a meeting with his Singapore counterpart Vivian Bala on Sunday. He stated that Singapore is at the heart of India’s ‘Act East Policy.’ In a post on X, Jaishankar stated, “Singapore is at the heart of our Act East Policy. Always insightful to exchange views there. […]

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Australia juggles its China trade needs with Philippines defence ties

By Sam Beltran As the Asia-Pacific’s power dynamics continue to evolve and shift, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s visit to China promises to be a test of his country’s ability to walk the fine line between economic self-interest and strategic resolve. His trip, which began on Saturday, unfolds against the backdrop of Australia’s deepening security […]

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Lavrov meets Kim: Russia’s urgent bid for more troops from North Korea?

By Park Chan-kyong Russia’s appeals to North Korea for military manpower have taken on new urgency with Sergey Lavrov’s weekend trip to the country. The Russian foreign minister’s visit, his first to North Korea since 2009, signalled Moscow’s growing reliance on its neighbour for troops and engineering support, analysts say – suggesting that Kim Jong-un’s […]

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US calls for closer South Korea-Japan defence ties amid ‘unprecedented’ China-North threat

By Park Chan-kyong America’s highest-ranking military officer has called for closer trilateral defence ties with South Korea and Japan in response to what he described as an “unprecedented” military build-up by North Korea and China. The remarks by General Dan Caine, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, come amid growing pressure on Seoul […]

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Syrian, Israeli officials meet in Baku: diplomatic source in Damascus

A Syrian and an Israeli official met face to face in Baku Saturday on the sidelines of a visit to Azerbaijan by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a diplomatic source in Damascus said. The meeting marked a major step for the two countries which have been foes for decades, and comes after Israel initially cold-shouldered Sharaa’s administration […]

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China’s Xi sends congratulations to Suriname President-elect Simons

China’s President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to Suriname’s President-elect Jennifer Simons, Chinese state media Xinhua reported on Sunday. Xi said he attaches great importance to the development of China-Suriname relations and that he is willing to work with Simmons to promote greater development of the strategic partnership between the two countries, Xinhua reported.

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