https://apnews.com/article/china-taiwan-kmt-visit-xi-trump-03e3a4a320cdd18152cf17639bf83be4 Taiwanese opposition leader Cheng Li-wun traveled to China this week at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, calling it a “journey for peace.” This comes at a pretty tense time, with China increasing military pressure on Taiwan and a planned meeting coming up between Xi and Donald Trump. At the same time, Taiwan’s parliament has stalled a $40 billion… Read more »
https://apnews.com/article/bangladesh-measles-vaccination-unicef-who-5b3b376246e7c00373028cf8eb800eb3 The Bangladesh government has launched an emergency measles-rubella vaccination campaign in response to an outbreak that has killed over 100 children in less than a month. Working alongside the WHO, UNICEF and the Gavi, authorities are targeting children 6 months to 5 years in 18 high risk areas and plan to spread the campaign nationwide. This outbreak so far… Read more »
The article discusses how China is moving to expand its global aid and development programs as the United States reduces or withdraws funding from international assistance efforts. With the U.S. scaling back foreign aid and restructuring agencies such as USAID, many humanitarian programs face uncertainty. China is positioning itself to fill this gap by increasing development loans, infrastructure projects, and… Read more »
Mourners gathered in Sydney to grieve a 10-year-old girl named Matilda who was killed during a mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach. Hundreds attended her funeral, bringing flowers and balloons, as family, friends, and community members expressed shock and sorrow over her death. Matilda’s family had moved from war-torn Ukraine seeking safety in Australia, making the tragedy… Read more »
The article by Kristina Kukolja explains Australia’s decision not to allow some citizens with alleged ties to ISIS to return from detention camps in Syria. A group of Australians, including women and children, attempted to leave the Roj camp and travel home, but the Australian government issued orders preventing at least one woman from returning due to national security concerns…. Read more »
https://apnews.com/article/myanmar-president-min-aung-hlaing-military-c263b2d6175b82c5868e24496c975ff8 Myanmar’s military junta took another step in its long campaign to launder authoritarian rule into the appearance of legitimate governance this week, as parliament elected Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the architect of the 2021 coup, as the country’s new president. He won 429 of 584 votes in a parliament where military-backed parties and army-appointed members hold a commanding… Read more »
https://apnews.com/article/south-korea-indonesia-defense-lee-subianto-supply-chain-5d634cee1e7a78f45a0bccc7e2f29652 As the Iran war continues to send shockwaves through global energy markets and supply chains, South Korea and Indonesia announced a sweeping expansion of their strategic partnership this week following a summit in Seoul between President Lee Jae Myung and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. The two governments pledged deeper cooperation across defense industries, critical mineral supply chains, energy security,… Read more »
https://apnews.com/article/cook-islands-new-zealand-china-security-deal-a48cfa5347704092dd0a2a5dd73a4f1e In a diplomatic development that punches well above its demographic weight, New Zealand and the Cook Islands signed a landmark defense and security declaration this week, formally resolving over a year of tension stemming from Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown’s decision to sign a comprehensive strategic partnership with China in February 2025 without first consulting Wellington. The agreement,… Read more »
By Finn Brooks https://apnews.com/article/australia-social-media-ban-children-58c50c845d96057b39529e988bd778bc Australia made history on December 10, 2024, when it became the first country in the world to legally ban children under 16 from holding social media accounts — and the opening months of enforcement have been anything but smooth. According to the Associated Press, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant released the country’s first compliance report… Read more »
By Finn Brooks https://apnews.com/article/macron-takaichi-japan-france-iran-minerals-security-1447dc4946d795fe62c84eb616837b3a As the fallout from the Iran war continues to ripple across global markets and shipping lanes, French President Emmanuel Macron touched down in Tokyo this week for talks with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi — and the meeting was about far more than pleasantries at the Akasaka Palace. The two leaders issued a joint call for… Read more »
