Australia is upgrading its defence ties with Papua New Guinea (PNG) as China's Pacific influence grows. The new security pact will integrate the nations' defence forces, allowing citizens to serve in either military with Australia offering citizenship as an incentive. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and PNG Defence Minister James Marape will sign the pact on Wednesday, a day after celebrating PNG's 50th anniversary of independence from Australia.
The US embassy in Taipei has accused China of intentionally mischaracterizing World War Two-era documents, including the Cairo Declaration and Potsdam Proclamation, to pressure Taiwan and isolate it from the international community. China claims these documents support its sovereignty over Taiwan, citing language that states the island was to be 'restored' under Chinese rule. However, the US argues that these agreements made no determination of Taiwan's ultimate political status, while China asserts that the Republic of China had no right to claim Taiwan due to the non-existence of Mao's People's Republic of China at the time.
Former UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill's 1940 warning about opening a quarrel between the past and present is echoed in a recent attempt to broker a deal between Donald Trump and Keir Starmer. The two leaders aim to strengthen their countries' economies, with a focus on China and the global market. By working together, they hope to build a deeper partnership that will keep the West safer and stronger.
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar met with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on Sunday during the preparatory Foreign Ministers' meeting for the Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit in Doha. They condemned Israeli strikes on Qatar and other Muslim nations, calling them blatant violations of sovereignty and international law. Both reaffirmed their support for the Palestinian cause and emphasized the need for unity across the Muslim Ummah.
India and the EU are working to expedite free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations by finding common ground on all issues. European Commission President Goffin met with Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal in Brussels to discuss the matter. The talks aim to create a mutually beneficial agreement, with no specific details on what issues are being converged upon.
Indonesian envoy visits Central Police Office in Lahore to discuss security and training initiatives. The delegation was briefed on the Safe Cities Project, Virtual Women Police Stations, and Child Protection Centers, among other public service initiatives. IG Punjab Dr Usman Anwar highlighted Indonesia's rapid development and leadership role in the Islamic world and region, while Indonesian Ambassador appreciated Punjab Police's efforts against terrorism. The two police forces agreed to exchange delegations for enhanced training and capacity building, with IG Punjab also showcasing the Central Police Dashboard and community policing programs.
Japan appoints Katsuro Nagai as its first WTO permanent representative, citing challenges in the multilateral trading system. Nagai, a high-ranking diplomat at Japan's Geneva mission, aims to contribute to WTO reform and create new rules through his experience in free trade talks.
North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un has pledged that the country's nuclear statehood is 'permanently enshrined' in its supreme law, amid a row with the US over denuclearization efforts. The declaration comes after Pyongyang criticizes US attempts to interfere in its internal affairs and views joint military exercises with South Korea as a threat to national security. North Korea has vowed to take measures to protect itself and has not had official relations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for over 30 years, citing a lack of legal authority.
South Korea and Vietnam discussed ways to boost bilateral trade cooperation, aiming for a $150 billion volume by 2030. The two countries explored measures to enhance financial sector cooperation, including implementing a memorandum of understanding between Korea Electric Power Corporation and PetroVietnam to foster a workforce for Vietnam's nuclear power industry. The Trade Ministry also held a director general-level meeting with Vietnam's finance ministry to address pending issues, such as the refund of value-added tax for Korean textile companies and the succession of business incentives by HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering following its acquisition of Doosan Vina.