India’s opposition stages mass protest over voter roll revisions and election oversight
Thousands of people gathered in New Delhi on Sunday (1 Nov) as opposition parties staged one of their largest demonstrations in recent weeks, protesting revisions to India’s electoral rolls and calling for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Opposition leaders criticised the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, under which more than 130 million…
Quad Foreign Ministers advance economic security and Indo-Pacific cooperation
The Secretary of State of the United States and the Foreign Ministers of Australia, India and Japan met in Atlanta, Georgia, on Saturday (31 Oct) to review progress on Quad initiatives and reaffirm their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The ministers highlighted economic security, resilient supply chains, critical infrastructure and emerging technologies as…
US, Japan and South Korea sign memorandum establishing Trilateral Arctic Pacific Partnership
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu, and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Atlanta on Friday (30 Oct) to review progress on trilateral cooperation across security, economic resilience and regional stability. The ministers signed a Memorandum of Cooperation establishing…
US reaffirms Indo-Pacific security commitment at ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to Indo-Pacific security cooperation during the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus in Cebu, Philippines, on Wednesday (28 Oct). Hegseth described the US approach as “strong, quiet, and clear”, saying it was focused on deterring coercion and aggression while avoiding unnecessary escalation. He said the strategy represented “peace…
Kim Jong Un visits China via newly opened Yalu River Bridge
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited the Chinese border city of Dandong on Saturday (24 Oct), crossing the newly opened New Yalu River Bridge in a move highlighting closer economic and diplomatic ties between China and North Korea. Kim met Wang Huning, a senior Chinese Communist Party official, who conveyed greetings from President Xi…
India and Azerbaijan revive bilateral engagement with focus on trade, connectivity and security
India and Azerbaijan have moved to strengthen bilateral relations, with External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar meeting Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev and Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov in Baku on Friday (23 Oct). The talks focused on expanding cooperation in trade, investment, energy, connectivity and security, as both countries seek to advance diplomatic engagement after a…
Maldives and Pakistan deepen bilateral ties with 20 cooperation agreements
Maldives President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif pledged to strengthen Maldives–Pakistan relations following bilateral talks in Islamabad, marking 60 years of diplomatic ties. The leaders outlined plans to expand cooperation across trade, investment, education, tourism, defence, technology and climate resilience, while highlighting opportunities to deepen economic and people-to-people links. Key…
China and North Korea open New Yalu River Bridge to boost trade and connectivity
China and North Korea have officially opened the New Yalu River Bridge, marking the launch of their largest land border crossing and a significant step in restoring cross-border trade and economic cooperation after years of delays and pandemic-related disruption. In a video address, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said the bridge would promote trade, improve border…
India’s Cockroach Janta Party leaders detained as protests in New Delhi intensify
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke was detained by Indian authorities in New Delhi on Saturday (10 Oct) as his youth-led movement organised protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over changes to electoral rolls. Authorities imposed extensive security measures in New Delhi ahead of the demonstration, deploying thousands of personnel,…
Thailand and Timor-Leste strengthen bilateral ties during official visit
Thailand and Timor-Leste have agreed to expand cooperation across defence, trade, development and regional affairs following the official visit of Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão to Thailand on 9–10 October 2026, hosted by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and ASEAN cooperation, while welcoming a new mechanism…
South Korea’s Lee calls for renewed dialogue with North Korea while advancing defence modernisation
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has called on North Korea to restore trust and resume dialogue, while reaffirming his administration’s commitment to reducing military tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Speaking during South Korea’s Armed Forces Day, Lee said his government would continue pursuing practical measures to ease tensions despite recent strains in inter-Korean relations. …
Japan launches intelligence panel as Takaichi advances national security reforms
Japan has held the first meeting of an expert panel tasked with strengthening the country’s intelligence capabilities and anti-espionage measures, as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi advances national security reforms. Takaichi said the initiative reflects growing regional security challenges, citing China’s and North Korea’s military developments, as well as closer cooperation between China and Russia and…
New Zealand’s Foreign Minister urges continued US engagement in Pacific security
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters has called for continued United States engagement in the Pacific, warning that the region faces a more unsettled geopolitical environment ahead of New Zealand’s November 2026 election. In his final major foreign policy speech before the vote, Peters said the current security environment was “not benign”, citing concerns including…
South Korea and Kazakhstan sign 13 agreements as ties reach “future-oriented comprehensive strategic partnership”
South Korea and Kazakhstan have agreed to elevate bilateral relations to a “future-oriented comprehensive strategic partnership,” while expanding cooperation in energy, critical minerals, technology and economic security, according to South Korean presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung. The upgrade builds on diplomatic relations established in 1992 and a strategic partnership formed in 2009. The agreement was announced…
Cambodia and Thailand begin UN maritime conciliation over Gulf of Thailand dispute
Cambodia and Thailand opened the first meeting of a United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) compulsory conciliation process on Tuesday (15 Sep) aimed at resolving their long-running maritime boundary dispute in the Gulf of Thailand. Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said Phnom Penh is seeking a treaty establishing a single maritime…
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