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Australia
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Australia

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Australia
Australia
The world's sixth largest country, Australia is a regional power in Asia that has a sometimes troubled relationship with its largest trading partner, China. Canberra began to pull away from Beijing in 2018 due to concerns over Chinese influence on Australian society and politics, as well as disputes over the South China Sea. The global Covid-19 pandemic that began in China in 2019 caused further tensions after Australia called for an independent investigation into the disease's origins.
Capital
Canberra
Head of State
King Charles III
King Charles III
Head of Government
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
Anthony Albanese
Clearing immigration to enter Shenzhen now takes 10 to 20 seconds using e-channels, as opposed to the 30 to 40 minutes previously needed to go through a staffed immigration counter, says Vishal Melwani, president of the India Association. Photo: Getty Images
Hong Kong society

How travel permit for non-Chinese in Hong Kong has redefined weekends over border

Permanent residents holding foreign passports say their lifestyles have changed with advantages of travel permit launched two years ago.

United States

Editorial | US tariff threat over forced labour looks like old wine in a new bottle

Aviation

Aviation leaders face Iran war fuel shock, rising fare prices at Rio summit

Quadrilateral Security Dialogue

Past failures haunt the Quad’s US$20 billion critical minerals push

The initiative aims to break China’s near-monopoly, but private-sector caution and a history of unfulfilled pledges stand in the way.

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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio holds a press conference during the Critical Minerals Ministerial meeting at the State Department in February. Photo: Reuters
Nordic nations

Norway crown princess awaits lung transplant

There had been a ‘dramatic deterioration’ in her health in recent months, giving her only around a year left to ⁠live without a transplant.

Hong Kong courts

Australian fined, given suspended jail term for dining and dashing in Hong Kong

Samuel Anthony Monkivitch ordered to pay HK$2,039 after skipping out on bills on four occasions between April 24 and May 5.

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India

Quad’s proposed port project in Fiji risks being ‘another empty promise’

Analysts warn that a lack of commitment by the four-member bloc on the project could open the door for China to expand its economic clout.

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Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, India’s Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio pose before a Quad meeting in New Delhi on May 26. Photo: Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP
Hong Kong transport

MTR Corporation raises €3 billion in its first public euro green bond sale

The offering marks Hong Kong rail giant’s largest-ever bond deal.

Japan

Japan’s PM Takaichi eyes India trip for talks with leader Modi

The leaders plan to discuss strengthening supply chains of critical goods given concerns about China.

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US-China relations

US-China policy under Trump is heading for ‘unpredictable drift’: expert

Beijing is said to face complex double-edged calculus amid contrasting approaches of American president and Washington establishment.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) and US President Donald Trump attend a welcome ceremony for the American leader held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 14. Photo: AP
Taiwan

Beijing slaps travel ban on New Zealand MPs for ‘crossing red line’ over Taiwan

New Zealand and Australia to lodge formal protests after the four lawmakers were sanctioned for ‘sending the wrong signals’.

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New Zealand MPs (from left to right) Laura McClure, Maureen Pugh, Duncan Webb and David Wilson posing for a group photo at the airport in Taoyuan. Photo: AFP
US-China relations

US and ‘Five Eyes’ allies warn of LinkedIn China spying threat

The FBI, MI5 and other agencies say Chinese spies are using such sites to recruit people with access to classified information.

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Taiwan

How Japan, Philippines are building a maritime security front against China

Tokyo-Manila defence cooperation is linking Pacific flashpoints, with broad implications for Beijing, analysts say.

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New Zealand

Is New Zealand a ‘freeloader’? Wellington rebuffs Hegseth’s Shangri-La remark

Analysts say the US defence secretary’s taunts ring hollow given Washington’s own record of undermining alliance obligations.

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Delegates watch US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s speech on a screen at the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore on Saturday. Photo: Reuters
Science

Can China’s caesium-from-brine tech cut reliance on Canadian, Australian ores?

Research team lead says while China follows research on salt lake resource extraction, ‘most efforts focus on lithium and potassium’.

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The Tanco mine in Canada is among the major global commercial sources of caesium. China’s Sinomine Resources controls operations here. Photo: Handout
Malaysia

Could Malaysia’s under-16 social media ban expose children to new online risks?

Experts warn age checks could expose sensitive identity data while pushing determined minors towards harder-to-monitor spaces.

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China trade

Australian beef will soon be hit by 55% tariff in China, ministry says

China’s imports of Australian beef are about to surpass a quota introduced by Beijing to protect domestic farmers.

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Fame and celebrity

Meet Finn Little, who plays Carter on Dutton Ranch and Yellowstone

The 19-year-old reprises his role as Carter on the Yellowstone spin-off – the young actor’s already worked with Angelina Jolie and Nicolas Cage.

Actor Finn Little grew up on Yellowstone, and now he’s back as Carter in Dutton Ranch. Photos: @finn_little_official/Instagram
US, Israel war on Iran

Letters | Asia can’t wait for the US to lift its naval blockade on Iran

Readers discuss how to make the blockade costly for Washington, the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline, and the success of a grass-roots film.

Vietnam

Vietnam detains Australian man who trashed Da Nang cafe

He destroyed bar equipment and furniture, and customers’ belongings, including laptops and mobile phones.

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China property

The View | Green shoots in Hong Kong, mainland China property markets deserve attention

Geopolitical forces, policy support, attractive rents and lower interest rates have combined to improve the outlook for both markets.

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People walk amid office towers in Central on January 26. Average rents for grade A offices in the Central business district grew nearly 6 per cent on a quarterly basis last quarter, while rents for premium buildings in the district surged 12 per cent, the fastest rate since the third quarter of 2010. Photo: Jelly Tse
Malaysia

‘We are a small country’: why Malaysia is resisting US defence spending call

Malaysia faces a dilemma in modernising an ageing military without overwhelming public finances or appearing to choose sides, analysts say.

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Malaysia’s Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin speaks at the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore on Sunday. Photo: Reuters
US-China relations

Hegseth tones down China rhetoric on return to Asia

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth adopted a noticeably less hostile tone towards China in his address at this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue.

Malaysia

Malaysia bars under-16s from social media as new rules come into force

Malaysia’s roll-out of strict age-gating rules follows on the heels of Australia and Indonesia in the push to protect children online.

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Anthony Albanese

Australia catches Europe’s right-wing populist wave

A surge in support for Australia’s populist One Nation party mirrors the rise of the populist right in Europe and Britain.

A campaign cutout depicting One Nation leader Pauline Hanson is displayed outside a pre-polling centre ahead of the Farrer by-election in Corowa, Australia, on May 6. Photo: Reuters
Myanmar

Myanmar’s China-backed mega dam revival risks Kachin rebel backlash

Restarting the shelved US$3.6 billion Myitsone Dam project could ultimately come down to Beijing’s ‘risk tolerance’.

A Kachin Independence Army rebel stands at frontline outpost in northern Kachin state, Myanmar. Photo: AP
Singapore

Shangri-La Dialogue: can Asia do ‘less Shangri-La, more ships, more subs’?

In response to Hegseth’s call, participants at the Singapore forum say defence spending levels have to factor in different countries’ needs.

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The Philippines

Philippines says Beijing main hurdle to South China Sea code of conduct

Addressing the Shangri-La Dialogue, defence chief Teodoro blamed China for stalling the pact and stressed Asean’s unity on the issue.

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