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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's trip to Singapore highlights Australia's reliance on the city-state's refineries for fuel, which are facing crude shortages due to the Strait of Hormuz closure. Experts say diplomatic efforts are crucial, but commercial decisions by refinery owners will ultimately determine supply.
Preliminary OECD data shows international development aid from member countries fell by 23% in real terms in 2025, the largest annual drop on record, led by a nearly 57% reduction in US assistance. The Trump administration is also promoting a 'trade over aid' declaration at the UN, framing a shift away from direct aid as a rejection of a 'failed aid model.' Germany became the world's largest donor by default, while only four nations met the UN's 0.7% of GNI aid target.
Israel launched a massive aerial assault on Lebanon hours after a US-Iran ceasefire was announced, killing at least 203 people according to Lebanese authorities. The attack has thrown the fragile truce into doubt, with Iran accusing Israel of a 'grave violation' and warning of renewed hostilities, while the US and Israel maintain Lebanon was not part of the deal.
Israel has vowed to press its military campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon, even as a fragile two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran hangs in the balance. Iranian officials warn the strikes violate the truce and could derail upcoming negotiations, while the US and Israel insist Lebanon was never part of the deal. International condemnation grows as the death toll in Lebanon climbs.
IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi has voiced concern over a potential global nuclear arms race, citing disruptions in Iran cooperation and shifting debates in East Asia. His comments come amid regional conflicts and discussions on nuclear proliferation.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has dropped to under 10% of normal levels after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ordered vessels to use alternative routes near Larak Island, citing mine risks. The IRGC has also vowed to prevent military vessels from crossing the strait, while denying reports of US warships in the area.
Djibouti's longtime leader Ismail Omar Guelleh is widely expected to win Friday's presidential election, extending his 27-year rule over the strategically located Horn of Africa nation. With a single low-profile opponent and a divided opposition, analysts describe the vote as a foregone conclusion, while the country's role as a hub for foreign military bases underscores its geopolitical importance.
Japan is considering releasing a 20-day oil stock from its reserves in May, according to Kyodo News, on top of the 45-day supply already released in mid-March. The move comes as the country, which relies on the Middle East for about 95% of its oil, braces for possible prolonged disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Experts and officials also warn of LNG shortages and potential power outages as summer approaches.
Singapore has refused to negotiate with Iran over safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, calling transit a right under international law rather than a privilege. Malaysia’s leaders, whose vessels were granted toll-free passage after direct diplomacy, pushed back against what they saw as Singapore lecturing them on engagement. The dispute highlights widening regional differences over how to respond to Iran’s selective use of the strategic waterway.
Representatives from about 30 NATO member states are set to visit Japan in mid-May, marking the highest-level delegation of its kind. The visit underscores deepening Japan-NATO ties and concerns over US reliability under President Trump, with talks focusing on China and Russia policy and defense cooperation.
President Donald Trump met NATO chief Mark Rutte amid reports he is considering punishing allies who declined to support the US war with Iran, including moving US troops. Rutte acknowledged Trump's disappointment while defending European contributions.
Following a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran, the first vessels have begun transiting the Strait of Hormuz, but traffic remains far below pre-conflict levels. Reports indicate that most early crossings involved Iran-linked ships, while many commercial operators remain cautious due to security warnings and unclear transit conditions.
Taiwan's main opposition leader Cheng Li-wun visited China for the first time in a decade, meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and paying tribute to revolutionary Sun Yat-sen. The trip highlights ongoing tensions between Beijing and Taipei while offering a rare moment of dialogue.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has called for the US-Iran ceasefire to extend to Lebanon and warned the fragile truce must hold to prevent further damage to the global economy and energy markets, as Australia moves to manage fuel supply disruptions.
North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles on Wednesday, with launches observed in the morning and afternoon from the Wonsan area, according to South Korea's military. The launches follow a failed projectile test and come amid heightened tensions and diplomatic overtures from Seoul.
Oil prices fell sharply and global stock markets surged after US President Donald Trump agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran, easing fears of a prolonged disruption to energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz. Despite the initial relief, concerns remain over the fragility of the truce, with oil prices later rebounding amid renewed tensions.
North Korea launched another ballistic missile toward the East Sea on Wednesday afternoon, hours after firing multiple short-range ballistic missiles, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff. The launches come amid heightened tensions following President Lee Jae-myung's expression of regret over private drone flights into the North.
North Korea fired an unidentified projectile toward the Sea of Japan on Sunday morning, according to Japan's Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi. The missile, believed to be ballistic, fell outside Japan's exclusive economic zone. The launch follows a missile test reported on April 7.
Former Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba called for South Korea and Japan to collaborate at the U.N. level to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, citing global supply disruptions. He also suggested a bilateral logistics agreement and stressed trilateral security cooperation amid North Korean threats.
North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Wednesday, following a projectile launch a day earlier that reportedly failed. The launches came after South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expressed regret over drone flights into the North, and amid Pyongyang's reaffirmation of its hostile stance toward Seoul.