Entourage features senior Chinese diplomats and officials who oversee the country’s economic and trade affairs.

The Philippines has played its cards right by signalling that it’s ‘willing to work with anyone’ for strategic advantage, analysts say.

Chinese president attends state dinner hosted by French counterpart after arriving in Paris for his first European tour in five years.

The Fujian aircraft carrier’s maiden mission has been deliberately timed to coincide with US-Philippines military drills, analysts say.

New law will require people lobbying on behalf of a foreign government to register that activity publicly. A public inquiry is looking into allegations China meddled in Canadian elections.

Palestinian militant group Hamas agreed to a Gaza ceasefire proposal from mediators, but Israel said the terms did not meet its demands.

The Chinese embassy in Manila had said China and the Philippines earlier this year agreed on a ‘new model’ for the Second Thomas Shoal.

Xi says China and Europe can contribute to world peace, ahead of meeting with President Emmanuel Macron and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen.

Aid agencies have warned that the evacuation order will lead to an even worse humanitarian disaster in the crowded coastal enclave of 2.3 million people reeling from seven months of war.

Malaysia has been accused by the West of helping Tehran evade sanctions through the supply of Iranian oil to China via a “dark fleet” in its waters.

Israel’s prime minister denounced a ‘volcano of antisemitism’ and international criticism of Israel’s war in Gaza.

Former US president Donald Trump has sharpened his allegation that his Democratic successor has weaponised the US justice system against him, comparing Joe Biden’s tactics to those of Hitler’s secret police.

Chinese embassy in Wellington says Beijing has no hidden agenda or military intentions in the South Pacific.

Readers discuss China’s position on the South China Sea, and US action against student protesters.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the two issues were part of an ‘integrated vision’ for peace in the Middle East and could not be disentangled.

Hamas negotiators are in Egypt to give a response to a proposed ceasefire, but Israel says it will send a delegation only if it sees ‘positive movement’ on a hostage deal.

Zakia Wardak, the Afghan consul-general for Mumbai, is accused of trying to bring 25 bricks of gold into India from Dubai.

The president has been a target since the start of Moscow’s invasion, and says he was aware of at least ‘five or six’ foiled assassination attempts against him.

France is Chinese president’s first stop on Europe trip, and Beijing is pinning its hopes on Paris to push Brussels to adopt more ‘positive and pragmatic’ approach to China-EU ties.

There has been “significant progress” in negotiations to reach the deal, according to a report by an Egyptian TV channel.

Tens of thousands have been killed. Yet domestic politics are as much a factor as any looming humanitarian disaster for Western and Middle Eastern governments involved in peace talks.

Lula pushed the visiting leader to buy Brazilian beef, saying ‘our meat is cheaper and of better quality than the meat you buy’.

Madagascar, Ivory Coast and Nigeria were first on the itinerary for Tokyo’s top diplomat this week, as she also sought to push Japan’s Indo-Pacific strategy in Sri Lanka and Nepal.

The Israeli PM’s insistence on invading Rafah is proving a major obstacle to a proposal to halt the fighting for 40 days in return for the release of hostages.

Three Indian nationals have been charged in the shooting, and authorities are ‘investigating connections to the government of India’.