Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's center-left Labor Party was projected to win over the conservative opposition in Australia's general election, local media reported. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/05/03/asia-pacific/politics/australia-election-labor-win/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #australia #anthonyalbanese

South Korea's conservative People Power Party on Saturday picked former labor minister Kim Moon-soo as its candidate for the June 3 presidential election. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/05/03/asia-pacific/politics/kim-south-korea-candidate/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #southkorea #yoonsukyeol #kimmoonsoo #leejaemyung #peoplepowerparty

Nestled between mountains in Indian-administered Kashmir, people prayed the sound of swaying walnut trees and cooing birds would not be replaced by the roaring of artillery. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/05/03/asia-pacific/politics/kashmir-war-anxious/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #india #pakistan #kashmir

China ‘evaluating’ US offer to engage in trade negotiations https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/02/china-evaluating-us-offer-to-engage-in-trade-negotiations #Trumptariffs #DonaldTrump #AsiaPacific #XiJinping #Worldnews #Business #Tariffs #USnews #China

Why is Trump ending the ‘de minimis’ tariff loophole on low-value imports? https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/02/why-is-trump-ending-de-minimis-tariff-loophole-low-value-goods #Trumpadministration #Internationaltrade #Globaleconomy #Trumptariffs #DonaldTrump #AsiaPacific #Worldnews #Economics #Business #Tariffs #USnews #China #Shein

China ‘evaluating’ US offer to engage in trade negotiations https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/02/china-evaluating-us-offer-to-engage-in-trade-negotiations #Trumptariffs #DonaldTrump #AsiaPacific #XiJinping #Worldnews #Business #Tariffs #USnews #China

In the first sign since President Donald Trump hiked tariffs last month that negotiations could start between the U.S. and China, Beijing said it is assessing the possibility of trade talks with Washington. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/05/02/asia-pacific/politics/us-china-trade-talks-thaw/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #us #china #trade #tariffs #marcorubio

Why is Trump ending the ‘de minimis’ tariff loophole on low-value goods? https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/02/why-is-trump-ending-de-minimis-tariff-loophole-low-value-goods #Trumpadministration #Internationaltrade #Globaleconomy #Trumptariffs #DonaldTrump #AsiaPacific #Worldnews #Economics #Business #Tariffs #USnews #China #Shein

India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has reiterated that "perpetrators, backers and planners” of an attack that killed dozens of people in Indian-controlled Kashmir must be brought to justice. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/05/02/asia-pacific/politics/india-renews-call-justice/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #india #pakistan #us

South Korea's Supreme Court threw into doubt front-runner Lee Jae-myung's eligibility to run for the presidency by overturning an earlier ruling that had cleared him of breaking an election law. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/05/01/asia-pacific/skpresidential-frontrunner-running-in-doubt/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #southkorea #leejaemyung

Palau, where brutal World War II clashes once unfolded, is again on the frontline as China and the United States and its allies prepare their forces in an intensifying contest for control over the Asia-Pacific region. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/05/01/asia-pacific/politics/us-china-palau-pacific-island/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #china #us #palau #taiwan #pacificocean #defense #wwii

https://www.alojapan.com/1262460/from-tokyo-to-los-angeles-workers-observe-may-day-with-marches-and-demonstrations-2/ From Tokyo to Los Angeles, workers observe May Day with marches and demonstrations #AprilVerrett #asia #AsiaPacific #business #Diversity #DonaldTrump #EkremImamoglu #EquityAndInclusion #gender #GeneralNews #GovernmentPolicy #indonesia #InternationalNews #istanbul #JunkoKuramochi #LegalProceedings #LosAngeles #MigrantWorkers #news #politics #PrabowoSubianto #ProtestsAndDemonstrations #RaceAndEthnicity #TadashiIto #Taiwan #Tokyo #TokyoNews #U.s.News #WorldNews #東京 #東京都

China began a hacking tournament in 2018 in which participants were encouraged to hack into Apple operating systems, Google phones and Microsoft networks, then report the findings to the government before the companies. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/05/01/asia-pacific/politics/chinese-hacking-competitions/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #china #hacking

The U.S. urged India and Pakistan to work together to de-escalate tensions and avoid an expected clash, after militants last week killed dozens of people in Kashmir. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/05/01/asia-pacific/politics/us-india-pakistan-fears-clash/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #us #india #pakistan

Russia and North Korea started building the first road bridge between the neighbors on Wednesday, with both countries touting it as a symbol of their growing alliance. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/04/30/asia-pacific/russia-north-korea-bridge/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #northkorea #russia

The Vietnam War ended before most of the current population was born, but like many young people Hoang Ha Linh was swept up in the excitement of the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/04/30/asia-pacific/vietnam-war-generation-z/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #vietnam #vietnamwar

‘Radical joy’: Cambodians gather to celebrate Khmer New Year on the 50th Killing Fields anniversary https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/30/cambodia-festival-killing-fields-anniversary-khmer-new-year #Mentalhealth #AsiaPacific #California #WestCoast #Cambodia #Buddhism #USnews #Food

Vietnam’s top leader said his nation is ready to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the world’s great powers, as tens of thousands gathered to watch a military parade marking 50 years since the end of the war. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/04/30/asia-pacific/politics/vietnam-lam-50-years-war/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #vietnam #southeastasia #us

#Palau, along with #Guam & #PapuaNewGuinea, are part of the Second Island Chain, a string of islands that the #US sees as a bulwark against #China’s access to the Western Pacific.

Now, that outsized strategic value has made Palau the target of a concerted #influence campaign by individuals w/ties to the Chinese govt, acc/to intelligence reports, police files, court records & land filings…, as well as interviews with >20 diplomats & local law enforcement officials.

#geopolitics #AsiaPacific

The #democratic island nation of just 17,000 people hosts American-controlled airstrips & soon-to-be-completed radar installations that the #USmilitary describes as “critical” to monitoring vast swathes of water & airspace. It is also a key piece of the Second Island Chain, a string of strategically located islets that #America is fortifying in an effort to deny #China access to the #WesternPacific.

#geopolitics #Palau #UnitedStates #AsiaPacific