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A Chinese navy ship with bow number 525 monitors a Philippine navy ship, Andres Bonifacio, near the Philippine-occupied island of Thitu during a maritime patrol in the disputed South China Sea on June 6, 2025. — AFP pic

Philippines alleges toxic sabotage in South China Sea as fishermen accused of dumping cyanide in Spratlys waters

A boat sails in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz off Khasab in Oman, northern Musandam peninsula, on June 25, 2025. — AFP pic

As US naval blockade looms, Iran warns of wider Gulf escalation and regional instability

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and newly appointed Chief of Army Lieutenant General Susan Coyle pose for photographers after a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia. — Reuters ic

Australia names first woman to command its army in 125-year history

Pope Leo XIV addresses the crowd from the window of the apostolic palace overlooking St. Peter's Square during the Regina Caeli prayer in The Vatican on April 12. — AFP pic

Trump says he is ‘not a big fan’ of Pope Leo XIV after peace appeal

Military chaplain Mykola Bahirov (C) prays with Ukrainian military members of the 33rd separate mechanised brigade next to traditional cakes and other food to celebrate Orthodox Easter. — AFP pic

Russia, Ukraine trade accusations as short Easter ceasefire ends after 32 hours

The trip marks Pedro Sanchez’s fourth visit to China in four years as he seeks to position Spain as a key bridge between China and the 27-member European Union. — AFP pic

Spain’s Sanchez seeks closer China ties amid strains with US

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said yesterday that Tehran had been just “inches away” from a deal with Washington during weekend talks with the United States in Islamabad. — Reuters pic

Iran says it was ‘inches away’ from US deal before talks stalled in Islamabad

Viktor Orban salutes supporters at the Balna centre in Budapest during a general election in Hungary, on April 12, 2026. — AFP pic

Hungary’s Orban concedes defeat after 16 years as opposition’s Magyar wins landslide

Hezbollah supporters hold up a placard showing the images of the (from left) Lebanese President Michel Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, as they demonstrate near the Governmental Palace to protest against the Lebanese authorities’ decision to engage in direct negotiations with Israel. — AFP pic

Lebanon PM says working to get Israeli troop withdrawal

US president Donald Trump said his goal was to clear the Strait of mines and reopen it to all shipping, but that Iran must not be allowed to profit from controlling the waterway. — Reuters pic

US to begin blockade of Iranian ports after talks collapse, raising fears of renewed war

A migrant worker carries a plastic water container in New Delhi on April 9, 2026. Migrant workers in India's capital reeling from an energy crunch sparked by the Mideast war, are weighing whether to leave New Delhi for good. — AFP pic

‘We will leave when money runs out’: Migrant workers in Delhi hit by soaring LPG costs

A man sells the popular breakfast roll 'pandesal' in Manila on April 7. The rising price of LPG has hit the import-dependent archipelago's humble street food vendors hard. — AFP pic

Filipinos feel pinch as LPG prices soar, hitting street food vendors after Middle East conflict

By sunset, the “Islamabad Talks” had only produced press releases, a memorable food spread, and impressively fast internet in a country riven with tech challenges. — AFP pic

Buffets, baristas, but no briefings: Journalists frozen out of Iran talks

Authorities in Seoul are pushing to dispatch five Korean-flagged vessels to the Saudi port city of Yanbu on the Red Sea coast to help establish alternative supply routes as the Strait of Hormuz has been effectively shut down amid the West Asia conflict. — AFP pic

Seoul eyes Red Sea route, naval escort as it secures alternative oil shipments

This handout photo taken and released on April 10, 2026, by the office of shows Kuomintang Chairperson Cheng Li-wun shaking hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping at Great Hall of the People in Beijing. — AFP pic

China unveils measures to boost Taiwan ties after rare KMT visit to Beijing

UK government minister Wes Streeting today said it was disappointing that negotiations between the United States and Iran in Islamabad had stalled. — Jacquelyn Martin/Pool/AFP pic

UK minister says ‘disappointing’ no breakthrough in US–Iran talks, describes Trump’s posts as ‘extraordinary’