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Deputy PM Richard Marles says explanation for the drills, which were conducted in international waters and according to international law, are ‘unsatisfactory’
Australia’s foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has confronted her Chinese counterpart after Chinese warships conducted apparent live-fire exercises at short notice on Friday, forcing commercial aircraft to change course.
In late on Friday night Australian eastern time, Wong said she met with China’s foreign affairs minister, Wang Yi, on the sidelines of the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in South Africa that day.

PM to claim if US rejects Mauritius’s claim to own the islands, Beijing will be drawn into the regional dispute
Keir Starmer is to urge Donald Trump to recognise that a US rejection of Mauritius’s legal claim to own the Chagos Islands, including the strategic US military base at Diego Garcia, may stoke tensions similar to those in the South China Sea.
Starmer is due to meet Trump next Friday mainly to discuss the future of Ukraine, but also a UK plan for Gaza’s reconstruction under international protection with no need for Palestinians to be required to quit the Gaza Strip. The paper is similar but not identical to proposals being discussed by Arab foreign ministers in Riyadh, which has a strong international component and would prevent Hamas ruling in Gaza.

The vessels were sailing in the Tasman Sea, and their announced intent to perform exercises prompted a call for commercial flights to divert course.

Democratic party chair Lo Kin-hei would not comment on whether Beijing put pressure on members
Hong Kong’s oldest pro-democracy party, which became an influential voice of opposition before Beijing , will start preparations to shut down, its leader has said.
Lo Kin-hei, the chair of Hong Kong’s Democratic party, said on Thursday: “We are going to proceed and study on the process and procedure that is needed for the disbanding.”

A February threat report from OpenAI details examples of how threat actors, including those likely based in China and Iran, are using U.S.-based AI tools.

Three Chinese vessels currently in international waters notified Australia’s defence department before the drill
Chinese warships have undertaken an apparent live-fire drill in the seas between Australia and New Zealand, diverting commercial flights in the skies above.
The Chinese navy notified the Australian defence department shortly before the drill on Friday.

Once Hong Kong's largest opposition party, the Democratic Party has suffered since China's crackdown.

The World Anti-Doping Agency withdrew a defamation lawsuit and an ethics case against American officials critical of its handling of failed tests by members of China’s Olympic swimming squad.

Chinese families may debate whether to send their kids to American universities — but many still believe a U.S. degree is a pathway to a better life.

Sailing in Australia’s exclusive economic zone, the three vessels were not breaking international law, but they were unusually far south on an undeclared mission.

Analysts say the Alibaba founder's re-emergence could signal a policy change in Beijing.

Acclaimed Chinese American pianist and conductor Li Jian returned to Carnegie Hall in New York City on Tuesday evening, where he played Mozart, Debussy and Schubert. He was also honored for his ...