Japan's ruling coalition has suffered a historic setback, losing its majority in the upper house. It follows the October defeat in the more important lower house. For the first time since its founding in 1955, the Liberal Democratic Party finds itself a minority in both houses. Is this the beginning of the end of decades of one-party dominance in Japan? What does this mean for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and the country's struggling economy?

During talks with visiting Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Chinese President Xi Jinping described the “turnaround” in China-Australia relations as a powerful example of what can be achieved by treating each other as equals, seeking common ground while setting aside differences, and pursuing mutually beneficial cooperation. Albanese’s six-day visit—his second in less than two years—is widely seen as a pivotal step in not just stabilizing, but strengthening bilateral ties. What has this visit accomplished? How deep does this diplomatic shift truly run? And how can both countries seize new opportunities amid an increasingly turbulent global landscape?

U.S. President Donald Trump has dramatically escalated pressure on Russia this week to end its attacks against Ukraine. The moves include announcing new weapons for Kyiv and threatening direct and secondary tariffs on Moscow and those who do business with it if peace isn't reached in 50 days. What has caused this U-turn on Trump's stance on the conflict? What could be Russia's response as more European countries join the U.S. scheme to ship weapons to Ukraine? And how will these moves impact the situation in the battlefield?

China’s economy has exceeded expectations, posting 5.3-percent growth in the first half of the year. What's driving China's growth amid an increasingly complex international landscape? How resilient is its foreign trade? What are the key challenges and priorities for the rest of the year?

China and the European Union have seen both high-level diplomacy and rising trade tensions. China's foreign and commerce ministries have rejected European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's accusation of distorting trade and limiting market access. China said the claims misrepresent reality and overlook progress in bilateral talks. What's fueling the friction? Why is the NATO chief adopting a confrontational stance toward China as the EU-China summit approaches? And how might U.S. tariff policies shape the future of China-EU trade relations?

In the latest escalation of U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war, Washington has imposed new tariffs ranging from 25% to 30% on eight additional countries. Most striking, however, is a 50% tariff on Brazil, justified by what Trump called concerns over freedom of speech in South America's largest economy. This comes on the heels of a broader move targeting 14 countries—including major economies like Japan and South Korea—with steep tariffs unless trade agreements are reached by August 1. Trump also announced a 50% tariff on copper imports and a 200% duty on pharmaceuticals. What's driving this latest wave of trade threats? Can deals be struck before the August 1 deadline? And what might be the domestic and global consequences of targeting critical sectors?

China has long been a champion of green development and environment protection.

Recently, the country's green commitments are further enhanced as the draft of its first ever Environmental code was unveiled, marking a significant step towards bolstering green efforts and integrating various environmental regulations. What's in the draft code? How can it help improve China's current environmental laws and regulations? And how can China better work with the world in global environmental governance?

Indirect ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas are underway in Qatar, with both sides keeping delegations on the ground. What are the key sticking points in these negotiations? What might a post-conflict Gaza look like? How could the outcome of these talks reshape the political landscape across the region?

Analysts share their views on issues such as China-Singapore ties amid global uncertainty, prospects for resolving the Ukraine crisis and Asia-Pacific security assessment.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang is set to attend the 17th BRICS summit in Brazil, and will also pay an official visit to Egypt. What can we expect from the visits? How effective is BRICS as the voice for the global south? And what role do Egypt and China play in promoting regional peace and stability?