Australia and Japan Strengthen Defence Cooperation Amid Rising Regional Tensions 
Honduras Election Turmoil Deepens as Nasralla Alleges Fraud in Tight Presidential Race 
Trump Claims He Will Void Biden Documents Signed with Autopen 
California Launches Portal for Reporting Alleged Misconduct by Federal Immigration Agents 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
UN General Assembly Demands Russia Return Ukrainian Children Amid Ongoing Conflict 
Michael Dell Pledges $6.25 Billion to Boost Children’s Investment Accounts Under Trump Initiative 
U.S. Defense Chief Pete Hegseth Defends Controversial Second Strike on Suspected Drug-Smuggling Vessel 
Hong Kong Faces Low Turnout in “Patriots-Only” Election Amid Public Grief After Deadly Fire 
China’s Expanding Maritime Military Presence Alarms Taiwan and Japan 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
Pentagon Probe Finds Hegseth’s Use of Signal Risked Exposing Sensitive Yemen Strike Details 
Trump Administration Halts Immigration, Green Card, and Citizenship Processing for 19 Countries 
Drones Spotted Near Zelenskiy’s Flight Path in Ireland Trigger Security Alert 
U.S. Expected to Expand Travel Ban to More Than 30 Countries 
Taiwan Opposition Criticizes Plan to Block Chinese App Rednote Over Security Concerns 
Taiwan Signals Openness to Renew Ties with Honduras as Election Unfolds 
Relations between the United States and China were heavily strained during the Trump administration, but President Joe Biden seeks to approach the situation regarding China differently. The US is set to re-engage the alliance of the “Quad” to discuss the appropriate action to take against China.
The US State Department announced that Secretary Antony Blinken will be speaking virtually to his counterparts in the countries that are part of the alliance known as the Quad - Australia, India, and Japan - this week. They would have climate change and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as part of their agenda in the upcoming meeting on Thursday. This comes as relations between the other countries with China have been strained.
“These discussions with the Quad foreign ministers is critical to advancing our shared goals of a free and open Indo-Pacific and rising to the defining challenges of our times,” said State Department spokesman Ned Price last week Wednesday.
China’s state outlet Global Times warned Biden last month against renewing the Quad alliance. The outlet cited that it would be a “serious strategic blunder” and that it could spark a confrontation with China as it attempts to prevent the Communist nation’s expansionist goals. The commentary in the outlet placed some pressure on India, noting that it has the power to end the alliance and warning against affiliating itself with the anti-China rhetoric by the US. Back in November 2020, the Quad nations conducted a four-way Naval exercise in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, marking Australia’s first participation in a military exercise in 10 years.
In other related news, Biden extended the national emergency declaration with respect to Iran back in 1995 last week. Biden informed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of the decision in a letter, noting that he will retain the sanctions imposed on Iran as a response to the threat. Biden went on to explain the letter that the decision to extend the national emergency declaration came as a result of the actions and policies imposed by the Iranian government that could be seen as a possible threat to the interests of the United States.
