Indonesian police have confirmed the arrest of two individuals in connection with the deadly shooting of an Australian national and the serious injury of another during a late-night attack at a villa in Bali. The incident occurred shortly after midnight on Saturday in the Badung regency of the resort island. According to Indonesian police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo, one suspect was detained in the capital city, Jakarta, while the other was apprehended abroad. However, no further details were provided about the overseas arrest or the identities of the suspects.

The victims were identified as 32-year-old Zivan Radmanovic, who died at the scene, and 35-year-old Sanar Ghanim, who was critically wounded. The attack took place in a private villa, and state news agency Antara reported that both victims were Australian citizens. Initial investigations revealed that two individuals fled the scene on motorcycles shortly after the attack. Witnesses claimed the suspects spoke English with Australian accents, raising suspicions about their nationality and possible connection to the victims.

The motive behind the attack remains unclear, and authorities are continuing their investigation. Bali police are expected to hold a press conference on Wednesday to provide more information about the case, according to police spokesperson Ariasandy. The incident has drawn attention due to the involvement of foreign nationals in a violent crime on the popular tourist island. Indonesian authorities are coordinating with international agencies as the case develops.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

South Korea's newly elected President Lee Jae-myung and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba agreed to deepen bilateral relations during a phone conversation, according to statements from a South Korean presidential spokesperson and Japan’s foreign ministry on Monday (June 9). The discussion followed previous remarks from both leaders expressing a shared commitment to continued coordination on issues related to North Korea.

President Lee, a progressive leader elected just last week, emphasized a pragmatic approach to foreign policy, stating he intends to maintain security cooperation with both Japan and the United States. According to his spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung, Lee expressed a desire to address regional tensions through trilateral collaboration with Tokyo and Washington.

The two leaders highlighted the importance of their countries' relationship and agreed to arrange a face-to-face meeting to advance their partnership further, Kang said. Prime Minister Ishiba reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening bilateral ties, noting that it should be built upon the existing foundation laid by both governments, according to Japan’s foreign ministry. The call lasted approximately 25 minutes, the ministry noted.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

Thailand’s military has announced its readiness to launch a “high-level operation” to defend its sovereignty amid a tense border dispute with Cambodia that escalated into a deadly clash last week. This marks the strongest warning from Thailand’s military so far. In a statement on June 5, the Thai army said its intelligence indicated that Cambodia had increased military activity along the border despite ongoing diplomatic talks, describing this development as “worrisome.”

On Friday, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra convened a National Security Council meeting and affirmed the military’s preparedness to protect Thai sovereignty, while emphasizing the importance of peaceful resolution. She acknowledged the potential damage of conflict and stressed the government’s preference for dialogue.

“The military is ready for any scenario,” she said, adding that both the government and military are working closely together. Following a brief confrontation on May 28 in an unmarked border area that left one Cambodian soldier dead, both governments exchanged cautious statements committing to continued dialogue.

Before the Friday meeting, the Thai army declared it was prepared for a high-level military response if retaliation became necessary. It said border operations were being conducted carefully and calmly to avoid casualties while remaining fully ready to defend the country if needed. Cambodia has yet to respond to the Thai military’s statement.

Although the two countries share a historic rivalry, their governments maintain friendly relations, partly due to the close ties between former leaders Thaksin Shinawatra of Thailand and Hun Sen of Cambodia. Their children currently serve as prime ministers in their respective countries. This dispute comes at a sensitive time for Thailand’s Pheu Thai Party government, which is dealing with economic challenges and political pressures. The party, linked to the influential Shinawatra family, has a difficult history with the military, which previously overthrew its governments in 2006 and 2014.

After the security meeting, Thai Armed Forces chief Songwit Noonpackdee voiced support for the government’s peaceful approach to resolving the border tensions. Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said in a recent discussion with his Cambodian counterpart, Thia Saya, both sides agreed to avoid violence and proceed cautiously, with a proposal to return to positions agreed upon in 2024.

The last major clashes between Cambodia and Thailand occurred in 2011 over the Preah Vihear temple, a centuries-old site central to a longstanding territorial dispute. The International Court of Justice ruled in 2013 that the temple falls under Cambodian jurisdiction. This week, Cambodia announced it would bring disputes over four border areas to the International Court of Justice and requested Thailand’s cooperation. Thailand, however, does not recognize the court’s authority in this matter.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

Health officials in Sichuan province, located in southwestern China, have proposed extending marriage leave to 25 days and maternity leave to 150 days to promote a "fertility-friendly society" and help increase the country’s population. This initiative comes amid China’s ongoing efforts to address declining birth rates in the world’s second-largest economy. China’s population has decreased for the third year in a row in 2024, with experts warning the decline may continue.

The Sichuan Health Commission published the draft proposal on its website and is inviting public feedback from May 30 to June 30. With a population of 84 million, Sichuan is more populous than many countries, including Germany and the United Kingdom. If approved, marriage leave would increase by 400% from the current five days, and maternity leave would more than double from 60 days. Additionally, paternity leave would be extended from 20 to 30 days to encourage fathers to support their wives after childbirth and promote shared parenting responsibilities, officials said.

Sichuan has been considered one of China’s more progressive provinces, having allowed unmarried women access to IVF treatments and recently announcing benefits for unmarried individuals that were previously limited to married couples. China’s declining birth rates have been driven by decades of the one-child policy (1980–2015), rapid urbanization, high childcare and education costs, job insecurity, and a slowing economy — factors discouraging many young people from marrying and having children.

In 2024, the government introduced various fertility-friendly policies to address the challenge of about 300 million Chinese expected to retire over the next decade, a figure nearly equal to the entire population of the United States. Measures include encouraging universities to provide “love education” aimed at fostering positive attitudes toward marriage, love, fertility, and family.

In November, China’s State Council urged local governments to focus resources on resolving the population crisis and promote respect for marriage and childbearing at appropriate ages. Meanwhile, divorce rates continue to rise, with over 2.6 million couples filing for divorce last year, a 1.1% increase from 2.59 million in 2023.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

Asia’s top security summit, the Shangri-La Dialogue, was marked this year by rising geopolitical tensions, key absences, and a series of discreet high-level conversations behind the scenes. Held annually in Singapore, the summit serves as a vital platform for defence officials from around the world to meet, exchange views, and build strategic relationships. However, this year's edition took on a particularly charged atmosphere amid ongoing rivalry between the United States and China.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.

An Air India flight headed to Birmingham has reportedly crashed at the airport in Ahmedabad, a city in western India, according to television reports, though no details on casualties have been confirmed. Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin discuss the incident with Shantanu Gangakhedkar, Senior Aviation Consultant for Asia-Pacific at Frost & Sullivan.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.

Singapore and the Philippines plan to strengthen cooperation in areas such as renewable energy, healthcare, and civil service development. Could this lead to increased job creation and business opportunities for both nations? Daniel Martin and Justine Moss speak with Dr. Lim Tai Wei, Affiliation Professor and East Asia expert at Soka University, for insights.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters

France and Singapore are set to enhance collaboration in areas such as civilian nuclear energy, intelligence sharing, and defence technology. This development elevates their bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), making it Singapore’s first such partnership with a European nation. Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin discuss this with Dr. Oh Ei Sun, Senior Fellow at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs. 

Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.