Meeting between leaders of China, Vietnam signals close ties between neighbouring states despite occasional tensions. China’s President Xi Jinping has held talks with Vietnam’s President To Lam in Beijing on his first state visit since becoming his country’s top leader, according to Chinese official media Xinhua. The meeting between Xi and Lam on Monday signals the close ties between the two communist-run neighbours, which have well-developed economic and...

Visiting Israel, Blinken is stepping up US diplomatic pressure to secure a ceasefire despite continuing rifts. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, pushing for a Gaza ceasefire on his visit to Israel, has described ongoing negotiations as “maybe the last” chance to secure the captives’ release and secure a ceasefire. Speaking in Tel Aviv on Monday, before meeting Israeli President Isaac Herzog, the top US diplomat said he...