The Asia-Pacific Elite Interchange Association survey, conducted between Friday and Sunday, found that 78.5 percent of respondents said they agree with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, who said her government is willing to "facilitate meaningful dialogue under the principles of parity and dignity," provided Beijing authorities sincerely want to resolve differences and improve cross-strait relations.

Dutch anti-Islam leader Geert Wilders has said he has no regrets and is ready to "step up" his campaigning against immigration, despite the coronavirus set to dominate next week's general election.

A Brazilian Supreme Court judge on Monday overturned the graft convictions against former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, clearing the way for the left-wing leader to run in the 2022 presidential election.

Tens of thousands on Monday defied coronavirus restrictions, gathering worldwide on International Women's Day to denounce gender violence and inequalities.

Senegal's main opposition leader called on Monday for "much larger" protests, but urged non-violence after days of deadly clashes in the West African state sparked by his recent arrest.

President Joe Biden overturned Trump's so-called Muslim ban on Jan. 20, his first day in office, calling it "a stain on our national conscience" in his proclamation.

President Joe Biden has sent his two dogs back to his family home in Wilmington, Delaware, after the younger of the two German Shepherds was involved in a "biting incident" with a White House security agent, US media said Monday.

President Joe Biden on Monday announced the nomination of two women to lead US military commands, who will be only the second and third women to hold such senior military positions in the United States.

A Gallup poll conducted in 74 countries showed Americans were the most likely to say they thought a woman could lead their nation by 2030.

The 1.1 million doses arrived on Monday, as part of the 11.7 million promised in the scheme’s first set of shipments.

While the coronavirus situation in the United States will be a key factor in whether the summit can go ahead, if realized Suga could become the first foreign leader to meet with Biden in person under his presidency.

The judge has set aside three weeks for jury selection alone, mindful of the difficulties finding impartial Minneapolitans in a case that has convulsed a nation and in which an image of the victim — a selfie of Floyd faintly smiling — has fast become an international icon of racial justice.

On International Women's Day, many foreign representatives and ambassadors in Jakarta's diplomatic circles have vowed to boycott discussions, conferences and webinars that fail to represent women as expert panelists.

The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or Quad is considering holding its first summit in a virtual format on Friday or during the upcoming weekend, one of the sources told Reuters on Monday.

The 84-year-old pontiff covered more than 1,400 kilometres (900 miles) inside the country, bringing encouragement to its diminished Christian community and extending a hand to Shiite Muslims by meeting top cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam ruled out any need to consult the public on the changes, as they were decreed by Beijing.

The deal, which according to South Korean media reports is expected to see Seoul increase its contribution, was reached after President Joe Biden took office in January. Negotiations had dragged on as the administration of his predecessor Donald Trump demanded a sharp increase in Seoul's contribution.

As China claims that the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea are part of its territory, concern is mounting in Tokyo that the legislation would target Japanese vessels navigating around the uninhabited islets called Diaoyu in China.

China's friendship is with all of Myanmar, State Councillor Wang told a news conference on the sidelines of China's annual gathering of parliament.

Polls indicate a slim majority supports the move, in a vote that comes after years of debate following similar bans in other European countries -- and in some Muslim-majority states.

Last week US President Joe Biden singled out a "growing rivalry with China" as a key challenge facing the United States, with his top diplomat describing the Asian country as "the biggest geopolitical test" of this century.

The heaviest deployment of security forces yet has been mobilised to protect the 84-year-old on what is perhaps his riskiest day in Iraq. 

The nine-day exercise that begins Monday is still likely to infuriate the North, which has long considered them rehearsals for invasion.

The adviser, confirming a report in Politico, said lawyers for Trump on Friday had sent cease-and-desist letters to the Republican National Committee, National Republican Congressional Campaign and National Republican Senate Campaign, asking them to stop using his name and likeness on fundraising emails and merchandise.

Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, the authority for most of the world's Shiite Muslims, told Pope Francis in a historic meeting in the Iraqi city of Najaf Saturday that the country's Christians should live in "peace." 

At least 30,000 US organizations including local governments have been hacked in recent days by an "unusually aggressive" Chinese cyber-espionage campaign, according to a computer security specialist.

Progress on US President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion Covid relief package stalled Friday in the evenly divided Senate as Democrats struggled to maintain unity over key elements of the plan broadly opposed by Republicans.

The Senegal government on Friday vowed to use "all means necessary" to return order after police fired tear gas in clashes with supporters of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko as the interior minister said four people had died.

It would be the first summit involving members of the so-called Quad, a framework that was initially formed in response to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami but now mainly focuses on regional security.

His plane landed at 1:55 pm (1055 GMT) at Baghdad International Airport, where Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi will greet him.