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Thirteen people were killed in a blast during the disposal of expired military ammunition in West Java on Monday, according to army officials. The victims included nine civilians and four military personnel, Reuters reported.

According to military spokespersons, the explosion occurred when the disposal was being completed, and an investigation is ongoing. Officials are also investigating why civilians were permitted near the site, which is frequently used for such operations.

Locals regularly assemble nearby to gather scrap materials left over from detonations. To reduce future risk, the area has been evacuated, according to Reuters.

This is the second such occurrence in less than a year; a similar explosion occurred in March 2024 at a military depot outside Jakarta.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was sworn in for a second term on Tuesday, following Labor's overwhelming election victory, which gave the party its highest majority since Australia's formation in 1901.

Labor secured at least 92 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives, but the Liberal Party suffered significant losses. Former Liberal leader Peter Dutton lost his seat, and Sussan Ley was elected as the party's first female leader, as reported by Reuters.

Key cabinet roles remain unchanged, with Michelle Rowland appointed Attorney-General, Murray Watt as Environment Minister, and Tanya Plibersek as Social Services Minister.

Reuters claimed Albanese will travel to Indonesia and later to Rome for Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration, where he will also meet EU leaders to discuss trade.

President Donald Trump indicated on Monday that he may attend the next peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, which is scheduled to take place in Turkey on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said he was hopeful about the outcome of the meeting. “I think you may have a good result out of the Thursday meeting in Turkey between Russia and Ukraine,” he stated, according to Reuters.

The president is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar later this week. However, he indicated that he might change his travel arrangements. "I thought about flying over. I don't know where I'll be on Thursday. "I have so many meetings, but I was thinking about flying over there," Trump stated.

A group of 59 white South Africans, mostly Afrikaners, landed in the United States after granted refugee status. The Trump administration accelerated their applications, citing fears about racial discrimination and violence, according to BBC.

The South African government responded, claiming that there was no evidence of such persecution. Human rights organizations also condemned the move, pointing out that refugee admissions for many other groups, including those from crisis zones, had been halted under current US immigration policy.

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) stated that it was not involved in the vetting process, which is common in such circumstances, BBC reported.

The action has strained US-South African relations, with President Cyril Ramaphosa allegedly denying the assessment  in a call with President Trump.

President Donald Trump announced a "total reset" in US-China ties after both countries agreed to lower tariffs on each other's products for 90 days. He stated that he intends to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping shortly and does not believe tariffs will return to their previous levels, according to BBC.

The agreement is a significant step toward lowering tensions in the continuing trade war. The United States will reduce duties on Chinese imports from 145 percent to 30 percent, while China will reduce levies on American goods from 125 percent to 10 percent.

Analysts believe the reduction are larger than projected, however 30 percent remains a high percentage. Following the announcement, US markets grew and rebounded to earlier this year's levels, indicating high investor confidence, BBC reported.

Naaya Aayam Multi-disciplinary Institute (NAMI) held its convocation ceremony at Hotel Yak and Yeti, marking the graduation of 90 students from its undergraduate programs in Software Engineering, Network Engineering, Business Administration, and Environmental Science. The programs are run in affiliation with the University of Northampton (UoN), UK, for over a decade.

The event was chaired by Captain Rameshwar Thapa, with Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba as the chief guest. NAMI’s Academic Head, Nischal Khadka, opened the ceremony, encouraging graduates to move forward with purpose and resilience.

In her address, Deuba highlighted the role of modern technology in preparing students for future challenges. Chairperson Thapa also congratulated the graduates, acknowledging their academic and personal growth.

China on Monday released a white paper detailing its national security strategy for the new era, aiming to clarify its security approach and foster international understanding.

The white paper presents a comprehensive framework based on a holistic security paradigm, promoting China as a source of stability in the face of global uncertainty. It focuses on preserving national sovereignty, encouraging high-quality growth, and protecting political and public security, according to Xinhua.

Rooted in Xi Jinping Thought, the strategy prioritizes people’s security, national interests, and political stability. It integrates development with security and highlights reform, innovation, and system modernization as key drivers.

The document also introduces the Global Security Initiative, advocating shared global security, true multilateralism, and a more equitable international security governance framework, Xinhua reported.

China presents its security model as a stabilizing force, contributing to global peace and development while advancing national rejuvenation.

Palestinian and UN officials warned Sunday of a worsening health crisis in Gaza as Israel's blockade continues. The Gaza health ministry claimed that 64 percent of medical supplies are depleted, with 43 percent of key medicines completely unavailable, according to Xinhua.

Hospitals are straining to manage an increasing number of critically ill individuals, while thousands of children await urgent surgery. Severe shortages of assistive devices and the inability to access treatment outside Gaza are worsening conditions for the disabled.

The Eye Hospital in Gaza warned of an imminent halt to surgeries due to lack of equipment. The UN said the ongoing blockade is causing irreversible harm, with thousands of aid trucks unable to enter, Xinhua reported.

Since March, over 2,700 Palestinians have been killed and over 7,500 injured. Food shortages forced the World Central Kitchen to cease operations, raising the risk of starvation, particularly among children.