The talks in Los Angeles will seek to agree on a framework for economies to engage on trade and data flows, environmental and labour standards, supply chains and anti-corruption efforts

It was the fifth rate hike in five months by the RBA – moves described as the most aggressive actions by the central bank since 1994, which have decimated real estate sales

White House has invited 12 Pacific island countries, including the Solomon Islands, which signed a security pact with China in April

Most Asian markets slipped on Wednesday as investor worries about monetary tightening were inflamed by strong US jobs data. But stocks in Korea edged up slightly

China stocks slipped again on Tuesday amid concern about Covid restrictions, but markets in Japan, Australia and India all climbed higher. Eyes are now on US data on Friday.

The Solomon Islands has suspended entry of foreign navy vessels to its waters after US and UK ships on an illegal fishing patrol were rebuffed after trying to make port stops last week

Bilateral deal with South Korea is a move to attract investment to develop the electric vehicle and batteries industry, while most Southeast Asian nations, China and Australia are in RCEP

Dozens of local men are alleged to have died in mines run by a Chinese mining company, which is accused of digging under a neighbouring concession to steal a huge amount of gold

The Solomon Islands government did not respond to a US request for permission for a Coast Guard vessel, conducting a patrol to prevent illegal fishing, to re-provision on a scheduled port call

Shares on mainland China slipped on Friday, but Hong Kong rose on news of a possible deal between the US and China with audit teams due to conduct initial checks in the city

Markets fell in Hong Kong and Shanghai amid the bleak economic outlook in China, but shares edged up in Australia and India

The proportion of people in the region facing extreme poverty – living on less than $1.90 a day – could have eased to 2.9% in 2020 instead of rising to 5% because of the pandemic, it said.