Latest news for 19 June 2025

THAILAND

On the brink after spicy leak.

Prime Minister Shinawatra’s rule looks shaky after someone leaked her call with Cambodia’s influential Hun Sen, in which she dunked on how the Thai military has handled recent border spats with Cambodia. She’s now dismissed her remarks as a negotiation tactic, but her 10-party alliance is wobbling. (CNA)Comment: Rule #1 in Thailand’s coup-prone politics: never diss the military. As to who leaked the call? Hun Sen has admitted recording it and sharing it with Cambodian officials and generals. Our guess is a general then leaked it, given it deflects blame from last month’s border clash that left a Cambodian soldier dead.

COOK ISLANDS

NZ cuts funding over China deals.

New Zealand has paused the transfer of millions in funding after the Cook Islands blindsided the Kiwis in February by signing a bunch of deals with China. (BBC)

SOUTH KOREA

Hello, old frenemy.

Freshly elected Lee Jae-myung has met his newish Japanese counterpart (Ishiba) at the G7 in Canada, with the two pledging “the stable development of Japan-South Korea relations”. Given their tumultuous history and domestic politics, it’s an early sign both sides still want to continue their recent rapprochement. (Japan Times)

GREECE

You can’t have that.

Greek officials have complained after Turkey lodged a new map with UNESCO effectively claiming the maritime zones of several Greek islands. Turkey’s new map comes after Greece announced new marine parks in waters Turkey claims. (Politico)

AUSTRALIA

Got my back?

The EU and Australia will soon start talks for a defence and security pact, a prerequisite for Australian defence contractors to tap Europe’s $170B joint procurement programme. (EuroNews)Comment: As the EU tries to wean itself off US arms, others are positioning themselves as part of the answer, with Australia now following similar moves by the UK (last month) and Canada (as soon as next week).

SAUDI ARABIA

Journalist executed.

Riyadh has executed Saudi journalist Turki al-Jasser for alleged crimes including “high treason”. Authorities detained him in 2018 over an anonymous Twitter account critical of the Saudi regime. (Guardian)

Comment: The timing won’t have been accidental, given the world is now distracted by wars next door, plus there’s now a Saudi-friendly president back in the White House.

ARGENTINA

House arrest for Kirchner.

An Argentine court has allowed former President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner to serve her six-year sentence for corruption in house arrest. (Al Jazeera)