1. Mongolia and China agreed to construct a new cross-border railway link. It will increase coal transport capacity by 30 million tons.

2. US says military exercises with Philippines 'purely defensive', for force readiness.

3. US Vice President JD Vance warned Russia that Washington could hit Moscow with sanctions if it does not agree to a good peace deal with Ukraine.

4. The European Commission said it would react "firmly and immediately" against tariff increases.

5. Major US airlines asked the Trump administration to abandon a Biden-era review of whether carriers should have to pay compensation to passengers over flight disruptions.

6. Sony's shares closed up 8.7% in Tokyo after the technology and entertainment conglomerate reported strong results at its games and music divisions.

7. Marriages in China plummeted by a fifth last year, thwarting the government’s push for people to make more babies.