CDE News - The Dispatch

China shortens suspensions for international flights linked to COVID cases

Aug 7 (Reuters) - China has shortened the suspension time for inbound international flights on routes found to have COVID-19 cases starting on Aug. 7. The country's aviation regulator said in a…

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In first visit to China, South Korean foreign minister seeks to reassure Beijing over U.S. ties

SEOUL, Aug 8 (Reuters) - South Korea foreign minister Park Jin is set for his first visit to China on Monday as President Yoon Suk-yeol's government seeks to reassure Beijing about their…

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Photo Story: Tapir’s Art Installation to raise awareness in Malaysia

A child holds one of the 101 mini Tapir's art installation by Malaysia artist Nicholas Lim at Publika, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The display opened on the 25 July and…

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UPDATED: China to conduct ‘regular’ military drills east of Taiwan Strait median line

BEIJING, Aug 7 (Reuters) - The Chinese military will from now on conduct "regular" drills on the eastern side of the median line of the Taiwan Strait, Chinese state television reported on…

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UPDATE – Blast hits Afghan capital Kabul, at least 22 injured

KABUL (Reuters) -A bomb exploded in a busy shopping street in Afghanistan's capital Kabul on Saturday and at least 22 people were injured, hospital officials and witnesses said. The blast…

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UPDATE – Taiwan says Chinese planes, ships carry out attack simulation exercise

TAIPEI, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Taiwan officials said Chinese aircraft and warships rehearsed an attack on the island on Saturday, part of Beijing's retaliation for a visit there by U.S. House Speaker…

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Blinken commits U.S. to defending Philippines against armed attacks

MANILA, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Secretary of State Antony Blinken assured the Philippines on Saturday that the United States would come to its defence if attacked in the South China Sea, seeking…

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China warns that its temperatures are rising faster than global average

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China's average ground temperatures have risen much more quickly than the global average over the past 70 years and will remain "significantly higher" in the future as the challenges…

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India freezes assets of Binance-owned local unit WazirX

MUMBAI, Aug 5 (Reuters) - India’s financial crime-fighting agency said on Friday that it has frozen the assets of WazirX, owned by the world's largest digital currency exchange Binance, as part of…

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Flash floods kill 550 in Pakistan in heaviest rains in decades

ISLAMABAD, Aug 5 (Reuters) - Flash floods caused by abnormally heavy monsoon rains killed at least 549 people in Pakistan over the past month, with remote communities in the impoverished…

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Beijing halts high-level military dialogue with U.S., suspends other cooperation

BEIJING, Aug 5 (Reuters) - Beijing announced on Friday that it was halting cooperation with the United States in a number of areas, including dialogue between senior-level military commanders, in retaliation for…

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China’s military drills near Taiwan disrupt key shipping lanes

SINGAPORE, Aug 5 (Reuters) - China's military exercises in the waters around Taiwan have prompted some ships to navigate around the Taiwan Strait and give the island a wide berth, disrupting key…

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Photo Story: South Korea-US joint air force drill

A handout photo made available by the Republic of Korea Air Force shows a South Korean FA-50 light attack fighter (L) and two US A-10 anti-tank aircraft fly in formation…

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North Korea marks end of first COVID wave, but risks persist

SEOUL, Aug 5 (Reuters) - North Korea on Friday said all of its fever patients have recovered, marking the end of its first wave of the coronavirus pandemic, but challenges linger with…

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UPDATED: China’s military makes dozens of crossings of Taiwan median line

TAIPEI, Aug 5 (Reuters) - About 10 Chinese navy ships and 20 military aircraft briefly crossed the Taiwan Strait median line on Friday morning, a Taiwan source briefed on the matter told…

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UPDATED: Thai night club fire kills at least 13, cause unknown

BANGKOK, Aug 5 (Reuters) - At least 13 people were killed and 35 injured when a fire broke out at a night club in Thailand's eastern Chonburi province early on…

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Nepal calls November election as economy stumbles

KATHMANDU, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Nepal's government said on Thursday it will hold a parliamentary election on November 20 amid concerns over high inflation and depleted foreign exchange reserves that…

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UPDATED: Taliban says was not aware al Qaeda leader in Kabul, warns U.S.

ISLAMABAD/KABUL, Aug 4 (Reuters) - The Taliban on Thursday said the government had no information about al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri "entering and living" in capital city Kabul and warned the United…

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Thai tourist arrivals reach 1 million for first time in 2 years

BANGKOK, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Thailand's foreign tourist arrivals in July reached one million for the first time since early 2020 as tourism picks up following an easing of pandemic restrictions, bolstering…

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Three missing, thousands ordered to evacuate as rain pounds northern Japan

TOKYO, Aug 4 (Reuters) - At least three people were missing and thousands in northern Japan were ordered to evacuate on Thursday after torrential rains pounded the area, flooding roads and causing…

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ASEAN warns on risk of Taiwan ‘miscalculation’, ready to help dialogue

PHNOM PENH, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Southeast Asia's regional bloc ASEAN warned on Thursday of a risk that volatility caused by tensions in the Taiwan Strait could lead to "miscalculation, serious confrontation,…

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Pelosi vows support to denuclearise N.Korea, plans to visit Korea border

SEOUL, Aug 4 (Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her South Korean counterpart vowed on Thursday to support efforts to maintain a strong deterrence against North Korea and…

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UPDATED: China fires missiles in largest ever drills in waters off Taiwan

TAIPEI, Aug 4 (Reuters) - China fired multiple missiles around Taiwan on Thursday as it launched unprecedented military drills a day after a visit by U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi…

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Patriotic fervour erupts on Chinese social media over Pelosi’s Taiwan visit

BEIJING, Aug 3 (Reuters) - The sight of the U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi arriving in Taiwan late on Tuesday was too much to bear for many mainland China internet users,…

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FACTBOX-Economic sanctions China has imposed on Taiwan over Pelosi visit

BEIJING, Aug 3 (Reuters) - China on Wednesday suspended exports of natural sand to Taiwan and halted imports of fruit and fish products from the self-governed island as U.S. House of Representatives…

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UPDATED: Pelosi departs Taiwan, capping visit that infuriated China

TAIPEI, Aug 3 (Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi left Taiwan on Wednesday after pledging solidarity and hailing its democracy, leaving a trail of Chinese anger over…

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Cyprus records its first monkeypox case, India first death

Cyprus has recorded its first case of monkeypox, the island's health ministry said. The infected man was 40 and had been travelling recently, the ministry said in a statement. The…

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UPDATE – Pelosi arrives in Taiwan, voicing U.S. ‘solidarity’ as China fumes

TAIPEI, Aug 2 (Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived in Taiwan late on Tuesday on a trip she said demonstrates American solidarity with the Chinese-claimed self-ruled island, but…

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China says politicians who ‘play with fire’ on Taiwan will pay, finds Russian support

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday that those U.S. politicians who "play with fire" on the Taiwan issue will "come to no good end", according to a ministry…

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How the CIA identified and killed Al-Qaeda leader Zawahiri

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed in a U.S. strike in Afghanistan over the weekend, the biggest blow to the militant group since its founder Osama…

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Several Chinese warplanes fly close to median line of Taiwan Strait – source

Several Chinese warplanes flew close to the median line of the sensitive Taiwan Strait on Tuesday morning, a source briefed on the matter told Reuters, as tensions mounted on news U.S. House of…

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China warns its military will ‘not sit idly by’ if Pelosi visits Taiwan

China said on Monday that its military "not sit idly by" if U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visits Taiwan. The latest warning was issued during a Chinese foreign ministry…

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Philippine ex-President Fidel Ramos, warrior and survivor, dies at 94

MANILA (Reuters) -Philippines former President Fidel Valdez Ramos, who died on Sunday, was a fighter during wars in Korea and Vietnam and a survivor in the political arena, emerging from…

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U.S. House Speaker Pelosi begins Asia tour, no mention of Taiwan

BEIJING, July 31 (Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi starts a tour of four Asian countries on Sunday, her office said, without mentioning Taiwan amid intense speculation she might…

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Chinese rocket falls to Earth, NASA says Beijing did not share information

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Chinese rocket fell back to Earth on Saturday over the Indian Ocean but NASA said Beijing had not shared the "specific trajectory information" needed to know…

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Keep calm and cut the air con – Japan’s energy saving is model for Europe

TOKYO, (Reuters) - As Europe braces for energy shortages from Russian gas cuts, Japan's own energy crisis a decade ago offers survival lessons to households and businesses - such as dimming the…

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Indonesia blocks Yahoo, Paypal, gaming websites over licence breaches

JAKARTA, July 30 (Reuters) - Indonesia has blocked search engine website Yahoo, payments firm Paypal and several gaming websites due to failure to comply with licensing rules, an official said on Saturday,…

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North Korea reports no new fever cases for first time since COVID outbreak

North Korea reported no new fever cases on Saturday for the first time since its acknowledgement in mid-May of a COVID-19 outbreak in the isolated country, state-run media reported. North…

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As U.S. defends Ukraine at U.N., China warns against challenge over Taiwan

UNITED NATIONS, (Reuters) - China accused the United States of double standards at the United Nations for challenging Beijing's sovereignty over Taiwan while emphasizing the principle of sovereignty for Ukraine after Russian…

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Fears over Chinese rocket debris falling to Earth, EASA predicts southern European most at risk

The remnants of a massive Chinese rocket are expected to fall to Earth on Saturday and may affect Maltese airspace, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency has warned. EU space…

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Crypto platform Zipmex files for bankruptcy protection in Singapore

July 29 (Reuters) - Southeast Asia-focused cryptocurrency exchange Zipmex said it had filed for bankruptcy protection in Singapore, becoming the latest victim of the global downturn in digital currencies. Singapore-based Zipmex resumed…

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Don’t ‘play with fire’ over Taiwan, China’s Xi warns in call with Biden

WASHINGTON/BEIJING, (Reuters) - Chinese leader Xi Jinping warned against playing with fire over Taiwan in a call with U.S. President Joe Biden, highlighting Beijing's concerns about a possible visit to the Chinese-claimed…

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Photo Story: Damage to the historic Saint Catherine church following the earthquake in the Philippines

A view of a damaged altar inside the historic Saint Catherine church following an earthquake in Tayum, Abra province, Philippines, 28 July 2022. At least five people were killed and…

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U.S. carrier strike group returns to South China Sea amid Taiwan tensions

HONG KONG, July 28 (Reuters) - A U.S. aircraft carrier and its strike group have returned to the South China Sea after a port call in Singapore, deploying in the disputed region…

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North Korea’s Kim says nuclear deterrent is ready

SEOUL, July 28 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country is ready to mobilise its nuclear war deterrent and counter any U.S. military clash, and criticised…

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Indonesia runs road test for biodiesel with 40% palm oil

JAKARTA, July 27 (Reuters) - Indonesia on Wednesday launched road tests for two types of biodiesel containing 40% palm oil, hoping to conclude by the end of the year whether…

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U.S. says Biden-Xi call expected to cover Taiwan tension, Ukraine

WASHINGTON, July 26 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden and China's leader Xi Jinping are expected to talk on Thursday, a source familiar with the planning said, amid new tensions…

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Photo Story: Army helicopter drill in Icheon, South Korea

South Korean Army helicopters hover during a large-scale drill at the Army Aviation Command in Icheon, South Korea. A total of 16 AH-64E Apache, 13 UH-60P Black Hawks and five…

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Singapore extends stay of Sri Lanka’s Rajapaksa

COLOMBO/SINGAPORE, July 27 (Reuters) - Singapore has permitted former Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa to stay in the island republic for an additional 14 days, two sources familiar with the…

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Covid origin studies say evidence points to Wuhan market

Scientists say there is "compelling evidence" that Wuhan's Huanan seafood and wildlife market was at the centre of the Covid-19 outbreak. Two peer-reviewed studies published on Tuesday re-examine information from…

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UPDATED: Death toll in Philippines quake rises to 4, with 60 injured

MANILA, July 27 (Reuters) - A strong earthquake in northern Philippines has killed four people and injured 60, the interior minister said on Wednesday. Two people died in Benguet province,…

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China, Indonesia hail ‘win-win’ cooperation after rare Beijing summit

The leaders of China and Indonesia pledged to scale up trade and expand cooperation in areas such as agriculture and food security, following a rare visit to COVID-wary China by a foreign head of…

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US and Taliban make progress on Afghan reserves, but big gaps remain

U.S. and Taliban officials have exchanged proposals for the release of billions of dollars from Afghan central bank reserves held abroad into a trust fund, three sources familiar with the talks said,…

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China’s population expected to start to shrink before 2025

China's population has slowed significantly and is expected to start to shrink ahead of 2025, the state backed Global Times reported, citing a senior health official. Birth data released late on Sunday…

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‘Missile alert’: Taiwan holds air-raid exercise amid China tension

Roads emptied and people were ordered to stay indoors in parts of Taiwan, including its capital Taipei, on Monday for an air-raid exercise as the island steps up preparations in…

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Volcano erupts on western Japanese island of Kyushu, no reports of damage

TOKYO (Reuters) -A volcano on Japan's major western island of Kyushu erupted on Sunday evening, sending black smoke billowing high into the air, but there were no immediate reports of…

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Three dead in graduation shooting at top Philippines university

MANILA, July 24 (Reuters) - Three people died in a shooting at a university graduation ceremony in the Philippines' capital region on Sunday, including a former mayor from the volatile…

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