Asia

North Korea’s Kim vows to ‘hold hands’ with Putin for strategic cooperation

SEOUL, June 12 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to "hold hands" with Russian President Vladimir Putin and bolster strategic cooperation on their shared goal of…

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Taiwan says 10 Chinese warplanes cross strait’s median line

TAIPEI, June 11 (Reuters) - Taiwan's air force scrambled into action on Sunday after spotting 10 Chinese warplanes crossing the sensitive median line of the Taiwan Strait, as the island's…

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Heavy rain drenches southwest China, some cities flooded

BEIJING, June 9 (Reuters) - Non-stop heavy rain lashed parts of southwest China on Friday, triggering floods in some cities, engulfing roads and partially submerging buildings. A particularly harsh first…

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Taiwan presses EU on investment deal as bloc courts tech companies

By Jeanny Kao and Ben Blanchard TAIPEI, June 9 (Reuters) - Taiwan and the European Union should sign a long-stalled investment agreement if Europe wants long-term investment from the island,…

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Japan protests Chinese navy ship entering Japanese waters

TOKYO, June 8 (Reuters) - Japan has conveyed "strong concern" and lodged a protest against China after the Chinese Navy entered Japan's waters near Yakushima Island on Thursday, Chief Cabinet…

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China’s air force stages new mass incursion near Taiwan

TAIPEI, June 8 (Reuters) - Taiwan activated its defence systems on Thursday after reporting 37 Chinese military aircraft flying into the island's air defence zone, some of which then flew…

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About 80% of Indians choose to deposit withdrawn 2000-rupee notes, boost bank deposits – bankers

By Siddhi Nayak MUMBAI, June 7 (Reuters) - About three-fourths of Indians are choosing to deposit the recently withdrawn 2000-rupee notes into bank accounts so far rather than exchanging them…

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China, Russia launch joint air patrol, alarms South Korea

BEIJING (Reuters) - China and Russia conducted a joint air patrol on Tuesday over the Sea of Japan and East China Sea for a sixth time since 2019, prompting neighbouring…

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Newly approved US flights by Chinese airlines avoid Russian airspace

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Chinese airlines are avoiding flying over Russian airspace in newly approved flights to and from the United States, according to flight tracking website FlightAware…

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Arrests and tight security in Hong Kong on Tiananmen anniversary

By Jessie Pang and Ben Blanchard HONG KONG/TAIPEI, June 4 (Reuters) - Hong Kong police said on Sunday they had detained eight people near a park, four of them for "seditious intention…

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Families, rescuers search for victims of India’s worst train crash in decades

By Jatindra Dash and YP Rajesh BAHANAGA, India, June 4 (Reuters) - Rescuers and families searched through mangled train carriages on Sunday for more victims of India's worst rail crash in more…

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UPDATED: India’s worst train crash in decades kills at least 288

By Jatindra Dash and Abinaya V BAHANAGA, India, June 3 (Reuters) - At least 288 people have died in India's worst rail crash in over two decades, officials said on Saturday, after a passenger train went…

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Japan’s growing military strength not a threat – minister

SINGAPORE, June 3 (Reuters) - Japan will not use its growing military strength to threaten other countries, its defence minister said on Saturday, while affirming its aim to prioritise diplomatic…

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US, Canadian navies stage rare joint mission through Taiwan Strait

TAIPEI, June 3 (Reuters) - A U.S. and a Canadian warship sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Saturday, the U.S. Navy said, in a rare joint mission in the sensitive…

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China objects to NATO labelling it a “threat”

SHANGHAI, June 3 (Reuters) - China "strongly opposes" NATO repeatedly labelling it a threat, China's embassy to Norway said on Saturday, referring to remarks by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg…

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Southern China swelters, power grids struggle under ‘relentless’ heatwaves

Hot weather arrives sooner than normal in southern China Temperatures to be 1-2 degrees higher than year ago in June - official High temperatures spur demand for air-conditioning, test power…

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North Korea vows to put spy satellite in orbit soon after failed launch

By Hyunsu Yim and Soo-hyang Choi SEOUL, June 1 (Reuters) - North Korea's Kim Yo Jong, leader Kim Jong Un's sister, said her country would soon put a military spy…

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Earthquake of magnitude 5.5 hits Myanmar – GFZ

May 31 (Reuters) - An earthquake of magnitude 5.5 struck Myanmar on Wednesday, the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) said. The quake was at a depth of 10 km…

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North Korean satellite plunges into sea after rocket failure

North Korea media says rocket's second stage malfunctioned Flight was Pyongyang's sixth satellite launch attempt South Korea military salvage debris believed to be from rocket Alerts cause panic among Seoul…

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North Korea says it will launch its first military spy satellite in June

North Korea will launch its first military reconnaissance satellite in June for monitoring U.S. military activities, state media KCNA reported on Tuesday.In a statement carried by the KCNA news agency, Ri Pyong…

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EPA’s Eye In The Sky: Bhopal, India

A picture taken with a drone shows nearly-empty boats at boat club during lockdown in Bhopal, India. Via EPA-EFE/SANJEEV GUPTA

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China will launch Shenzhou-16 mission to Chinese space station on May 30

BEIJING, May 29 (Reuters) - China will send three astronauts to its now fully operational space station on Tuesday as part of a crew rotation, in the fifth manned mission…

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UPDATED: Japan puts missile defences on alert as North Korea warns of satellite launch

By Hyunsu Yim and Nobuhiro Kubo TOKYO/SEOUL, May 29 (Reuters) - Japan put its ballistic missile defences on alert on Monday, vowing to shoot down any projectile that threatened its…

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UPDATED: Earthquake jolts eastern Japan, no tsunami warning

TOKYO, May 26 (Reuters) - A strong earthquake shook eastern Japan on Friday evening, but there was no tsunami warning, according to public broadcaster NHK. The temblor struck at 1003…

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Four dead, suspect arrested in rare shooting in Japan

TOKYO, May 26 (Reuters) - Japanese authorities said on Friday they arrested a 31-year-old man in a rural area for suspected murder after four people were killed in a rare…

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North Korea constructing satellite launch pad with ‘new urgency’ – report

By Josh Smith SEOUL, May 25 (Reuters) - Construction at North Korea’s satellite launching station has hit a “new level of urgency,” most likely in preparation for a launch, a U.S.-based think…

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China says NATO’s plan for Japan office not welcomed in Asia-Pacific

BEIJING, May 24 (Reuters) - The Asia-Pacific region does not welcome NATO's plan to open a liaison office in Japan, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a press…

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Russia, China sign economic pacts despite Western criticism

By Andrew Hayley BEIJING (Reuters) - Russia's prime minister signed a set of agreements with China on Wednesday during a trip to Beijing, describing bilateral ties at an unprecedented high,…

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Taiwan excluded from WHO annual assembly following Chinese opposition

GENEVA, May 22 (Reuters) - Taiwan failed in its efforts to gain an invitation to the World Health Organization's annual assembly despite the island's claims that support was growing for…

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Photo Story: Fire breaks out at Manila’s Central Post Office

People look on as flames and smoke rise from the burning Philippine Central Post Office building in Manila, Philippines, on Monday 22 May 2023. A massive fire hit the Central…

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UN chief says it’s time to reform Security Council, Bretton Woods

By Sakura Murakami HIROSHIMA, Japan, May 21 (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Sunday that it was time to reform both the Security Council and Bretton Woods to align with…

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Photo Story: US President Biden meets Italy’s Prime Minister Meloni on the sidelines of the G7 Summit

A handout picture made available by the Chigi Palace (Palazzo Chigi) Press Office shows US President Joe Biden (R) with Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (L) in Hiroshima, 20 May…

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UPDATED: France’s Macron: Zelenskiy’s Japan visit a ‘game changer’

HIROSHIMA, Japan, May 20 (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's visit to Japan for the Group of Seven (G7) summit a "game changer," as the…

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India to scrap its 2000-rupee note

By Ira Dugal MUMBAI, May 20 (Reuters) - India will withdraw its highest denomination currency note from circulation, the central bank said on Friday. The 2000-rupee note, introduced into circulation…

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G7 leaders agree to new initiative to fight economic coercion

TOKYO, May 20 (Reuters) - Leaders of the Group of Seven agreed on Saturday to establish a new initiative to counter economic coercion, and pledged to take steps to ensure…

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‘War is not an option’, Taiwan president says amid China tensions

TAIPEI, May 20 (Reuters) - Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen vowed on Saturday to maintain the status quo of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait amid high tensions with China,…

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Pakistan economy to slow significantly with high inflation, central bank says

By Asif Shahzad ISLAMABAD, May 19 (Reuters) - Pakistan's central bank said on Friday GDP growth was likely to remain significantly lower this year than the previous year, with elevated…

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North Korea criticises US, South Korea military drills as ‘nuclear blackmail’

By Hyonhee Shin SEOUL, May 19 (Reuters) - North Korea accused the U.S. and South Korea of ramping up "nuclear blackmail" with joint military drills, pledging to take corresponding action…

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China’s Xi unveils grand development plan for Central Asia

By Andrew Hayley XIAN, China (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday unveiled a grand plan for Central Asia's development, from building infrastructure to boosting trade, taking on a…

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UPDATED: G7 pledges support for Ukraine as summit awaits Zelenskiy

HIROSHIMA, Japan, May 19 (Reuters) - Leaders of the world richest democracies agreed on Friday to stiffen sanctions against Russia and pledged financial support for Ukraine as its president, Volodymyr…

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Central Asia forges ties with China as Xi touts ‘enduring’ friendship

By Andrew Hayley XIAN, China, May 18 (Reuters) - Central Asian heads of state converged in China's historic city of Xian on Thursday for one-on-ones with Chinese leader Xi Jinping…

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Photo Story: Truss in Taiwan

Former British Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech, during an event in Taipei, Taiwan, 17 May 2023. Former British Prime Minister Liz Truss is visiting Taiwan for five days…

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Thailand opposition crushes military parties in election rout

BANGKOK, May 14 (Reuters) - Thailand's opposition secured a stunning election win on Sunday after trouncing parties allied with the military, setting the stage for a flurry of deal-making over forming a…

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In Malaysia, migrants say they are in limbo after promised jobs fall through

By A. Ananthalakshmi and Rozanna Latiff KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Stranded without work for months, hundreds of South Asian migrants in Malaysia say they are losing hope after failing to…

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U.S., China look to move beyond balloon incident to stabilize ties

By Steve Holland, Michael Martina and David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON, (Reuters) - President Joe Biden's national security adviser met China's top diplomat this week and both sides recognized the need to…

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What you need to know about Thai elections

By Chayut Setboonsarng and Martin Petty BANGKOK, (Reuters) - Thailand holds an election on May 14 after nearly a decade of a government led or backed by its royalist military…

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UPDATED: Cyclone Mocha floods Myanmar port city, sparing major refugee camps

By Ruma Paul DHAKA, May 14 (Reuters) - Storm surges whipped up by a powerful cyclone moving inland from the Bay of Bengal inundated the Myanmar port city of Sittwe…

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Pakistan PM orders arrest of those involved in violence

By Ariba Shahid KARACHI, Pakistan, May 13 (Reuters) - Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Saturday gave authorities 72 hours to identify and arrest all those involved in violent acts after former…

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Thai parties launch last push to woo voters

By Chayut Setboonsarng and Panarat Thepgumpanat BANGKOK, May 12 (Reuters) - Thailand's political parties prepared for rallies on Friday in a final push to galvanise support and woo the undecided…

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Former Pakistan PM Khan appears in court as supporters clash with police

ISLAMABAD, May 12 (Reuters) - Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived at an Islamabad court on Friday under heavy security cover as his supporters clashed with police elsewhere in…

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Japan pledges to mobilise $1 bln to help nations around Ukraine accept refugees

By Tetsushi Kajimoto NIIGATA, May 11 (Reuters) - Japan will unveil a plan on Thursday to mobilise $1 billion to help countries surrounding Ukraine accept refugees from the war-torn country,…

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What is the corruption case against Pakistan’s Khan?

By Asif Shahzad May 10 (Reuters) - Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested on Tuesday by an anti-graft agency on corruption charges. Government officials alleged that Khan and…

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Tension in Pakistan as supporters of ex-PM Khan plan march to capital to protest arrest

ISLAMABAD, May 10 (Reuters) - Supporters of Imran Khan were planning to march to Islamabad on Wednesday where the former Pakistan prime minister is in custody in a corruption case,…

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China’s fresh COVID wave raises concern

SHANGHAI/SINGAPORE, May 10 (Reuters) - A fresh wave of COVID-19 is spreading through China as people return from public holiday travel, reaching trading floors and raising concern of an impact…

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EU’s China envoy says consultancy crackdown, anti-spy law worrying for business

The European Union's ambassador to China said on Tuesday that a broadening of Beijing's anti-espionage law and investigations into consultancies operating there were concerning and could hurt efforts to open…

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Uzbek president calls snap poll under new constitution

May 8 (Reuters) - Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said on Monday he was calling a snap presidential election on July 9 to give himself a new mandate to help deal…

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UPDATED: China and U.S. see need to stabilise relations

BEIJING, May 8 (Reuters) - China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang said on Monday it is imperative to stabilise Sino-U.S. relations after a series of "erroneous words and deeds" threw ties…

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