Asia

China’s aircraft carriers play ‘theatrical’ role but pose little threat yet

By Greg Torode, Eduardo Baptista and Tim Kelly HONG KONG (Reuters) - When China sailed one of its two active aircraft carriers, the Shandong, east of Taiwan last month as…

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COVID global emergency over but risks remain, says China health official

SHENZHEN, China, May 6 (Reuters) - While the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared an end to the global emergency status for COVID-19, the virus remains harmful and China will…

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UPDATED: Japan earthquake of magnitude 6.5 injures some, damages buildings

TOKYO, May 5 (Reuters) - An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 struck on Friday off Japan's western prefecture of Ishikawa, authorities said, as media reported some buildings had collapsed…

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Marcos says Philippines bases could be ‘useful’ if Taiwan attacked

By Michael Martina, Don Durfee and David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON, May 4 (Reuters) - Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Thursday that granting U.S. access to Philippine military bases was…

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Japanese police officer dies in possible suicide near premier’s residence

TOKYO, May 5 (Reuters) - A Japanese police officer died after being found shot in a toilet near the prime minister's residence early on Friday and police were investigating a…

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EPA’s Eye In The Sky: Seogwipo, South Korea

Green tea fields of premium tea brand Osulloc in the city of Seogwipo on South Korea's resort island of Jeju. Via EPA-EFE/YONHAP

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Alibaba founder Jack Ma takes up Tokyo University visiting professorship

TOKYO, May 1 (Reuters) - Alibaba Group founder Jack Ma has been invited to be a visiting professor at Tokyo College, a new organization run by the University of Tokyo,…

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Photo story: Off Road Vehicles Festival in Kyrgyzstan

Drivers steer their all-terrain vehicles (ATV) through a mud pit during the Jeep Sprint Festival of the off-roader club 'Offroad Kings' in the village of Ozernoe, 25 km from Bishkek,…

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Uzbek leader wins referendum on extending powers

TASHKENT, May 1 (Reuters) - Uzbekistan has passed a package of constitutional amendments in a referendum, preliminary data showed on Monday, which will allow President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to run for…

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Photo Story: Bali Police seize sea turtles from illegal poachers

Indonesian Marine Police load sea turtles into a truck after they were seized from an illegal poacher in Denpassar, Bali, Indonesia, 01 May 2023. A total 21 green turtles (Chelonia…

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UPDATED: Manila airport power restored, as outage triggers flight cancellations

A total of 48 Cebu Pacific domestic flights cancelled Transportation minister says outage to be investigated MANILA, May 1 (Reuters) - Regular power supply has been restored at the main…

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Singapore’s surprise property tax hike a ‘freezing measure’ for foreigners

By Chen Lin and Xinghui Kok SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Vera Liu, a Singapore property agent, was panicking in the wee hours of Thursday morning after new property taxes saw two…

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Photo Story: ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ movie outdoor installation in Kuala Lumpur

A life-sized replica of one of the main characters from Guardians of the Galaxy known as 'Groot' as a part of 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3' movie outdoor installation…

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Uzbeks vote on allowing president to extend time in power

TASHKENT, April 30 (Reuters) - Uzbekistan votes on constitutional amendments on Sunday that promise its citizens greater social protections in exchange for resetting President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's term count to zero,…

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Founder of Taiwan’s Foxconn says China won’t attack if he’s president

TAIPEI, April 27 (Reuters) - The billionaire founder of Taiwan's Foxconn and presidential hopeful Terry Gou said on Thursday China does not want war with the island and would not…

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U.S. plans rare nuclear missile submarine visit in message to North Korea

By Josh Smith and Ju-min Park SEOUL, April 27 (Reuters) - For the first time since the 1980s a U.S. Navy nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) will visit South Korea…

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South Korea, US to share nuclear planning to deter North Korean threat

By Trevor Hunnicutt, Steve Holland and David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States pledged to give South Korea more insight into its nuclear planning over any conflict with North…

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Pakistan confirms its first case of mpox

KARACHI, Pakistan, April 26 (Reuters) - The first case of mpox in Pakistan has been confirmed by the National Institute of Health in the capital Islamabad. A traveler who recently…

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WHO issues alert over another India-made cough syrup

The World Health Organization has said that a batch of contaminated India-made cough syrup has been found in the Marshall Islands and Micronesia. The WHO said that the tested samples…

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Japan’s ispace says bid to make first commercial moon landing failed

By Kantaro Komiya and Joey Roulette April 26 (Reuters) - Japanese startup ispace inc 9348.T said its attempt to make the first private moon landing had failed after losing contact…

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UK warns China secrecy over military expansion risks ‘tragic miscalculation’

British foreign minister James Cleverly will urge China to be more open about the reasons behind what he called the biggest military build-up in peacetime history and said secrecy could…

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Explosions at Pakistani counter-terrorism office kill eight

Two explosions rocked a counter-terrorism office in northwest Pakistan on Monday, killing at least eight people, police said, and wounding several others. Provincial police chief Akhtar Hayat said it was…

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EPA’s Eye In The Sky: Wuxi, China

A photo taken with a drone during a press tour shows people walking past a giant statue of Charlie Chaplin at the Wuxi Studios, nicknamed Chinawood Studios, in Wuxi, China.…

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Japan considers widening long-term foreign worker visa scheme

TOKYO, April 24 (Reuters) - Japan is considering expanding the areas in which skilled foreign workers can receive long-term work visas to 12 from three, the Nikkei newspaper reported on…

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Taiwan says Chinese carrier group 120 miles off its southeast coast

TAIPEI, April 24 (Reuters) - Taiwan's defence ministry said on Monday that a Chinese carrier group led by the Shandong was about 120 nautical miles off the southeast of the…

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China’s cooperation with Europe ‘unlimited’ as with Russia – Chinese envoy

BEIJING, April 24 (Reuters) - China's cooperation with Europe and other nations is "endless" just as its ties with Russia are "unlimited", China's envoy to the European Union said, giving…

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EPA’s Eye In The Sky: Hohhot, China

An aerial view of the scenery along a section of the Yellow River in Togtoh County of Hohhot, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, 1. Photo: EPA-EFE/XINHUA / Wang Kaiyan

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Carriers and precision attacks: The takeaways from China’s latest Taiwan drills

By Yew Lun Tian and Yimou Lee BEIJING/TAIPEI, (Reuters) - China's latest military drills near Taiwan show it is serious about being able to cut off the democratically ruled island…

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Thai authorities issue extreme heat warnings for dozens of provinces

BANGKOK, April 22 (Reuters) - Thai authorities on Saturday warned residents across large swathes of country, including the capital Bangkok, to avoid going outdoors due to extreme heat. Parts of…

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Japan prepares to shoot down North Korea satellite if it falls on Japan

TOKYO, April 22 (Reuters) - Japan's Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada on Saturday ordered the country's military to prepare to shoot down a North Korean spy satellite should it fall within…

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Biden to pledge steps to deter nuclear attack on South Korea

By Steve Holland and David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON (Reuters) - At a summit next week with South Korean leader Yoon Suk Yeol U.S. President Joe Biden will pledge "substantial" steps to…

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India’s heatwaves putting economy, development goals at risk – study

(Reuters) - Killer heat waves are putting "unprecedented burdens" on India's agriculture, economy and public health, with climate change undermining the country's long-term efforts to reduce poverty, inequality and illness,…

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Activists mark Earth Day as scientists warn of more extreme weather

By David Stanway SINGAPORE, April 21 (Reuters) - Volunteers in dozens of countries were set to plant trees, clean up trash and urge governments to do more to combat climate…

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China’s foreign minister: Both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to China

SHANGHAI, April 21 (Reuters) - China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang said on Friday that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to China, and that it is right and proper…

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Bangladesh suffers widespread power outages during relentless heat

Highest temperatures in over 50 years - power minister Overall power supply short of demand by 6.6% in last 7 days Average max weekly temperature 12.5% higher than last year…

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China’s CCTV slams Western hype of its population decline

HONG KONG, April 20 (Reuters) - Western media reports on China's population being overtaken by India deliberately ignores China's development, using the topic to "bad mouth" it and advocate decoupling,…

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India to overtake China as most populous country

India is set to overtake China to become the most populous country in the world by the middle of this year, data released by the United Nations shows. India's population…

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New box jellyfish species found in Hong Kong’s waters

HONG KONG, April 19 (Reuters) - A Hong Kong university team said it has discovered a new species of box jellyfish in the city's Mai Po Nature Reserve, the first…

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North Korean leader orders spy satellite launch as planned

SEOUL, April 19 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered officials to launch the first spy satellite as planned, saying that boosting reconnaissance capabilities is a priority…

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Photo Story: Fire in Beijing hospital kills at least 21

A view of broken windows and burned air conditioners following a fire at the Changfeng Hospital in Beijing, China, 19 April 2023. At least 21 people died following a fire…

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South Korea’s Yoon opens door for possible military aid to Ukraine

By Soyoung Kim, Ju-min Park and Hyonhee Shin SEOUL, April 19 (Reuters) - South Korea might extend its support for Ukraine beyond humanitarian and economic aid if it comes under…

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EPA’s Eye In The Sky: Hongze Lake, China

A general view of a Hongze Lake Wetland close to Suqian town, China. Hongze Lake Wetland provide a safe habitat for hundreds of thousands of migratory birds to live through…

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India, Russia in talks on free trade deal

NEW DELHI, April 17 (Reuters) - India and Russia are discussing a free trade agreement, ministers said on Monday, a move that would further deepen bilateral commercial ties that have…

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South Korea, US, Japan to hold missile defence drills to counter North Korea

By Hyonhee Shin SEOUL, April 17 (Reuters) - South Korea, the United States and Japan will stage joint naval missile defence exercises on Monday as they push for greater security…

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G7 ministers set big new targets for solar and wind capacity

By Katya Golubkova and Yuka Obayashi SAPPORO, Japan (Reuters) - The Group of Seven rich nations on Sunday set big new collective targets for solar power and offshore wind capacity,…

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China defence minister says willing to work with Russian military to have close communications

BEIJING, April 17 (Reuters) - China's defence minister Li Shangfu said the country is willing to work with Russia to have close strategic communications between their militaries, state media reported…

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China’s military followed, monitored US destroyer in Taiwan Strait on Sunday

BEIJING, April 17 (Reuters) - China's military followed and monitored U.S. guided-missile destroyer USS Milius that sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Sunday, the army's Eastern Theatre Command said in…

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Former Indian lawmaker slain live on TV while in police custody, state restricts gatherings

LUCKNOW, India April 16 (Reuters) - A former lawmaker in India's parliament, convicted of kidnapping, was shot dead along with his brother while police were escorting them for a medical…

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No evidence yet showing which animal COVID may have come from, says former head of China CDC

(Reuters) - There is no evidence yet showing which animal the COVID-causing virus may have come from, the former head of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)…

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Japan’s Kishida vows safety of G7 meetings after ‘smoke bomb’ attack

TOKYO, April 16 (Reuters) - Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, a day after he was evacuated from an apparent attack, vowed on Sunday to do everything possible to ensure the…

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South Korea fires warning shots after North’s boat crosses sea border

By Hyonhee Shin SEOUL, April 16 (Reuters) - South Korea fired warning shots toward a North Korean vessel that crossed the maritime border on Saturday, South Korea's military said a…

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China launches weather satellite, flights avoid no-fly zone to north of Taiwan

BEIJING/TAIPEI, April 16 (Reuters) - China launched a weather satellite on Sunday as civilian flights altered their routes to avoid a Chinese-imposed no-fly zone to the north of Taiwan which…

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EPA’s Eye In The Sky: Kabul, Afghanistan

A view of a snow-covered area in Kabul, Afghanistan. Via EPA-EFE/STRINGER

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EU cannot trust China unless it seeks peace in Ukraine -Borrell

European Union foreign policy chief Joseph Borrell said it would be hard for Europe to trust China if it did not try to find a political solution to the Ukraine crisis. The comment was contained…

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North Korea says it tested a new solid-fuel ICBM, warns of ‘extreme’ horror

North Korea said on Friday it had tested a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the Hwasong-18, to "radically promote" the country's nuclear counterattack capability, state media reported.Leader Kim Jong…

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China to ban vessels from area near Taiwan over rocket debris

By Liz Lee and Ben Blanchard BEIJING/TAIPEI, April 13 (Reuters) - China will ban vessels from an area near Taiwan on Sunday because of the possibility of falling rocket debris, its maritime…

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UPDATED: North Korea launches new type of ballistic missile, South says

SEOUL/TOKYO, April 13 (Reuters) - North Korea fired a new model of long-range ballistic missile on Thursday, South Korea said, triggering a scare in northern Japan where residents were told…

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