Asia

Jakarta to remain economic hub as Indonesia prepares to move capital city

JAKARTA, March 28 (Reuters) - Indonesia's parliament on Thursday designated special status for Jakarta, keeping the metropolis as the country's economic epicentre, amid plans to move the capital city to…

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Putin’s spy chief visited North Korea

Russian foreign intelligence chief visits Pyongyang Naryshkin discusses deepening ties with North Korea Naryshkin was in North Korea March 25-27, SVR says Putin and Kim strengthening ties MOSCOW/SEOUL, March 28…

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Taiwan sees US support unchanged no matter who wins election

TAIPEI, March 28 (Reuters) - Taiwan's foreign ministry said on Thursday it believes U.S. support will remain unchanged no matter who wins the presidential election, but it will stay on…

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Southeast Asia human trafficking now a global crisis, Interpol says

Organised crime rings who fuelled an "explosion" of human trafficking and cyber scam centres during the pandemic have expanded from Southeast Asia into a global network making up to $3…

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China’s Xi tells Dutch PM cutting supply chains would lead to confrontation

Chinese President Xi Jinping told Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Wednesday that creating technological barriers and cutting off supply chains would only lead to division and confrontation, according to…

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Six killed in militant attack on Pakistan naval base, say officials

Militants attacked a Pakistan naval airbase killing at least one paramilitary soldier while security forces killed all five of the assailants in retaliatory fire, officials said on Tuesday. Monday's attack…

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US, UK accuse China over spy campaign that may have hit millions

U.S. and British officials on Monday filed charges, imposed sanctions, and called out Beijing over a sweeping cyberespionage campaign that allegedly hit millions of people - including lawmakers, academics, journalists…

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North Korea says Japan’s Kishida wants to meet Kim Jong Un

North Korea's Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of leader Kim Jong Un, said on Monday that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had conveyed his intention to meet the North…

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US and Japan plan biggest upgrade to security pact in more than 60 years

March 24 (Reuters) - The U.S. and Japan are planning the biggest upgrade to their security alliance since the two countries signed a mutual defense treaty in 1960, the Financial…

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New Hong Kong security law comes into force amid fears for freedoms

By James Pomfret, Jessie Pang and Greg Torode HONG KONG, March 23 (Reuters) - A new national security law came into force in Hong Kong on Saturday despite growing international…

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India brings back 35 Somali pirates as part of operations near Red Sea

By Krishn Kaushik NEW DELHI, March 23 (Reuters) - The Indian navy handed over 35 Somali pirates to the police in Mumbai on Saturday, after 100 days of anti-piracy operations…

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Russia, Ukraine see crisis eventually resolved through talks, China’s special envoy says

By Joe Cash BEIJING, March 22 (Reuters) - Russia and Ukraine both believe the conflict will end through negotiations, China's special envoy for Eurasian affairs said on Friday, even though…

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Pakistan PM Sharif says another IMF bailout is inevitable

By Asif Shahzad ISLAMABAD, March 21 (Reuters) - Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday that a long-term bailout from the International Monetary Fund (MF) was inevitable given the…

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Indonesia’s president-elect Prabowo urges unity after resounding victory

By Stanley Widianto and Stefanno Sulaiman JAKARTA, (Reuters) - Indonesia's Prabowo Subianto pledged on Wednesday to be a president for all Indonesians after official results showed him sweeping last month's…

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Once beacon of stability, Vietnam to name third president in a year

By Francesco Guarascio and Khanh Vu HANOI (Reuters) - Vietnam is seeking its third president in little more than a year after its ruling Communist Party on Wednesday forced the…

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India’s richest 1% has highest concentration of wealth in decades, study shows

NEW DELHI, March 20 (Reuters) - The wealth concentrated in the richest 1% of India's population is at its highest in six decades and the percentage share of income exceeds…

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Taliban says it hit back at Pakistan after air strikes in Afghanistan kill 8

Afghanistan's Taliban said on Monday that Pakistan carried out two air strikes on its territory, killing five women and three children, and it fired heavy weapons at Pakistani forces along the…

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China’s military, state media slam U.S. after Reuters report on SpaceX spy satellites

BEIJING, March 18 (Reuters) - Chinese military and state-run media on Sunday accused the United States of threatening global security, days after a Reuters report which found Elon Musk's SpaceX…

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China warns citizens in Singapore to stay away from gambling

BEIJING, March 18 (Reuters) - China's embassy in Singapore on Monday urged its citizens in the city-state to stay away from all forms of betting, saying gambling overseas violates Chinese…

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South Korea’s Yoon warns of tech threat to democracy at summit

By Ju-min Park and Jack Kim SEOUL, March 18 (Reuters) - South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Monday called fake news and disinformation based on AI and digital technology…

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North Korea fires ballistic missiles as Blinken visits Seoul

By Jack Kim SEOUL, March 18 (Reuters) - North Korea fired short-range ballistic missiles into the sea on Monday for the first time in two months, as U.S. Secretary of…

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U.S. commandos train for the unexpected in North Korea’s shadow

By Josh Smith GWANGJU, South Korea (Reuters) - U.S. special operations troops in South Korea are training and preparing for unexpected threats at a time when global crises are more…

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China’s defence ministry says it held military staff dialogue with NATO

BEIJING, (Reuters) - China and NATO held an eighth military staff dialogue on security policy in Beijing on Wednesday, according to a statement from the Chinese defence ministry. The two…

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12

Mar

Taiwan’s vice president-elect is on a low-profile visit to Washington, WSJ reports

Taiwan's vice president-elect, Hsiao Bi-khim, is in Washington this week for a low-profile private visit, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing people with knowledge of the matter. Taiwan's…

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Thailand expects to complete free trade talks with EU next year, PM says

Thailand expects to complete negotiations over a free trade agreement with the European Union in 2025, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on Tuesday, as the government seeks to draw trade…

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Floods, landslides kill 26 in Indonesia, at least six missing

Flooding and landslides in the Indonesian province of West Sumatra have killed 26 people and at least six are missing, authorities said on Monday. Bridges, schools, 113 hectares (280 acres)…

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China trying to ‘normalise’ military drills near Taiwan

TAIPEI, March 11 (Reuters) - Taiwan's top security official told parliament on Monday that China runs "joint combat readiness patrols" near the democratic island every 7-10 days on average, saying…

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More Chinese women choosing singledom as economy stutters

By Laurie Chen XIAN, China, (Reuters) - Freelance copywriter Chai Wanrou thinks marriage is an unfair institution. Like many young women in China, she is part of a growing movement…

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MH370 disappearance 10 years on: can it still be found?

It has been ten years since Malaysia Airlines passenger flight MH370 disappeared on March 8 2014. To this day it remains one of the biggest aviation mysteries globally. It’s unthinkable…

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Rishi Sunak’s mother-in-law appointed to Indian parliament

Rishi Sunak’s mother-in-law has been appointed to the Indian parliament’s upper chamber after a career in philanthropy. Sudha Murthy, 73, was chair of the Infosys Foundation, `the nonprofit arm of…

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More Indian troops at border won’t ease tensions, says China foreign ministry

BEIJING, March 8 (Reuters) - China believes that India's move to add more troops at their disputed border is "not conducive to easing tensions", a foreign ministry spokesperson said on…

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Malaysia’s missing MH370 plane: What we know, 10 years on

March 8 (Reuters) - The disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 ten years ago with 239 people on board remains one of the world's greatest aviation mysteries. The Boeing 777…

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Hong Kong issues new national security law bill with tougher jail terms

Hefty jail terms proposed for range of offences Rights concerns raised over new security law HK trying to fast-track bill as legislature begins debate Some lawmakers say bill could pass…

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Thailand plans to send 100,000 labourers to work abroad this year

BANGKOK, March 8 (Reuters) - Thailand plans to send 100,000 labourers to work overseas by the yen of this year, government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke said on Friday. New markets for…

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China’s Xi urges preparation for military conflicts at sea

BEIJING, March 7 (Reuters) - China's President Xi Jinping on Thursday called on the armed forces to coordinate preparations for military conflicts at sea, protect the country's maritime rights and…

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US has a wrong perception of China, says foreign minister

By Bernard Orr and Ethan Wang BEIJING, March 7 (Reuters) - The U.S. is clinging to wrong perceptions of China and has yet to fulfill its "promises" despite some progress…

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China steps up grey-zone warfare to exhaust Taiwan

By Yimou Lee TAIPEI, March 7 (Reuters) - China has stepped up grey-zone warfare against Taiwan, aiming to make the areas around the democratic island "saturated" with balloons, drones and…

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North Korea leader Kim Jong Un orders heightened war preparations

SEOUL, March 7 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected field training of troops at a major military operations base in the western region of the country on…

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China’s Parliament to meet as economy clouds linger

By Yew Lun Tian BEIJING, (Reuters) - China's parliament, the National People's Congress (NPC), will kick off its annual session on Tuesday, with all eyes on plans to support growth…

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Singapore tightens rules for hiring foreign professionals

By Xinghui Kok SINGAPORE, March 4 (Reuters) - Singapore will raise the salary criteria for foreign executives and professionals that companies can hire starting next year, the government announced on…

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Malaysia ready to re-open probe of missing MH370 if new evidence emerges

SYDNEY, March 4 (Reuters) - Malaysia is willing to re-open an investigation into one of the world's greatest aviation mysteries, the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines MH370 in 2014, if there…

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South Korea, US troops kick off annual drills over North threats

By Hyonhee Shin SEOUL, March 4 (Reuters) - South Korean and U.S. militaries kicked off their spring drills on Monday with twice the number of troops joining compared to last…

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Malaysia says MH370 search must go on, 10 years after plane vanished

By Danial Azhar and Mandy Leong KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 (Reuters) - Malaysia is pushing for a renewed search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, the transport minister said on Sunday,…

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Shehbaz Sharif elected Pakistan’s prime minister for second term

ISLAMABAD, March 3 (Reuters) - Pakistan's newly formed parliament elected Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday as prime minister for a second time, three weeks after uncertain national elections caused delays in…

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Singapore’s air force to add more stealth fighters as it phases out older jets

By Gerry Doyle (Reuters) - Singapore will buy eight more F-35 stealth fighters, eventually replacing its older F-16s and putting the Singaporean air force "in the premier league" as regional…

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Bangladesh building fire kills 46, injures dozens

By Ruma Paul DHAKA, March 1 (Reuters) - A massive fire in Bangladesh that raged through a six-storey building home to restaurants where many families with children were dining has…

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Sri Lanka halts free visas for long-staying Russian, Ukrainian nationals

COLOMBO, Feb 29 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka has decided to stop issuing free long-term visas to Russian and Ukrainian nationals who have lived in the Indian Ocean island nation for…

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North Korea’s Kim seeks ‘industry revolution’ in rural areas amid widening inequality

By Hyonhee Shin SEOUL, Feb 29 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for an "industry revolution" in rural regions by building factories nationwide, state media KCNA…

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Thailand to ban recreational cannabis use by year-end, health minister says

Draft heads to cabinet for approval next month, minister says Misuse of cannabis seen having negative impact on children Industry is projected to be worth $1.2 bln by next year…

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European countries eye reopening embassies in North Korea after pandemic closures

By Josh Smith and Alexander Ratz SEOUL/BERLIN Feb 28 (Reuters) - A German delegation visited the North Korean capital of Pyongyang for the first time since its embassy was shuttered…

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China urges largest nuclear states to negotiate a ‘no-first-use’ treaty

BEIJING, Feb 28 (Reuters) - States with the largest nuclear arsenals should negotiate a treaty on no-first-use of nuclear weapons against each other or make a political statement in this…

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North Korea has sent 6,700 containers of munitions to Russia, South Korea says

North Korea has shipped about 6,700 containers carrying millions of munitions to Russia since July to support its war against Ukraine, in a sign of ongoing arms transfers, South Korean…

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China’s “dragon” baby boom may boost population in 2024- report

HONG KONG, (Reuters) - More babies are being born in hospitals across China in the Year of the Dragon, financial news outlet Yicai reported, an increase which could soften the…

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China sees Europe as increasingly ‘rational’ about its development, says foreign minister

BEIJING, Feb 22 (Reuters) - China said it sees Europe as increasingly viewing the country with a "rational perception," and that Europe should "not be afraid of it," Chinese Foreign…

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Thai PM plans visa-free travel, concerts to boost tourism

BANGKOK, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Thailand's Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on Thursday his government plans to roll out more measures to boost tourism, including incentives to lure global artists…

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Hong Kong scientists seek good fortune for endangered horseshoe crabs

By Joyce Zhou HONG KONG, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Hong Kong conservationists on Wednesday began underwater tracking of endangered horseshoe crabs, which date back to before the dinosaurs, in a…

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Police fire tear gas at Indian farmers marching on capital

By Sunil Kataria SHAMBHU, India, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Indian police fired tear gas on Wednesday to scatter protesting farmers as they resumed a march to the capital, equipped with…

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