Reuters Asia Top

Indonesian, Malaysian Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr as COVID fears recede

22 Apr 2023

By Zahra Matarani and Hasnoor Hussain JAKARTA (Reuters) – Muslims in Indonesia and Malaysia gathered in large groups to usher in the Eid al-Fitr festival on Saturday, relieved to be able to celebrate freely after the lifting of most COVID-19 restrictions. In Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country, hundreds of worshippers turned up for …

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Thai authorities issue extreme heat warnings for dozens of provinces

22 Apr 2023

BANGKOK (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 Asia are reporting extreme heat this month, with record-breaking temperatures seen in some countries. In Bangladesh and parts of India, extreme heat is leading to surge in …

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

22 Apr 2023

TOKYO (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 Japan’s territory. Hamada ordered the Self-Defense Forces to make necessary preparations as he could potentially “order the destruction of ballistic missiles”, the Defense Ministry said in a statement. …

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Biden to pledge steps to deter nuclear attack on South Korea -officials

22 Apr 2023

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 underscore the U.S. commitment to deter a North Korean nuclear attack on South Korea, a senior U.S. official said on Friday. “We are working extraordinarily …

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Australia faces difficult decisions as it boosts defence capability -review

22 Apr 2023

By Kirsty Needham and Praveen Menon SYDNEY (Reuters) -A review of Australia’s defence force warns A$42 billion in overspending on defence projects by the previous government means “difficult decisions and tradeoffs” must be made for new capabilities, according to excerpts shared with the media. Anthony Albanese’s Labor government will on Monday release its response to …

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Guatemala’s Giammattei to visit Taiwan April 24-26

21 Apr 2023

(Reuters) – Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei will visit Taiwan April 24 to 26, his office said Friday, following a recent visit by Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen to Guatemala. The Guatemalan delegation will pitch the country as a destination for investment, the Guatemalan presidency said in a statement, and will tour several companies with the hopes …

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South Korea says summit with Biden to give significant attention to North Korea rights

21 Apr 2023

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -South Korea’s Washington ambassador Cho Hyun-dong said on Friday he was sure North Korean human rights would be given significant attention in summit talks between South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden next week. In a virtual address to the same event at Washington’s Center for Strategic and International …

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Magnitude 6.0 earthquake strikes northern Molucca Sea region – GFZ

21 Apr 2023

(Reuters) – A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck in the northern Molucca Sea region near Indonesia on Friday, the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) said. The quake was at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles), GFZ said. (Reporting by Anusha S; editing by John Stonestreet)

Factbox-Who is running for president in Indonesia’s 2024 election?

21 Apr 2023

JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesia is set to hold a presidential election in February next year, with three men so far vying for the top job in the world’s third-largest democracy and its most populous Muslim-majority country. Here are details of the candidates announced so far: PRABOWO SUBIANTO This will be the former special forces commander’s …

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Indonesia’s ruling party backs provincial governor Ganjar for 2024 presidency

21 Apr 2023

By Kate Lamb and Stanley Widianto JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesia’s ruling party on Friday endorsed provincial governor Ganjar Pranowo as its candidate for the presidency, an expected move backed by popular incumbent Joko Widodo, who will leave office next year after a decade in power. Ganjar, governor of one of Indonesia’s most populous provinces, Central …

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