By Michel Rose and Laurie Chen BEIJING (Reuters) -China’s Xi Jinping expressed willingness to speak to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the head of the EU said on Thursday, after French President Emmanuel Macron urged Beijing to talk sense to Russia over the war in Ukraine. In closely watched talks, European Union chief Ursula von der …
Macron seeks China’s help on Ukraine, Xi ‘willing’ to call Zelenskiy Read More »
By Irene Wang SEMBOKU, Japan (Reuters) – A remote Japanese town has taken to selling bear meat from a vending machine, sourcing its supply to Asian black bears, listed as a vulnerable species, caught in traps or in the mountains by hunters. Bear attacks are an increasing problem in parts of rural Japan due to …
Vending machine in remote Japan town sells meat from intruding bears Read More »
By Byron Kaye SYDNEY (Reuters) – An Australian government-backed service for victims of identity theft blasted a plan to toughen privacy laws amid an explosion of online data theft, saying it would spur compromised companies to pay ransom and invite more hacking. IDCare, a non-profit that helps internet crime victims, said by making it easier …
Australia may inadvertently fuel cyber crime, says data theft victim service Read More »
By Bernard Orr and Aziz El Yaakoubi BEIJING/RIYADH (Reuters) – The foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia met in Beijing on Thursday for the first formal gathering of their top diplomats in more than seven years, after China brokered a deal to restore relations between the top regional powers. After years of hostility that …
Top Iranian, Saudi envoys meet in China in restoration of diplomatic ties Read More »
By Hyonhee Shin SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korea accused the U.S. and South Korea of escalating tensions to the brink of nuclear war through their joint military drills, vowing to respond with “offensive action”, state media KCNA reported on Thursday. KCNA released a commentary by Choe Ju Hyon, whom it called an international security analyst, criticising …
N.Korea says U.S.-S.Korea drills push tension to ‘brink of nuclear war’ Read More »
By Asif Shahzad ISLAMABAD (Reuters) -Saudi Arabia has told the International Monetary Fund it will provide financing to Pakistan, Pakistani junior finance minister Aisha Ghaus Pasha said on Thursday, a critical step needed to secure IMF funding. Saudi Arabia’s $2 billion pledged in external financing support to Pakistan is one of the final conditions for …
Saudi Arabia commits financial support to help Pakistan secure IMF deal – minister Read More »
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. congressional leaders on Thursday invited South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to address Congress on April 27 during his trip to the United States. Yoon is scheduled to meet with President Joe Biden during a state visit on April 26, a trip the White house said would celebrate the 70th anniversary …
U.S. lawmakers invite South Korean president to address Congress Read More »
By Emilio Parodi MILAN (Reuters) – Drugs cartels operating in Italy are increasingly using shadow networks of unlicensed Chinese money brokers to conceal cross-border payments, according to Italian judicial and law enforcement authorities. The development highlights how an issue that U.S. authorities have been battling in connection to Latin American narcotics groups has taken root …
Italian drugs cartels conceal payments via Chinese shadow banks Read More »
By Devjyot Ghoshal and Napat Wesshasartar BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s decriminalisation of cannabis has delighted its fans, alarmed some health experts and has increasingly disappointed farmers who have been undercut by illegal imports, sending a promise of a new bonanza crop up in smoke. Marijuana has also become an election football with the opposition criticising …
Thailand’s promised cannabis bonanza disappoints as politicians trade blame Read More »
TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan on Thursday said rescue efforts were under way to locate any survivors after one of its military helicopters carrying 10 people crashed in the sea near Miyakojima, part of the country’s southwest Okinawa island chain. The UH60 troop transport, commonly known as the Black Hawk, disappeared from radar tracking after leaving a …
Japan searching for 10 people aboard crashed military helicopter Read More »
