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TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan has not decided who to represent the country at the Group of 20 (G20) foreign ministers’ meeting in India starting on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said at a Tuesday news conference. Hayashi was responding to a reporter’s question about earlier reports that Japan’s top diplomat will skip the meeting with …

Japan says no decision yet on who to attend G20 diplomats meeting in India Read More »

By Farah Master HONG KONG (Reuters) -Hong Kong will drop its COVID-19 mask mandate, chief executive John Lee said on Tuesday, in a move to lure back visitors and business and restore normal life more than three years after stringent rules were first imposed in the financial hub. The measure will take effect from Wednesday, …

Hong Kong to scrap COVID mask mandate from March 1 Read More »

By Josh Smith and Hyunsu Yim SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korean leader Kim Jong Un urged government officials to engineer a “fundamental transformation” in agricultural production, state media reported on Tuesday, amid fears that the country’s food shortage is worsening. Kim said hitting grain production targets this year was a top priority and emphasized the importance …

North Korea’s Kim orders ‘fundamental transformation’ of agriculture amid reports of food shortages Read More »

By Steve Scherer OTTAWA (Reuters) – Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday denied a media report from last week saying his office had been warned by Canada’s spy agency to drop a Liberal candidate, who is now a member of parliament, because he had Beijing’s support. The Chinese government preferred Han Dong, a Chinese …

Canada’s Trudeau denies report that Liberals told to drop candidate over China ties Read More »

By Asif Shahzad ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistan’s foreign office said on Monday that four Pakistani citizens were missing and 16 had survived after a boat carrying migrants to Europe crashed on rocks near the southern Italian coast, killing dozens. At least 62 people were killed in Sunday’s disaster, according to Italian authorities and rescuers. Eighty …

Four Pakistanis migrants missing after Italy shipwreck – foreign office Read More »

By Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber and Emma Farge GENEVA (Reuters) -The U.N. rights chief condemned Russia’s “senseless” invasion of Ukraine on Monday at the start of a Human Rights Council session at which countries want to strengthen scrutiny of Moscow’s alleged war crimes and raise China’s treatment of Muslim Uyghurs. Volker Turk, the United Nations high commissioner, …

‘Massive’ violations in Ukraine a focus as UN human rights body meets Read More »

TOKYO (Reuters) -Nissan Motor Co Ltd on Monday raised its electrified car sales goals and said it would boost power train production in the United States, as it looks to catch up in a segment dominated by newer automakers such as Tesla Inc. The Japanese automaker was a pioneer in electric vehicles (EVs) with its …

Nissan raises global EV targets; to boost U.S. input Read More »

By Hyunsu Yim SEOUL (Reuters) – For So Sung-uk and Kim Yong-min, who last week won a landmark Seoul court ruling on national health coverage for gay couples, the tide may finally be turning in their years-long struggle for equal recognition in South Korea for LGBT partnerships. The 32-year-old activists, together since they first met …

South Korean gay couple sees court win as breakthrough for equality Read More »