TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Emperor Naruhito on Thursday gave his first public birthday address since ascending the throne almost four years ago, after delays due to the COVID-19 outbreak, and urged support for people struggling with inflation and the pandemic. “Many people are having difficulties in their daily life amid the pandemic and rising prices,” …
Japan’s emperor gives first birthday address in four-year reign Read More »
By Kate Lamb JAKARTA (Reuters) – Egianus Kogoya, the dreadlocked rebel behind the kidnapping of a New Zealand pilot this month in the highlands of Indonesia’s Papua region, is at the vanguard of an increasingly dangerous and media-savvy insurgency for independence. Separatist rebels kidnapped New Zealand pilot Philip Mehrtens, 37, after he landed his small …
Deadlier and more media savvy, separatist rebels evolve in Indonesia’s Papua Read More »
BEIJING (Reuters) -Health authorities in China said on Thursday the country’s COVID-19 epidemic has “basically” ended, but it is not completely over as it found seven imported cases of the highly-transmissible XBB.1.5 variant since Jan. 8. Officials, speaking at a news event with several departments attending, said China’s “major decisive victory” over COVID has set …
China’s COVID-19 epidemic has ‘basically’ ended, but not completely over Read More »
By Josh Smith SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korean state media marked the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by blaming the crisis on NATO and calling America’s involvement a “trail to self-destruction.” In a commentary carried by state news agency KCNA on Thursday on the eve of the Feb. 24 anniversary, international affairs critic …
North Korean media blames U.S., allies for Ukraine war ahead of invasion anniversary Read More »
By A. Ananthalakshmi KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Human rights groups have urged Malaysia to investigate conditions at migrant detention centres after the government said 150 foreigners, including seven children, died at the facilities last year. Malaysia routinely detains foreigners without valid permits to remain in the country, including asylum seekers. It is home to millions …
Malaysia pressed to probe deaths of 150 foreigners in detention last year Read More »
By Kirsty Needham (Reuters) – Pacific island leaders arrived in Fiji on Thursday for a two-day meeting to formalise the return of Kiribati to the 18-member regional bloc, amid tensions between China and the United States in the strategically located region. The meeting will also discuss Japan’s plan to release treated water from the destroyed …
Pacific island leaders meet to show unity amid super power competition Read More »
By Ismail Shakil OTTAWA (Reuters) – Foreign interference in elections is a very serious issue and Canada must be on guard against it, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Wednesday, following a media report saying that China sought to influence the outcome of the 2021 election. Already tense Sino-Canadian relations have become more strained since …
Canada must be on guard against Chinese election interference -Trudeau Read More »
By Guy Faulconbridge MOSCOW (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that China’s Xi Jinping would visit Russia, saying relations had reached “new frontiers” amid U.S. concerns Beijing could provide material support to the invasion of Ukraine. Chinese weapons supplies to Russia would threaten a potential escalation of the war into a confrontation between …
Putin says Xi to visit Russia, ties reaching ‘new frontiers’ Read More »
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) -The World Court ordered Azerbaijan on Wednesday to ensure free movement through the Lachin corridor to and from the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, as an intermediate step in ongoing legal disputes with neighbouring Armenia. The Lachin corridor, the only land route giving Armenia direct access to Nagorno-Karabakh, has been blocked since Dec. 12, …
World Court orders Azerbaijan to ensure free movement to Nagorno-Karabakh Read More »
(Reuters) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and China’s top diplomat Wang Yi did not discuss a reported Chinese plan to resolve the conflict in Ukraine when they met on Wednesday, Moscow said. Wang, the highest-ranking Chinese official to visit Russia since it invaded Ukraine almost a year ago, met President Vladimir Putin and Lavrov …
Russia says Lavrov and Wang Yi did not discuss ‘Chinese peace plan’ Read More »
