Reuters Asia Top

By Asif Shahzad ISLAMABAD (Reuters) -Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Friday the International Monetary Fund was giving his country a tough time over unlocking stalled funding from a $6.5 billion bailout, at a time of “unimaginable” economic crisis. Sharif made the comments in a meeting of civil and military leaders in the northwestern …

IMF giving Pakistan tough time in ‘unimaginable’ economic crisis – PM Read More »

BEIJING (Reuters) – China “firmly objects” to further cooperation between Britain, U.S. and Australia on nuclear submarines, its foreign ministry said in a regular briefing on Friday. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said, “China is gravely concerned about this and firmly objects to it,” in response to a question that cited a media report …

China objects to more nuclear sub talks among UK, U.S, Australia Read More »

By Hyonhee Shin and Minwoo Park SEOUL (Reuters) – A disgraced former South Korean politician, Cho Kuk, was sentenced to two years in prison on Friday for forging documents to facilitate his children’s school admissions in a scandal that has deepened political divides and frustrated many young voters. A star law professor, Cho was a …

Disgraced ex-South Korea minister gets two years jail over graft scandal Read More »

By Lucy Craymer WELLINGTON (Reuters) – The worst flooding in New Zealand’s biggest city Auckland is heaping more inflationary pressure and is posing a fresh cost-of-living headache for prime minister Chris Hipkins, who is trying to win back support for his party ahead of elections this year. Hipkins, who replaced Jacinda Ardern as prime minister …

New Zealand floods add to inflation challenge for new prime minister ahead of vote Read More »

By John Geddie and Sakura Murakami TOKYO (Reuters) -The Pacific island country of Micronesia, one of the fiercest critics of a Japanese decision to release water from the destroyed Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea, said on Friday it was no longer concerned about the plan. Its president, David Panuelo, who said in a speech …

Micronesia drops protest over release of Japanese radioactive water Read More »

TOKYO (Reuters) -Micronesia aims to ‘soon’ sign an extension of its economic and security pact with the United States, its President David Panuelo said on Friday, a deal seen as important in Washington’s efforts to counter Chinese influence in the Pacific. Micronesia is one of three Pacific Island states that has so-called compacts of free …

Micronesia to sign extension of U.S. security pact ‘soon’, President says Read More »

(Fixes dropped letters in bullet point 2) (Reuters) -U.S. officials said on Thursday that a Chinese “surveillance balloon” has been flying over the United States for several days. Using high-altitude balloons for spying and other military missions is a practice that dates to the middle of the last century. Here is what is known about …

Factbox-High-altitude spy balloons: old concept, new applications Read More »

By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Under pressure from Afghanistan’s Taliban administration, the United Nations is delivering some food aid using men only, prompting warnings from donors and humanitarian groups that it could be seen as giving in to an internationally condemned ban on most female aid workers.  U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths acknowledged …

Some UN Afghan aid delivered by men only, donors voice alarm Read More »

By David Brunnstrom and Karen Lema WASHINGTON/MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines this week granted the United States greater access to its military bases, amid mounting concern over China’s intentions toward self-ruled Taiwan and Beijing’s extensive claims in the disputed South China Sea. Here are answers to some questions about the U.S.-Philippines relationship: WHAT HAVE THE …

Explainer-Why U.S. seeks closer security cooperation with the Philippines Read More »