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By David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON/MANILA (Reuters) – U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s visit to the Philippines this week is expected to bring an announcement of expanded U.S. access to military bases in the country, a senior Philippines official said on Wednesday. Washington is eager to extend its security options in the Philippines as part of efforts …

Austin’s Manila visit to bring deal on expanded base access – Philippines official Read More »

GENEVA (Reuters) – Several Indonesian residents have submitted a legal complaint to a Swiss court against the world’s top cement-maker Holcim, which they claim is doing “too little” to cut carbon emissions, a statement by civil society groups backing the complainants showed on Tuesday. A spokesperson for the Zug-based company said that climate change was …

Indonesian residents file climate case against Holcim in Swiss court Read More »

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will discuss Russia’s war in Ukraine with Chinese officials during a Feb. 5-6 trip to China, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said on Tuesday. Kirby told reporters that talks on a number of issues, such as the two countries’ militaries and climate change, were …

Blinken to discuss Russia’s war on Ukraine with Chinese officials Read More »

By Daphne Psaledakis and Simon Lewis WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States and its allies imposed further sanctions on Myanmar on Tuesday, marking the two-year anniversary of the coup with curbs on energy officials and members of the junta, among others. Washington imposed sanctions on the Union Election Commission, mining enterprises and energy officials, among others, …

U.S. and allies mark anniversary of Myanmar coup with more sanctions Read More »

(Reuters) -Armenia on Tuesday asked President Vladimir Putin to take a tougher line on Nagorno-Karabakh and for Russian peacekeepers to end what it calls Azerbaijan’s blockade of the only road leading to the enclave. Armenia said Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had spoken to Putin about the resulting humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh and had “highlighted” the …

Armenia asks Putin to act to end isolation of Karabakh enclave Read More »

By Stephanie van den Berg THE HAGUE (Reuters) -Azerbaijan on Tuesday called on judges at the World Court to order Armenia to help demine areas it previously controlled and stop planting explosive devices which prevent Azeri nationals from returning to their former homes. Azerbaijan asked the court, as part of an ongoing larger case, to …

Azerbaijan asks World Court to order Armenia to help demining effort Read More »

MILAN (Reuters) – Italy will loosen its anti-COVID controls for travellers arriving from China, making swabs random rather than mandatory at its airports, a document seen by Reuters on Tuesday showed. Under a new order signed by Health Minister Orazio Schillaci, Italy will require those flying from China to test negative within 48 hours of …

Italy eases anti-COVID measures for travellers from China Read More »

TASHKENT/ALMATY (Reuters) -A court in Uzbekistan sentenced 22 people to various prison terms on Tuesday over deadly unrest in the autonomous province of Karakalpakstan last July, the Central Asian country’s Supreme Court said. Twenty-one people were killed in the disturbances triggered by plans to curtail the province’s autonomy. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev scrapped the plan amidst …

Uzbek court sentences 22 over deadly Karakalpakstan unrest Read More »