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PARIS (Reuters) – France has extended mandatory COVID tests for travellers from China until Feb. 15, a government decree published on Saturday showed. While Chinese officials have said infections have peaked, some global experts have warned about the possibility of a rise in cases in rural areas less equipped to deal with them as millions …

France extends mandatory COVID tests for Chinese travellers until Feb 15 Read More »

(Reuters) – The city of Memphis on Friday released video of the police traffic stop and beating of Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man. Five police officers have been fired and charged with second-degree murder in his death. Here is a timeline of events. Jan. 7: Officers pull over Nichols on suspicion of reckless driving …

Events in the Memphis police beating death of Tyre Nichols Read More »

By Joseph Campbell ABOARD THE NIMITZ, South China Sea (Reuters) – Over a few hours under grey skies, dozens of combat planes and helicopters roar on and off the flight deck of the aircraft carrier Nimitz, in a demonstration of U.S. military power in some of the world’s most hotly contested waters. MH-60 Seahawk helicopters …

In Beijing’s backyard, U.S. demonstrates its military might Read More »

KABUL (Reuters) – Thousands of Afghans held protests on Friday to express anger after a far-right politician publicly set fire to the Koran in Sweden last week. On Saturday, the anti-immigrant politician from the far-right fringe burned a copy of the holy Muslim book during a protest near the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm. “Today, Kabul …

Thousands in Afghanistan protest Koran-burning incident in Sweden Read More »

HELSINKI (Reuters) – A cash-strapped Finnish zoo said on Friday it was preparing to return two giant pandas on loan from China as it could no longer afford their upkeep. The pandas, named Lumi and Pyry, were brought to Finland in January 2018, nine months after Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the Nordic country and …

Cash-strapped Finnish zoo may have to return giant pandas to China Read More »

BEIJING (Reuters) – Almost a quarter more domestic Chinese tourism trips have been made during this year’s Lunar New Year holiday, while cross-border travel more than doubled in the first six days of the week-long break following the end of strict COVID-19 curbs. A total of 308 million tourism trips within China have been made …

China domestic tourism picks up over Lunar New Year as COVID curbs end Read More »

By Gopal Sharma KATHMANDU (Reuters) – Nepal’s Supreme Court ruled on Friday that deputy prime minister Rabi Lamichhane had stood for election with invalid citizenship papers, annulling his status as a lawmaker and effectively removing him from office. Lamichhane became deputy prime minister for home affairs – heading the ministry that oversees identity cards – …

Nepal deputy PM loses job after top court rules his ID invalid Read More »

By Krishn Kaushik NEW DELHI ( Reuters) – India has asked Pakistan to change a decades-old water-sharing agreement by barring third parties from intervening in disputes, an Indian government source said, a suggestion likely to rile Islamabad. The nuclear-armed neighbours and foes have been arguing over hydroelectric projects on the shared Indus river and its …

India wants to keep third parties out of water treaty with Pakistan – sources Read More »

By Chayut Setboonsarng and Panarat Thepgumpanat BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s ruling pro-military Palang Pracharat party has chosen political veteran and former army chief Prawit Wongsuwon as its prime minister candidate, a senior official said on Friday, as parties gear up for an election that must be held by May. Prawit, an adept political dealmaker in …

Thailand’s ruling party picks veteran kingmaker Prawit as PM candidate Read More »

By Heekyong Yang and Hyunsu Yim SEOUL (Reuters) – Battery maker LG Energy Solution (LGES) said on Friday demand for electric vehicle (EV) batteries in North America would likely stay strong this year, boosting its revenue. The South Korean company, which supplies Tesla, General Motors Co and others, said it is targeting revenue growth of …

EV battery giant LG Energy Solution upbeat on N.America market outlook Read More »