MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Australia and Japan are set to sign a treaty to beef up defence and security cooperation at a virtual summit on Thursday, in the latest move to strengthen ties amid China’s rising military power and economic clout in the Indo-Pacific region. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the two leaders will sign …
Australia, Japan to sign security cooperation treaty Read More »
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Several armoured personnel carriers and dozens of troops moving on foot entered the main square of Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, on Thursday morning where hundreds of people were protesting against the government for the third day, Reuters correspondents reported from the scene. Gunshots were heard as troops approached the crowd, according to …
Troops, protesters clash on Almaty main square in Kazakhstan; shots heard Read More »
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand on Thursday raised its COVID-19 alert level following rising infections driven by the spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, a senior health official said. The change, from level three to four, sets a pretext for possible measures that could follow, such as closing high-risk areas and placing restrictions on …
Thailand raises COVID-19 alert level due to Omicron spread Read More »
TOKYO (Reuters) – U.S. Forces in Japan (USFJ) on Thursday said they have introduced stricter measures to tackle an increase in COVID-19 cases that have raised concerns that cases may spread to communities around military facilities in the country. The USFJ is “establishing more stringent mitigation measures in a further effort to prevent virus transmission,” …
U.S. Forces in Japan to impose stronger measures against COVID infections Read More »
BEIJING (Reuters) – The northwestern Chinese city of Xian suspended all international passenger flights from Jan. 5 at its airport until further notice, the official news agency Xinhua said on Thursday. The Xian Xianyang International Airport has also halted all domestic passenger flights, Xinhua reported. (Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Editing by Shri Navaratnam)
By Duncan Miriri NAIROBI (Reuters) – China’s foreign minister began a visit to Kenya on Wednesday, where the government has relied on Chinese loans to develop infrastructure but faces criticism over the resulting debt burden. The Kenyan foreign ministry described the visit by Wang Yi, who is also state councillor, as “historic”. It said security, …
China’s foreign minister visits Kenya amid unease over rising debt Read More »
By Alistair Smout and Maayan Lubell LONDON/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Britain and Israel are overhauling their COVID-19 testing policies as governments seek to reduce the burden on laboratories and struggle with tight supplies of kits amid soaring infection rates fuelled by the Omicron variant. This time last year, vaccines offered hope that the pandemic could be over …
COVID testing policy put under the microscope as Omicron sweeps world Read More »
By Hyonhee Shin and Josh Smith SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea fired a suspected ballistic missile off its east coast on Wednesday, just hours before South Korean President Moon Jae-in attended a groundbreaking ceremony for a rail line he hopes will eventually connect the divided Korean peninsula. North Korea’s first launch since October underscored leader …
North Korea fires suspected missile as South Korea breaks ground for ‘peace’ railway Read More »
By Twinnie Siu and Jessie Pang HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong announced a two-week ban on incoming flights from eight countries, including the United States and Britain, and tightened restrictions on Wednesday as authorities feared a fifth wave of COVID-19 infections. The restrictions were announced as health authorities scoured the city for the contacts …
Hong Kong bans some inbound flights, tightens COVID-19 curbs Read More »
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand is considering measures such as limiting large gatherings and banning alcohol sales in restaurants to discourage customers to avert a wave of coronavirus infections, a health official said on Wednesday. The country reported 3,899 cases on Wednesday, up from an average of 2,600 daily cases towards the end of last year, …
Thailand fears “tens of thousands” of new COVID-19 cases, weighs curbs Read More »
