Reuters Asia Top

By Ju-min Park and David Brunnstrom TOKYO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The question of Japan’s security role at a time of rising tension over Taiwan is likely to figure prominently at a meeting on Friday between the foreign and defense ministers of Japan and the United States. The so-called two-plus-two talks will take place a day after …

Japan’s security role and Taiwan seen in focus at ‘two-plus-two’ talks with U.S Read More »

By Olzhas Auyezov ALMATY (Reuters) -Fresh violence erupted in Kazakhstan’s main city of Almaty on Thursday as Russia sent in paratroopers to put down a countrywide uprising in one of Moscow’s closest former Soviet allies. Police in Almaty said they had killed dozens of rioters overnight into the early hours of Thursday morning. Authorities said …

Russia sends troops to put down Kazakhstan uprising as fresh violence erupts Read More »

BEIJING (Reuters) -More cities in central China’s Henan province imposed COVID restrictions as infections there rose sharply, while authorities in the northwestern city of Xian apologised on Thursday to a woman whose miscarriage during lockdown stirred public outrage. Henan reported 64 domestically transmitted infections with confirmed symptoms for Wednesday, up from just four a day …

China’s Henan adds COVID curbs as cases rise, Xian official apologises Read More »

By Olzhas Auyezov ALMATY (Reuters) -A Russia-led security alliance of ex-Soviet states will send peacekeeping forces to Kazakhstan, Armenia’s prime minister said on Thursday, after the Kazakh president appealed for their help in quelling violent and deadly protests. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Facebook that an unspecified number of peacekeepers would go to …

Kazakh president fails to quell protests, ex-Soviet states offer help Read More »

TOKYO (Reuters) -U.S. military bases in Japan introduced stricter COVID-19 measures on Thursday after the government expressed grave concern about a surge of new infections and called for restrictions on the movement of U.S. personnel. Japan is facing what some are calling its sixth wave of coronavirus infections with cases in some places at their …

U.S. strengthens COVID-19 infection controls at bases in Japan Read More »

By Josh Smith SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea fired a “hypersonic missile” this week that successfully hit a target, state news agency KCNA reported on Thursday, its second such test as the country pursues new military capabilities amid stalled denuclearisation talks. The launch on Wednesday was the first by North Korea since October and was …

North Korea launches second hypersonic missile in fiery test Read More »

DUBAI (Reuters) – Middle East carriers flydubai and Air Arabia cancelled services to Kazakhstan’s largest city Almaty on Thursday as the country faces its worst unrest in over a decade. A flydubai spokesperson said the airline had cancelled its two return Dubai-Almaty services scheduled for Thursday due to the “situation on the ground” there. A …

Mideast carriers flydubai, Air Arabia cancel flights to Kazakhstan’s Almaty Read More »