Reuters Asia Top Archives - Page 1329 of 1387

China, on North Korea missile launch, says hopes all parties can act prudently

6 Jan 2022 6 Jan 2022

BEIJING (Reuters) – The Chinese foreign ministry said on Thursday that it hoped all parties could act prudently, after North Korea this week fired what its state news agency KCNA said was a “hypersonic missile”. China hopes all parties could work together to advance a political settlement on the peninsula issue, Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson …

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Taiwan air force stages drill to intercept Chinese planes amid tensions

6 Jan 2022 6 Jan 2022

By Fabian Hamacher and Ann Wang CHIAYI, Taiwan (Reuters) – Taiwan air force jets screamed into the sky on Wednesday in a drill simulating a war scenario, showing its combat readiness amid heightened military tensions with China, which claims the island as its own. Before takeoff, flight crews at a base in the southern city …

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Japan, Australia sign defence cooperation pact

6 Jan 2022 6 Jan 2022

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Japan and Australia signed an agreement on Thursday to cooperate closely on defence in the latest step to bolster security ties against the backdrop of China’s rising military and economic might. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison held a virtual summit to seal a pact that has …

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Australia, Japan to sign security cooperation treaty

6 Jan 2022 6 Jan 2022

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 …

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Troops, protesters clash on Almaty main square in Kazakhstan; shots heard

6 Jan 2022 6 Jan 2022

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 …

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Thailand raises COVID-19 alert level due to Omicron spread

6 Jan 2022 6 Jan 2022

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 …

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U.S. Forces in Japan to impose stronger measures against COVID infections

6 Jan 2022 6 Jan 2022

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,” …

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China’s Xian airport suspended international passenger flights from Jan 5

6 Jan 2022 6 Jan 2022

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)

China’s foreign minister visits Kenya amid unease over rising debt

5 Jan 2022 5 Jan 2022

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, …

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COVID testing policy put under the microscope as Omicron sweeps world

5 Jan 2022 5 Jan 2022

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 …

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