Reuters Asia Top

World nations try to balance Omicron restrictions while keeping economies open

30 Dec 2021

By Crispian Balmer and Alexandra Alper ROME/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Global COVID-19 infections hit a record high over the past seven-day period, Reuters data showed on Wednesday, as the Omicron variant raced out of control and governments tried to contain its spread without paralysing fragile economies. Almost 900,000 cases were detected on average each day worldwide between …

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U.S. calls on China and Hong Kong to release Stand News employees

30 Dec 2021

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday called on Chinese and Hong Kong authorities to immediately release staff members of the pro-democracy media outlet Stand News who were arrested after a police raid that shut down the publication. “We call on PRC and Hong Kong authorities to cease targeting Hong Kong’s …

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China warns of “drastic measures” if Taiwan provokes on independence

30 Dec 2021

BEIJING (Reuters) – China will take “drastic measures” if Taiwan makes moves towards formal independence, a Beijing official warned on Wednesday, adding that Taiwan’s provocations and outside meddling could intensify next year. China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and in the past two years has stepped up military and diplomatic pressure to …

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Mexico cut vaccine order with China’s CanSino by over half – sources

30 Dec 2021

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexico earlier this year slashed its COVID-19 vaccine order with CanSino Biologics by more than half when it became clear that the Chinese company would deliver far less than agreed, three people familiar with the matter said Wednesday. Mexico informed CanSino in July it would reduce its order to roughly 14.5 …

Mexico cut vaccine order with China’s CanSino by over half – sources Read More »

Blinken names former U.S. adviser Amiri as special envoy for Afghan women

29 Dec 2021

By Jonathan Landay and Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday named Rina Amiri, a former U.S. government adviser who criticized the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, as a special envoy for Afghan women, girls and human rights. “We desire a peaceful, stable, and secure Afghanistan, where all Afghans can …

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Hong Kong pro-democracy Stand News closes after police raids condemned by U.N., Germany

29 Dec 2021

By Edmond Ng and James Pomfret HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong pro-democracy media outlet Stand News shut down on Wednesday after police raided its office, froze its assets and arrested senior staff on suspected “seditious publication” offences in the latest crackdown on the city’s media. The raid raises more concerns about press freedom in …

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‘Just want to go home’: China’s Xian in COVID lockdown for 7th day

29 Dec 2021

BEIJING (Reuters) -A lockdown of 13 million people in the Chinese city of Xian entered its seventh day on Wednesday, with many unable to leave their residential compounds and relying on deliveries of necessities as new COVID-19 infections persisted. Xian reported 151 domestically transmitted infections with confirmed symptoms for Tuesday, or nearly all of the …

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