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VILNIUS (Reuters) – Lithuania’s president will ask European leaders for help in a dispute with China over diplomatic relations with Taiwan, the presidential advisor said on Thursday. “We think this will lead to a discussion how the EU and particularly European Commission could help Lithuania in this matter”, Asta Skaisgiryte told the Lithuanian public broadcaster. …

Lithuania to ask European leaders for support in face of Chinese pressure Read More »

By Neil Jerome Morales and Karen Lema MANILA (Reuters) – Typhoon Rai rapidly intensified to a Category 5 storm before making landfall in the southern Philippines on Thursday, forcing mass evacuations and flight cancellations as floodwaters reached chest-high in low-lying communities. Rai, the 15th typhoon to enter Philippine territory this year, hit the holiday island …

Typhoon Rai intensifies to Cat 5 storm as it slams Philippines Read More »

JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesian President Joko Widodo urged people to stick to health protocols and ensure they are vaccinated against COVID-19, after the world’s fourth most populous country detected its first domestic case of the Omicron variant. Jokowi, as the president is known, said the arrival of the highly transmissible variant, which has been reported …

President warns against complacency as Indonesia finds first Omicron case Read More »

By Andrius Sytas and Gabriel Crossley VILNIUS/BEIJING (Reuters) – Lithuania is to ask European leaders for help against Chinese pressure after the Vilnius delegation and its dependents left China in a hasty departure and amid denials from Beijing there were concerns for Lithuanian diplomats’ safety. China downgraded its diplomatic ties with Lithuania last month after …

Lithuania to ask European leaders for help against China after diplomats pull out Read More »

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Malaysia has recovered the bodies of 18 people who died after a boat carrying suspected undocumented migrants capsized in bad weather, maritime authorities said on Thursday. Fourteen people survived, while 18 others remain missing, as search and rescue operations continued for a second day, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) said …

More bodies found in search for survivors of boat accident off Malaysia Read More »

By Hyonhee Shin SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea said on Thursday it will reinstate stricter social distancing rules a month-and-a-half after easing them under a ‘living with COVID-19’ policy, as the number of new infections and serious cases spirals. Curbs will return from Saturday to Jan. 2, limiting gatherings to no more than four people …

South Korea to restore tougher curbs against spike in COVID-19 infections Read More »

TOKYO (Reuters) -China’s envoy to Japan, Kong Xuanyou, on Thursday said the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics had been unfortunately “used as a political tool,” and asked for Japan’s support, while also warning Tokyo not to interfere on Taiwan. Kong’s speech came as members of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s Liberal Democratic Party (LPD) call for …

Chinese envoy to Japan calls on Tokyo for support of Beijing Olympics Read More »