BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan (Reuters) -Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa set out to became the first space tourist in more than a decade to travel to the International Space Station (ISS) when he blasted off on Wednesday, a voyage he sees as a dry run for his planned trip around the moon with Elon Musk’s SpaceX in 2023. …
Japanese billionaire Maezawa blasts off into space Read More »
By Pascal Rossignol LOON-PLAGE, France (Reuters) – Afghan refugee Abdul Saboor began photographing the lives of migrants as he made his own arduous journey to Western Europe, determined to portray the hardship of being uprooted and cast into the unknown. Saboor, 29, said he was hounded out of Afghanistan by Taliban insurgents in 2015 and …
In France, Afghan refugee photographs journeys of fellow migrants Read More »
By Elaine Lies TOKYO (Reuters) -Japanese LGBTQ rights activists on Wednesday hailed Tokyo’s move to introduce a same-sex partnership system as a huge step in their fight for equality in the only G7 country that does not fully recognise same-sex marriage. Under plans announced by Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike on Tuesday, partnerships would be allowed …
LGBTQ groups cheer Tokyo’s same-sex partnership move as big step forward Read More »
WELLINGTON (Reuters) – New Zealand’s defence forces warned on Wednesday of the security threat from an increasingly powerful China as it assertively pursues its interests in the Indo-Pacific region. Growing strategic competition between China, which is New Zealand’s biggest trading partner, the United States and other powers will also boost potential for confrontation and conflict …
New Zealand defence forces warn of rising threat from China in Indo-Pacific Read More »
By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA (Reuters) – The Omicron variant has been reported in 57 nations and the number of patients needing hospitalisation is likely to rise as it spreads, the World Health Organization said on Wednesday. The WHO, in its weekly epidemiological report, said more data was needed to assess the severity of disease caused …
Omicron reported in 57 countries, hospitalisations set to rise, WHO says Read More »
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan has reported its fourth case of the Omicron coronavirus variant, TV Asahi said on Wednesday. The fresh case was a man in his 50s who had stayed in Nigeria, the network reported. The Japanese government has enforced tighter border controls against the Omicron variant. (Reporting by Ju-min Park, Sakura Murakami; Editing …
Japan finds fourth case of Omicron variant – TV Asahi Read More »
HONG KONG (Reuters) – A Hong Kong government proposal to change the legal aid system could violate the constitutionally guaranteed right of people to choose legal representation in the event that they cannot afford a lawyer, according to the city’s Bar Association. In October, the government proposed changes that would see defendants no longer able …
Hong Kong’s planned legal aid changes could breach constitution – Bar Association Read More »
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s President Xi Jinping congratulated Olaf Scholz on being elected the new German Chancellor, and said he was willing to work with him to deepen mutual political trust and expand cooperation, Chinese state media reported on Wednesday. Xi made the remarks in a message sent to Scholz, according to the report. (Reporting …
China’s Xi says he wants to work with Germany’s Scholz to deepen trust Read More »
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s Supreme Court upheld a guilty verdict on Wednesday against construction tycoon Premchai Karnasuta, who will serve more than three years in jail after losing his final appeal in a high-profile case centred on the poaching of protected animals. Premchai, president of Thailand’s largest construction company Italian Thai Development Pcl, was convicted …
Thai construction tycoon jailed as Supreme Court upholds wildlife poaching verdict Read More »
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesian President Joko Widodo promised on Tuesday to bolster evacuation efforts and repair damaged homes after visiting the site of a volcanic eruption on Java that has killed at least 34 people. The 3,676-metre Mt. Semeru volcano erupted on Saturday sending a cloud of ash into the sky and dangerous pyroclastic flows …
Indonesia bolsters recovery efforts after volcano kills 34 Read More »
