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BANGKOK (Reuters) – The top U.S. diplomat for Asia on Friday said Washington is not asking its allies to choose between it and China, promoting instead a shared vision of a rules-based order “where large countries don’t bully the weak”. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink, speaking in Thailand …

U.S. diplomat says not asking Asian allies to choose Washington over Beijing Read More »

By Yew Lun Tian BEIJING (Reuters) – As U.S. President Joe Biden prepares to host more than 100 participants in the initial “Summit for Democracy”, China – which was not invited – has increasingly talked up the advantages of its own “whole-process democracy”. Chinese state media and diplomats in recent weeks have ramped up criticism …

As U.S. promotes democracy, China touts its own version Read More »

MANILA (Reuters) – Asia-Pacific countries should boost their healthcare capacity and fully vaccinate their people to prepare for a surge in COVID-19 cases fuelled by the Omicron variant, officials at the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday. First detected in southern Africa last month and dubbed a “variant of concern” by the WHO, scientists …

WHO urges Asia-Pacific to ready for Omicron-driven surge in infections Read More »

JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesian police have confirmed the charging of eight Papuan students with treason after a demonstration this week marking what many people in the remote region regard as their own day of independence. Amnesty International on Friday called for the release of the students, who were detained on Dec. 1 after a rally …

Indonesia charges 8 Papuan students with treason over ‘independence’ march Read More »

By Sara Cheng HONG KONG (Reuters) -A Hong Kong court said on Friday that Eugene Yeoh, former co-head of IPO vetting at the financial hub’s stock exchange operator, was not guilty of receiving bribes to look favourably on listing applications. IPO consultant Richard Lum, who had been accused of paying bribes to Yeoh, was also …

Hong Kong court finds former bourse exec not guilty of graft Read More »

BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s top steelmaking city of Tangshan in Hebei province issued an orange alert for pollution on Friday, the second highest in a three-tier pollution warning system, on deteriorating weather conditions, the local government said. The alert will be effective from 6 p.m. local time on December 3 to 12 p.m. on Dec. …

China’s steel hub Tangshan city sounds orange smog alert from Dec 3 Read More »

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Afghanistan’s Taliban government on Friday released a decree on women’s rights which said women should not be considered “property” and must consent to marriage but failed to mention female access to education or work outside the home. The Taliban has been under pressure from the international community, who have mostly frozen funds …

Taliban release decree saying women must consent to marriage Read More »

MANILA (Reuters) – Philippine journalist Maria Ressa will be allowed to travel so she can accept her Nobel Peace Prize in person after a court gave her permission to leave the Southeast Asian country to visit Norway later this month. Ressa, who is subject to travel restrictions due to the legal cases she faces in …

Philippines court to allow Nobel laureate Ressa to go to Norway Read More »