Reuters Asia Top

ASUNCION (Reuters) – Uruguay will push for a free trade agreement with China, the South American country’s top diplomat said on Wednesday, even as it faces resistance from some of its neighbors who favor regional trade talks over deals involving just one nation. Uruguayan Foreign Minister Francisco Bustillo made the comments just outside the Paraguayan …

Uruguay seeking China trade deal despite misgivings from neighbors Read More »

By Asif Shahzad RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (Reuters) – As 90-year-old Indian woman Reena Varma stands on the balcony of the house in Pakistan where she was born, visiting on Wednesday for the first in 75 years, she recalls her playful childhood. “I would stand here and sing,” said Varma, as her eyes filled with tears. “These …

‘Humanity over rivalry’ says Indian woman as she re-visits Pakistan home after 75 years Read More »

By Mohammad Yunus Yawar KABUL (Reuters) -The United Nations mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said on Wednesday that the ruling Taliban were responsible for extrajudicial killings, torture, arbitrary arrests, and inhumane punishments in the 10 months since they seized power. An UNAMA report said the violations were targeted at a number of groups, including those associated …

UN report highlights hundreds of rights violations in Afghanistan Read More »

SHANGHAI/BEIJING (Reuters) – As China grapples to contain a mortgage boycott that has triggered rare protests, censors have gone into overdrive with social media messages blocked, videos of demonstrations wiped and key word searches coming up blank. Censors are scrambling to filter or erase details of angry homebuyers threatening to stop paying mortgages on hundreds …

China censors strive to filter or erase details of mortgage protests Read More »

(Reuters) – Sri Lanka’s new president will have to deal with daunting political challenges and his reforms should include tax rises to stabilize a devastated economy, the central bank governor told the Financial Times on Wednesday. “I expect a stable government that can implement difficult economic reforms,” Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe told the FT on the …

New Sri Lankan government must raise taxes, make difficult reforms – cbank governor Read More »

(Reuters) – Sri Lanka’s acting president, Ranil Wickremesinghe, won a vote in parliament on Wednesday to be the next president until 2024, taking over from former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa who resigned after fleeing the country last week. Hundreds of thousands of protesters had flooded the streets of the island nation to demand Rajapaksa’s resignation over …

Quotes: Sri Lanka’s parliament picks Wickremesinghe as new president Read More »

By Kate Lamb and Stanley Widianto JAKARTA (Reuters) -Indonesia’s Constitutional Court on Wednesday rejected a judicial review of the country’s narcotics law that would have paved the way for legalising marijuana for medicinal use. Three mothers of children with cerebral palsy backed by civil society organisations filed a judicial review of the country’s strict narcotics …

Indonesian court rejects call to legalise medicinal marijuana Read More »

By Devjyot Ghoshal and Uditha Jayasinghe COLOMBO (Reuters) -Ranil Wickremesinghe, a lawyer who served as Sri Lanka’s prime minister a record six times, has finally made it to the top job, securing the presidency after winning a parliamentary vote on Wednesday despite fierce public opposition to his candidacy. “I thank parliament for this honour,” the …

Wickremesinghe, a wily political survivor, elected Sri Lanka’s president Read More »