Reuters Asia Top

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Biden administration will press its competitive goals against China with the launch of a new trade pact in the Americas focused on “like-minded partners” with existing free trade agreements, a senior Biden administration official said on Wednesday. Washington, which has trade deals with Canada and Mexico, will use its new Americas …

U.S. plans new trade pact with ‘like-minded partners,’ says senior official Read More »

BERLIN (Reuters) – The German government strongly condemns North Korea’s testing of short-range ballistic missiles and calls on Pyongyang to cease from further tests, said a Foreign Ministry spokesperson in a statement on Wednesday. Sunday’s tests violate international law and endanger international and regional security, according to the statement. (Writing by Miranda Murray, editing by …

Germany condemns North Korean missile tests Read More »

By Ruma Paul DHAKA (Reuters) – Police in Bangladesh on Wednesday opened an investigation into eight officials from a shipping container depot after a blaze killed at least 44 people, including 10 firefighters, and injured around 200 others, officials said. Firefighters put out the blaze at the depot in Sitakunda, 40 km (25 miles) from the …

Bangladesh police open investigation into deadly container depot fire Read More »

By Hyonhee Shin and Joori Roh SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korea’s missile tests are “serious, unlawful” provocations, senior officials from South Korea, the United States and Japan said on Wednesday, as they urged it to return to dialogue and accept help to tackle COVID-19. South Korea Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun-dong, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State …

South Korea, U.S., Japan condemn N.Korea missile tests, urge talks Read More »

BEIJING (Reuters) – The Chinese capital Beijing reported no new domestically transmitted COVID-19 infection cases during the 15 hours to 3 p.m. local time (0700 GMT) on Wednesday, a disease control official said. The city has had 1,831 COVID infections as of 3 p.m. local time Wednesday since April 22, Pang Xinghuo, deputy director at …

Beijing city reports no new local COVID cases during the 15 hours to 3pm Wednesday Read More »

PHNOM PENH (Reuters) – A Chinese official said on Wednesday an “iron-clad partnership” with Cambodia was bolstered by military cooperation, as work began on a China-funded upgrade of Cambodia’s biggest naval base that has raised U.S. concern about China’s growing influence. Cambodian Minister of Defence Tea Banh dismissed fears that Cambodia would let China build …

China hails “iron-clad” Cambodia ties as work begins on naval base Read More »

By Michael Martina and David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Joe Biden’s special envoy for talks with three tiny but strategically important Pacific island nations will lead a delegation to the Marshall Islands next week amid growing U.S. worries about China’s efforts to expand its influence in the region. Joseph Yun, a veteran diplomat appointed …

Biden envoy to visit Marshall Islands as U.S. concerns grow about China’s Pacific push Read More »

By Alasdair Pal and Devjyot Ghoshal COLOMBO (Reuters) – It was the moment when two brothers who had dominated Sri Lanka’s politics for nearly 20 years finally went their separate ways. On May 9, when a crowd of ruling party supporters marched towards activists protesting against a crippling economic crisis, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa ordered police …

Brothers at odds, but ruling family still holds key to Sri Lanka’s future Read More »