Reuters Asia Top

By Stanley Widianto JAKARTA (Reuters) -Indonesia’s plan to create new provinces in its impoverished eastern region of Papua has not been adequately discussed with the local population and is not viable, its governor said. Lawmakers announced in April that parliament would deliberate adding three provinces to the two in the territory. The announcement sparked protests …

Indonesia plan to add eastern provinces not viable, says Papua governor Read More »

(Reuters) – Beijing will ease curbs in some low-risk areas of the Chinese capital on Sunday to allow a return to normal life, city officials said on Saturday. Fangshan and Shunyi districts can shift from work-from-home to normal mode, the officials told a news conference. Public transportation including busses, taxis and subway will resume service …

Beijing to relax COVID curbs in some areas from Sunday Read More »

SYDNEY (Reuters) – China’s foreign minister signed a deal with Samoa on Saturday to strengthen diplomatic relations, while Australia’s new leader said he had a “comprehensive plan” for the Pacific, as Beijing and Canberra continued rival campaigns to woo the region. China is building on a security pact it recently signed with Solomon Islands, which …

China signs deal with Samoa as Australia vows Pacific Islands plan Read More »

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said on Saturday he had a “wonderful meeting” with Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who travelled to Fiji days after being sworn in to show the new government’s attention to the Pacific Islands. “Fiji is not anyone’s backyard – we are a part of a Pacific family,” Bainimarama …

Fiji PM calls meeting with new Australia foreign minister ‘wonderful’ Read More »

SHANGHAI (Reuters) – Mainland China reported 362 new coronavirus cases on May 27, of which 96 were symptomatic and 266 were asymptomatic, the National Health Commission said on Saturday. That compares with 444 new cases a day earlier – 102 symptomatic and 342 asymptomatic infections, which China counts separately. There were no new deaths, leaving …

China reports 362 new COVID cases for May 27 vs 444 a day earlier Read More »

SHANGHAI (Reuters) – China’s capital Beijing reported 18 new symptomatic coronavirus cases for May 27, down from 22 a day earlier, the city government said on Saturday. Asymptomatic cases fell to six from seven the previous day, it said. (Reporting by Shanghai newsroom; Editing by Sandra Maler)

By Soo-hyang Choi SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korea’s daily fever cases dropped to below 100,000 for the first time, state media said on Saturday, less than three weeks after the country’s first acknowledgement of a COVID-19 outbreak. The isolated country has been in a heated battle against an unprecedented COVID wave since declaring a state of …

N.Korea says new fever cases under 100,000 as virus fight heats up Read More »