Reuters Asia Top

By Nobuhiro Kubo, Hyonhee Shin and Michael Martina TOKYO/SEOUL/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Russian and Chinese bombers flew joint patrols near Japanese and South Korea air defense zones on Tuesday in a pointed farewell to U.S. President Joe Biden as he concluded a trip to Asia that rankled Beijing. The patrols came hours after Biden angered China by …

Russian and Chinese jets deliver pointed send-off on last day of Biden Asia trip Read More »

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A joint patrol by Russian and Chinese warplanes near Japan’s airspace during a visit by U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday demonstrates that a partnership between the two countries is “quite alive and well,” U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said. The exercise was likely planned well in advance by both countries, …

Russia-China joint patrol near Japan shows partnership is “alive and well” – U.S. State Dept Read More »

By Emma Farge and Jennifer Rigby LONDON (Reuters) – World Health Organization members formally agreed on Tuesday to a plan to overhaul its funding model which has been described as “fundamentally rotten” due to its over-reliance on the whims of donors. The plan, which members had already agreed to on a preliminary basis last month, …

WHO donors agree to fix ‘rotten’ funding model Read More »

By Dmitry Zhdannikov and Divya Chowdhury DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) – Six months after the world agreed in Glasgow to a U.N. climate pact with bold, new targets, political and business leaders facing an energy crisis, volatile markets and an economic downturn are grappling with how to cut carbon emissions. Amid soaring oil and gas prices …

Global energy and funding shocks test climate commitments Read More »

By Uditha Jayasinghe and Devjyot Ghoshal COLOMBO (Reuters) – Sri Lanka’s new Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Tuesday he will present an interim budget within six weeks, slashing infrastructure projects to re-route funds into a two-year relief programme for the crisis-hit island nation. Wickremesinghe, who took office two weeks ago, warned that inflation would …

Exclusive – Sri Lanka’s prime minister says he will slash expenditure in new budget Read More »

By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday called on Taliban authorities in Afghanistan to “swiftly reverse” policies and practices that are restricting the human rights and freedoms of Afghan women and girls. The 15-member council agreed to the Norway-drafted statement nearly two weeks after it discussed the situation …

U.N. Security Council urges Taliban to lift restrictions on women, girls Read More »

By Jessica DiNapoli and Dan Burns DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) – A growing world food crisis is precipitating protectionist moves by countries which are likely to compound the problem and could lead to a wider trade war, business leaders and policymakers at the World Economic Forum said. In a sign of the escalating squeeze on food …

Food crisis fuels fears of protectionism compounding shortages Read More »

By Michaela Cabrera CANNES, France (Reuters) – The debut screening of Pakistan’s first entry to the Cannes Film Festival felt like “a dream has come true”, one of its stars Sarwat Gilani said after the film – which seeks to break gender stereotypes in her country – received a prolonged standing ovation. “It felt like …

‘Dream come true’ for Pakistan’s first Cannes screening Read More »