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SYDNEY (Reuters) -A Chinese intelligence ship was tracked off Australia’s west coast within 50 nautical miles of a sensitive defence facility, Australia said on Friday, raising concern amid an election campaign about China’s assertive behaviour in the region. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Chinese navy vessel was not in Australian territorial waters but its …

Australia says Chinese spy ship’s presence off west coast ‘concerning’ Read More »

By Anne Kauranen and Jonathan Landay HELSINKI/KHARKIV, Ukraine (Reuters) -Finland said on Thursday it would apply to join NATO “without delay”, with Sweden expected to follow, as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine looked set to bring about the very expansion of the Western military alliance that Vladimir Putin aimed to prevent. The decision by the two …

Russia threatens to retaliate as Finland seeks NATO membership ‘without delay’ Read More »

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob on Thursday urged the United States to adopt a more active trade and investment agenda with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), saying this would benefit Washington economically and strategically. Speaking in Washington, where ASEAN leaders are gathered for a two-day summit with President Joe …

Malaysian leader urges U.S. to adopt more active ASEAN trade agenda Read More »

By Hyonhee Shin SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korea fired three ballistic missiles towards the sea off its east coast on Thursday, South Korea and Japan said, in its latest tests aimed at advancing its weapons programmes, even as it reported a COVID-19 outbreak for the first time. Three short-range ballistic missiles were fired at around 18:30 …

N. Korea reports COVID cases, fires 3 ballistic missile tests Read More »

By Will Dunham WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Scientists on Thursday provided the first look at the “gentle giant” lurking at the center of our Milky Way galaxy – an image https://pweb.cfa.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/2022-05/EHT_PR_Main_Image_Wide_lores.jpg of a supermassive black hole that devours any matter within its huge gravitational pull but is currently on a bit of a diet. The black hole …

Scientists unveil image of ‘gentle giant’ black hole at Milky Way’s center Read More »

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and his South Korean counterpart condemned North Korea’s ballistic missile launches in a phone call on Thursday, the White House said. North Korea fired three ballistic missiles towards the sea off its east coast on Thursday, South Korea and Japan said, in the latest tests aimed …

U.S., South Korea condemn North Korean ballistic missile launches -White House Read More »

PARIS (Reuters) -The Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers on Thursday said the increasing restrictions imposed by the Taliban on the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan were isolating the country. “With these measures, the Taliban are further isolating themselves from the international community,” the G7 foreign ministers and European Union foreign policy chief …

G7 tell Taliban: Stop restricting women’s rights Read More »

By Brenda Goh and Martin Quin Pollard SHANGHAI/BEIJING (Reuters) -Shanghai authorities combed the city on Thursday for its last COVID-19 cases in the hope of clearing the way for escape from a painful six-week lockdown, while Beijing curbed taxi services to keep a lid on its smaller outbreak. The Chinese commercial hub of 25 million …

Shanghai hunts down COVID cases, Beijing curbs taxi services Read More »