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SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea’s National Assembly approved a 16.9-trillion-won ($14.2 billion) supplementary budget on Monday aimed partly at funding the response to COVID-19 and supporting businesses hit by pandemic restrictions. The amount approved was 2.9 trillion won more than the sum unveiled last month. The bill includes provisions for more than 3 million small …

South Korea parliament approves $14 billion extra budget before election Read More »

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia’s prime minister said on Monday a Chinese naval vessel that pointed a laser at an Australian military aircraft was so close to Australia’s coast that it could have been seen from the shore, and urged a full Chinese investigation. Scott Morrison told media his government had not received an explanation from …

Australia urges ‘full investigation’ into China naval laser incident, Beijing defends actions Read More »

TAIPEI (Reuters) – Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who riled China while in office with his criticism of it and attacks on its ruling Communist Party, will visit Taiwan next week and meet President Tsai Ing-wen, the Taiwan government said on Monday. Pompeo served under then-President Donald Trump from 2018 until the end …

Mike Pompeo, who riled China while in office, to visit Taiwan Read More »

SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australia’s prime minister said on Monday a Chinese naval vessel that pointed a laser at an Australian military aircraft was so close to Australia’s coast that it possibly could have been seen from the shore, and he called for a full Chinese investigation. Scott Morrison told media his government had not received an …

Australia wants ‘full investigation’ into China laser incident – Morrison Read More »

By Edmond Ng and Donny Kwok HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong restaurant Pasta Zone lost its evening crowd in early January, when authorities imposed a 6pm curfew on dining to help curb COVID-19. A few weeks later, when the government asked people to work from home, the lunch crowd evaporated as well. That reduced …

Small Hong Kong businesses say survival at stake as COVID restrictions bite Read More »

TOKYO (Reuters) – Most Japanese think the rollout of booster shots against COVID-19 is too slow and many give mixed reviews to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s handling of the pandemic, including last week’s decision to ease border rules, a poll showed. Anger over the Japanese government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic helped sink the administration …

Majority of Japanese unhappy with progress of booster shots – survey Read More »

By Emily Chow BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s foreign ministry said on Monday that Australia’s complaint about a laser from a Chinese naval vessel being directed at an Australian military aircraft does not square with facts. China urges Australia to stop maliciously spreading such information, foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin added at a regular briefing in …

China says Australia complaint about laser from Chinese naval vessel does not square with facts Read More »

KABUL (Reuters) – The United Nations children’s agency would pay Afghan teachers a monthly stipend for at least two months, the organisation said, with salaries unpaid for months as the country is plunged into economic crisis due to sanctions on the Taliban administration. The payments, of roughly $100 per month, would be paid in the …

UNICEF to pay stipend to Afghan teachers Read More »

By Renju Jose SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia on Monday fully reopened its international borders to travellers vaccinated against the coronavirus after nearly two years of pandemic-related closings as tourists returned and hundreds of people were reunited with family and friends. More than 50 international flights will reach the country through the day, including 27 touching …

‘Welcome back world!’: Australia fully reopens borders after two years Read More »