Reuters Asia Top

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) -Malaysia’s Commodities Minister on Wednesday expressed concern over the European Union classifying the country as “standard risk” under the new anti-deforestation law, saying the designation was based on old data.  Addressing an event in Singapore, minister Johari Abdul Ghani said the classification was based on 2020 United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization …

Malaysia says EU’s deforestation risk rating based on old data Read More »

By Joyce Lee SEOUL (Reuters) -South Koreans turned out in record numbers for early voting on Thursday ahead of next week’s snap presidential election, official data showed, as both leading candidates urged voters to back them to change a country in crisis. The June 3 election comes after months of political turmoil and a power …

South Koreans turn out in record numbers for early voting as presidential hopefuls vow change Read More »

By Joey Roulette and Eduardo Baptista BEIJING (Reuters) -China embarked on Thursday on its first mission to retrieve samples from a nearby asteroid, with the nighttime launch of its Tianwen-2 spacecraft, set to make the fast-growing space power the third nation to fetch pristine asteroid rocks. The decade-long mission is the latest in recent space …

China launches mission to retrieve asteroid samples Read More »

MANILA (Reuters) -The Philippine foreign ministry said on Thursday that China has no right to object to or interfere with its lawful and routine activities in the South China Sea. The ministry said it also “rejects and refutes” recent statements of the Chinese embassy in Manila that Beijing has indisputable sovereignty over the Spratly islands.  …

Philippines says China has no right to object or interfere with its ‘lawful’ activities in the South China Sea Read More »

JAKARTA (Reuters) -France and Indonesia have signed a preliminary defence pact that could lead to new orders of French military equipment including Rafale fighter jets and Scorpene submarines, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday. “I am delighted that the letter of intent signed today could open up a new perspective with new orders for …

France-Indonesia pact could lead to new Rafale jet orders, says Macron Read More »

By Idrees Ali SINGAPORE (Reuters) -U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth will try to convince Asian defence leaders this weekend that the United States is a more trusted partner for the region than China, U.S. officials told Reuters, as questions linger about the Trump administration’s commitment to the region.  Hegseth, who has spent a large portion …

US defence chief looks to woo allies in Asian security forum debut Read More »