Reuters Asia Top

By Humeyra Pamuk WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States worked for some time to secure the freedom of American Pastor David Lin ahead of his release from China and is still seeking the release of other Americans held there, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Monday. The State Department announced on Sunday that China …

US says worked on release of US pastor from China for some time, seeking others Read More »

ASTANA (Reuters) – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev urged visiting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday to give up on the idea that Russia can be defeated on the battlefield and to support China’s peace plan for Ukraine, a suggestion Scholz rejected. Scholz is on his first official tour of Central Asia as Berlin looks for …

Kazakh leader urges Scholz to support China’s peace plan for Ukraine Read More »

By Joyce Zhou and Jessie Pang HONG KONG (Reuters) – Young people took to the streets of Hong Kong on Monday for the emblematic Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance hoping to bring a new generation to the 145-year-old tradition. Each year during the Mid-Autumn Festival, more than 300 male performers parade a 67-metre-long dragon festooned …

Hong Kong youth carry forward city’s 145-year-old Fire Dragon Dance Read More »

ASTANA (Reuters) -Germany is interested in expanding trade with Kazakhstan while also ensuring such trade is not used to circumvent EU sanctions on Russia, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on a visit to the Central Asian nation. “I am grateful for the trusting dialogue between us, through which we want to prevent trade between us from …

Germany wants trade with Kazakhstan, won’t circumvent Russia sanctions, Scholz says Read More »

By Casey Hall and Ryan Woo SHANGHAI (Reuters) – The normally-bustling financial hub of Shanghai was brought to a standstill on Monday as residents sheltered at home to wait out the worst of Typhoon Bebinca. The Category 1 storm, which made landfall in Shanghai on Monday morning, is the most powerful tropical cyclone to directly …

Typhoon Bebinca lashes Shanghai in strongest storm to hit city since 1949 Read More »

(Reuters) – North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui has flown to Russia to attend the fourth Eurasian Women’s Forum and the BRICS Women’s Forum in Saint Petersburg, Russia’s embassy in North Korea said on Monday. “Russian Ambassador (Alexander Ivanovich) Matsegora saw off North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui at the Pyongyang International Airport,” …

North Korea’s foreign minister leaves for Russia, embassy in Pyongyang says Read More »

By Jessie Pang HONG KONG (Reuters) – A Hong Kong man on Monday pleaded guilty to sedition for wearing a T-shirt with a protest slogan, becoming the first person convicted under the city’s new national security law passed in March. Chu Kai-pong, 27, pleaded guilty to one count of “doing with a seditious intention an …

First conviction under Hong Kong’s new national security law for wearing “seditious” T-shirt Read More »

By Andreas Rinke SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan (Reuters) – Germany has signed a deal with Uzbekistan to enable the migration of skilled workers from the Central Asian nation to support the German economy and the return of some immigrants, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said. “We are enabling the necessary immigration of workers with great talent that we need …

Germany signs agreement on migration with Uzbekistan Read More »