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BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand hopes to become a member of the BRICS group of emerging economies at the organisation’s next summit in Russia in October, a foreign ministry official said Thursday. The Southeast Asian nation submitted a formal request to join at a BRICS ministerial meeting a week ago, foreign ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura said. …

Thailand eyes BRICS membership at October summit, begins OECD application Read More »

BEIJING (Reuters) – Days of torrential rain, flash floods and landslides across southern China have forced authorities to enact emergency plans, as swollen rivers threaten to overflow further, potentially disrupting the lives of millions. On Thursday, Guangdong upgraded an emergency response plan for disasters like landslides and flooding to the second-highest level, helping to coordinate …

Rains lash southern China as rising rivers threaten more flooding Read More »

By Hyunsu Yim SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un gave Russian President Vladimir Putin a pair of Pungsan dogs, a local breed, state media KCNA reported on Thursday. Kim and Putin were seen looking at the dogs, who were tied to a rose-covered fence, during a segment aired on the state-controlled Korean …

North Korea’s Kim gives pair of dogs to Putin Read More »

By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday held a call with Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo to discuss China’s actions in the South China Sea, which Manila and Washington have called escalatory. WHY IT IS IMPORTANT Britain, Canada and the United States have condemned China’s actions, which occurred …

Blinken discusses China’s actions in South China Sea with Philippine counterpart Read More »

By Andrew Osborn (Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un took turns to drive each other around in a Russian-built Aurus limousine on Wednesday after the Kremlin said Putin had gifted one of the luxury vehicles to Kim. In a carefully staged public relations opportunity held amid tight security, the two …

Putin and North Korea’s Kim take turns to drive each other in Russian-made limousine Read More »

By Phuong Nguyen and Francesco Guarascio HANOI (Reuters) – Russia’s President Vladimir Putin praised Vietnam for its “balanced” stance on the Ukraine war and listed progress on payments, energy and trade in an opinion piece published on Wednesday in the newspaper of Vietnam’s Communist Party. In the piece timed for Putin’s state visit to Vietnam, …

Russia’s Putin praises Vietnam for its stance on Ukraine Read More »

By Guy Faulconbridge and Josh Smith MOSCOW/SEOUL (Reuters) – Vladimir Putin, on his first visit to North Korea in 24 years, signed a mutual defence pledge with Kim Jong Un on Wednesday, underscoring just how far Russia has recast its relations with the only country to test a nuclear weapon this century. Putin, who is …

Analysis-With defence pledge, Putin makes shift towards North Korea Read More »

By Chang-Ran Kim and Kyung Hoon Kim TOKYO (Reuters) – A 74-year-old surfer and master of classical Japanese dance may seem an unlikely member of a seniors’ breakdancing group, but Saruwaka Kiyoshie said getting her feet wet in the sport was a no-brainer after it was confirmed for the 2024 Paris Games. As a restless …

Inspired by Olympics debut, Japan’s seniors blaze breakdancing trail Read More »