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By Xinghui Kok SINGAPORE (Reuters) -Singapore’s first prime minister in 20 years held an initial cabinet meeting on Thursday after taking office with a pledge to sustain what he called the miracle of the wealthy city state amid an uncertain global environment. After being sworn in on Wednesday night, attending a party and receiving congratulations …

Singapore’s first new PM in 20 years holds inaugural cabinet meeting Read More »

BANGKOK (Reuters) – Dozens of Thai cannabis advocates urged the government on Thursday to abandon its plans to re-list marijuana as an illegal narcotic, a week after it announced its dramatic policy U-turn just two years after de-criminalising it. Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has made a push to allow cannabis use only for medical …

Thai cannabis groups urge government to rethink plan to re-criminalise marijuana Read More »

By Aidil Ichlas TANAH DATAR, Indonesia (Reuters) – In tears, Yose Rizal, 43, placed flowers on the graves of his sister and niece, who died during the intense flooding in Indonesia’s West Sumatra province. Three of Yose’s relatives are still missing. Yose’s family was having a meeting when the flash floods struck on Saturday evening, …

Indonesia’s death toll rises to 67 from Sumatra floods, 20 still missing Read More »

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) -Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan appeared in the Supreme Court on Thursday by video from prison, in connection with a case he has filed against amendments to Pakistan’s anti-graft laws. His video appearance was expected to be streamed live on the court’s website and YouTube, making it the first publicly seen visuals …

Jailed Pakistan ex-PM Imran Khan appears in top court by video link Read More »

By Francesco Guarascio HANOI (Reuters) – As the United States intensifies efforts to reduce trade with China by hiking tariffs, it has greatly boosted imports from Vietnam, which relies on Chinese input for much of its exports, data show. The surge in the China-Vietnam-U.S. trade has vastly widened trade imbalances, with the Southeast Asian country …

Analysis-As US hikes China tariffs, imports soar from China-reliant Vietnam Read More »

JAKARTA (Reuters) – Tycoon Elon Musk, the owner of SpaceX, is scheduled to visit Indonesia to launch its satellite unit Starlink this Sunday, according to two cabinet ministers. Minister Luhut Pandjaitan, a close ally of President Joko Widodo, said Musk would launch the service on the holiday island of Bali alongside the Indonesian leader. While …

Musk scheduled to visit Indonesia for Starlink launch, ministers says Read More »

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – China has not responded to U.S. nuclear-weapons risk-reduction proposals and Washington has questions about Beijing’s call for no-first-use talks while China continues to build up its arsenal, the top U.S. arms control official said on Wednesday. Under Secretary of State Bonnie Jenkins told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee the U.S. estimates China …

US questions China’s no-first-use nuclear call given buildup Read More »

By Xinghui Kok SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Singapore’s Lawrence Wong was sworn in on Wednesday as its fourth premier since independence, promising to lead the wealthy city state his own way after completing a carefully calibrated power transfer aimed at ensuring continuity. Wong, 51, comes from among a crop of so-called “4G” leaders, a new generation …

Singapore’s new PM takes office pledging to lead his own way Read More »

By Trevor Hunnicutt WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Joe Biden will dispatch former U.S. officials to Taiwan as its new president takes office, a show of support for the island calibrated to avoid enraging Beijing. Biden is sending a bipartisan delegation to Monday’s inauguration of Taiwanese president-elect Lai Ching-te consisting of former White House economic adviser …

US delegation to attend Taiwan inauguration as China tensions flare Read More »