Reuters Asia Top

By Michael Martina and David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The State Department’s No. 2 diplomat suggested on Wednesday that the AUKUS submarine project between Australia, Britain and the U.S. could help deter any Chinese move against Taiwan. The project, unveiled by the three countries in 2023, involves Australia acquiring nuclear-powered attack submarines as part of …

Senior US diplomat links AUKUS submarine pact to Taiwan Read More »

(Reuters) – The number of civilian casualties, including children, who were killed or maimed by landmines and explosive ordnance in Myanmar more than doubled last year to 1,052, the U.N. children’s agency said on Thursday, as conflict raged in the impoverished country. Landmines and explosive remnants of war caused a 270% jump in casualties in …

Casualties from Myanmar landmines jump to over 1,000 last year, says UNICEF Read More »

By Krishna N. Das NEW DELHI (Reuters) -A coalition led by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party could win nearly three-fourths of the parliamentary seats in elections starting this month, according to a survey, while the main opposition Congress could hit a record low. The immensely popular Modi is riding high on the back of …

Modi could sweep away Congress in Indian election, says survey Read More »

By John Irish PARIS (Reuters) – North Korea and Iran’s military support to Russia has serious global security consequences that the 32-member NATO alliance cannot ignore, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday. Pyongyang has transferred ballistic missiles and other weapons to Russia, while Iran has also provided Moscow with the supply of Shahed drones, …

Russia’s Asian alliances have security consequences, NATO chief warns Read More »

By Jessie Pang and Dorothy Kam HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong will allow transgender people who have not completed full sex reassignment surgery to change gender on their ID cards, the government said on Wednesday, but activists are upset by strict new surgical and hormonal requirements. The Court of Final Appeal last February unanimously …

Hong Kong LGBTQ activists upset at revised ID card gender rules Read More »

JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesia Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi on Wednesday said Pope Francis was planning a visit to the predominantly Muslim country and discussions were ongoing with the Vatican about the trip. “Yes, Pope Francis plans to visit Indonesia. We are currently preparing everything now,” Retno told Reuters, but provided no timeframe. The Vatican’s foreign …

Pope Francis planning Indonesia visit, minister says Read More »

TOKYO (Reuters) -Indonesia’s president-elect Prabowo Subianto told Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday he wanted deeper security and economic cooperation just two days after telling Chinese President Xi Jinping he wished for close ties. “We have built a cooperative relationship and going forward I would like to strengthen that,” Prabowo told Kishida at a …

Indonesia’s Prabowo pledges cooperation with Japan, closer China ties Read More »

By Hyunsu Yim SEOUL (Reuters) -Campaigning for South Korea’s legislative election is in full swing ahead of an April 10 vote that will decide the make-up of its 300-strong National Assembly. The assembly will set the agenda largely for domestic politics for the next four years.  WHY DOES THE ELECTION MATTER? The election comes nearly …

What’s at stake in South Korea’s election Read More »

By Stanley Widianto and Ananda Teresia JAKARTA (Reuters) – Soon after Indonesia’s incoming leader Prabowo Subianto won the February presidential election, the Chinese embassy in Jakarta sent him a cat tree and a stuffed toy for his beloved pet Bobby, according to the cat’s official Instagram page. It was part of a concerted charm offensive …

Analysis-With wary eye, China courts Indonesia’s incoming leader Prabowo Read More »