Reuters Asia Top

By Kirsty Needham SYDNEY (Reuters) -Chinese police are working in the remote atoll nation of Kiribati, a Pacific Ocean neighbour of Hawaii, with uniformed officers involved in community policing and a crime database program, Kiribati officials told Reuters. Kiribati has not publicly announced the policing deal with China, which comes as Beijing renews a push …

Exclusive-Chinese police work in Kiribati, Hawaii’s Pacific neighbour Read More »

TAIPEI (Reuters) – A stalled U.S. bill on military aid to Ukraine which will also help fund weapons for Taiwan was discussed this week during a visit to Taipei by U.S. lawmakers, two of the participants said on Friday. The Republican Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, has so far blocked passage …

Fate of US aid to Ukraine package discussed on Taiwan trip, lawmakers say Read More »

HONG KONG (Reuters) – More babies are being born in hospitals across China in the Year of the Dragon, financial news outlet Yicai reported, an increase which could soften the decline in population in 2024 and bring cheer to policymakers. The Dragon Chinese zodiac sign is believed to be particularly auspicious, and data from hospitals …

China’s “dragon” baby boom may boost population in 2024: report Read More »

By Joe Brock SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Israel’s defence industry was out in force at the Singapore Airshow this week, making its return after being largely absent from the Dubai air show in November in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war, a subject that was off limits at the Asia summit. The Israeli ministry of defence …

Israeli defence firms make air show return, tight-lipped on Gaza war Read More »

By Ben Blanchard TAIPEI (Reuters) – A bill in the U.S. Congress targeting Chinese biotech companies may end up being more “narrowly tailored”, the U.S. lawmaker who proposed it said on Friday, adding that he was cautiously optimistic something could be passed this year. A congressional committee focused on China introduced a bill late last …

US bill on Chinese biotech firms may be more ‘narrowly tailored’, lawmaker says Read More »

(Reuters) -Pakistan plans to seek a new loan of at least $6 billion from the International Monetary Fund to help the incoming government repay billions in debt due this year, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday, citing a Pakistani official. The country will seek to negotiate an Extended Fund Facility with the IMF, the report said, …

Pakistan to seek at least $6 billion in new IMF loan program, Bloomberg reports Read More »

By Chris Gallagher INAZAWA, Japan (Reuters) – Women officially joined a so-called “naked festival” at a shrine in central Japan on Thursday for the first time in the event’s 1,250 year history, donning purple robes and chanting excitedly as they bore a large bamboo trunk as an offering. Seven groups of women took part in …

Women take part in Japan’s 1,250-year-old ‘naked festival’ for first time Read More »