By Michael Martina WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A U.S. congressional committee on China has sent a letter to the Secretary of the Navy raising doubts about a plan to move fuel from Hawaii to storage facilities across the Indo-Pacific and warning that the U.S. military risks being unprepared for a possible conflict. In a letter dated …
House committee raises doubts about US Navy’s Indo-Pacific logistics Read More »
By Fransiska Nangoy JAKARTA (Reuters) – Two of Indonesia’s presidential candidates pledged to strengthen the government’s authority over the palm oil sector to address issues around land usage and the dwindling productivity of the country’s second-biggest export. Indonesia, the world’s biggest palm oil producer, is heading for a general election on Feb. 14 and all …
Indonesia presidential candidates promise better palm oil sector governance Read More »
TAIPEI (Reuters) -Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on Thursday asked the ministerial cabinet led by Premier Chen Chien-jen to stay on and ensure a smooth handover after it submitted its customary post-election joint resignation. The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won Saturday’s presidential election but lost its majority in parliament. Chen had said on Tuesday, after …
Taiwan to keep cabinet in place after customary post-election resignation Read More »
By Padraic Halpin DUBLIN (Reuters) -China would like to deepen economic and trade cooperation with Ireland, particularly in areas of “huge potential” such as green technologies and the digital economy, Premier Li Qiang said on Wednesday during a trip to Dublin. Li, the most senior Chinese official to visit Ireland since his predecessor Li Keqiang …
On visit to Ireland, Chinese premier eyes deeper economic ties Read More »
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia is developing its relations with North Korea in all areas, including “sensitive” ones, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday. North Korea’s foreign minister lauded comradely ties with Russia on Tuesday and then held rare talks in the Kremlin with President Vladimir Putin, who has been invited by Kim Jong Un …
By Ben Blanchard TAIPEI (Reuters) -Taiwan’s defence ministry said it detected 18 Chinese air force planes operating around Taiwan and carrying out “joint combat readiness patrols” with Chinese warships on Wednesday, the first large-scale military activity after the Taiwanese election. China, which views Taiwan as its own territory, has over the past four years regularly …
Taiwan reports first major post-election Chinese military activity Read More »
By Asif Shahzad and Saleem Ahmed ISLAMABAD (Reuters) -Pakistan recalled its ambassador from neighbouring Iran on Wednesday to protest at a “blatant breach” of its sovereignty after Tehran said it launched missile attacks on militant bases in southwestern Pakistan. Iran’s foreign minister said it hit militants in “missile and drone” strikes. State media said Iranian …
Pakistan recalls envoy from Iran after ‘unprovoked’ missile strikes Read More »
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Iran’s foreign minister has said its missile and drone strikes in Pakistan on Tuesday evening targeted a militant group that it claimed was linked to Israel. Here are some facts about the Jaish al-Adl group that was the target of the attack. WHAT IS JAISH AL-ADL? Jaish al-Adl (JaA) is an extremist …
Factbox-The militant group in Pakistan targeted by Iranian strikes Read More »
BANGKOK (Reuters) -Around 20 people were killed in Thailand in an explosion on Wednesday at a firework factory north of Bangkok, police said, as authorities inspected the site but were yet to find survivors. It was not immediately clear what caused the incident, which took place mid-afternoon in Suphan Buri province about 120 km (74.56 …
Around 20 killed in explosion at Thai firework factory, no survivors found Read More »
BAKU (Reuters) – Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry on Wednesday accused the European Union’s ambassador to the oil-rich country of interfering in its judicial system after the envoy said he was “appalled” by reports of the way jailed journalists were being treated. Ten journalists have been arrested in Azerbaijan since late November, with two detained in January, …
Azerbaijan accuses EU of meddling by criticising treatment of jailed journalists Read More »
