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BEIJING (Reuters) – China said on Thursday it plans a three-year campaign to tackle problems hampering response times during disasters and accidents including production safety lapses in sectors like mining. Last year, China was hit by a number of deadly natural disasters, mining accidents, fires and gas explosions that called into question safety protocals throughout …

China to tackle safety risks after year of accidents, disasters Read More »

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s cabinet will approve next week the use of its reserved funds to cover damages from this week’s massive earthquake in its west, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Thursday. The figure to be considered at Tuesday’s meeting would be about double the roughly 2 billion yen ($13.95 million) deployed in each …

Japan’s cabinet to approve reserved funds for earthquake aid next week -PM Read More »

By Kiyoshi Takenaka WAJIMA, Japan (Reuters) – Hotel chef Makoto Wakabayashi was among those in Wajima hoping for a banner year as visitors returned to the scenic, seaside town that weathered more than two years of pandemic gloom. Those dreams came apart in minutes of violent shaking on New Year’s Day, when the strongest earthquake …

As Japan’s Wajima city digs out from quake, hopes fade for tourism recovery Read More »

TAIPEI (Reuters) -Taiwan’s foreign minister says it is documenting its experiences with China’s alleged attempts to interfere in elections next week and will publish its analysis soon after the vote. Taiwan’s government has pointed to military and economic pressure as well as Chinese-subsidised trips to China for local Taiwanese officials, as evidence of Beijing’s alleged …

Taiwan says will publish analysis of China’s alleged election interference post vote Read More »

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States and eleven other countries issued a joint statement on Wednesday reiterating a call for an end to Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, according to the White House. “Let our message now be clear: we call for the immediate end of these illegal attacks and release of unlawfully detained vessels and …

US, partners reiterate call for end to Houthi attacks in Red Sea Read More »

BEIJING (Reuters) -China has protested to Myanmar over five people injured after artillery shells lobbed during battles between its ruling junta and rebel groups strayed into a small town near their border, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Thursday. Armed conflict has surged in Myanmar’s north between the military and rebel groups since late October, …

China protests to Myanmar after stray artillery shells hurt five Read More »

By Jack Kim SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea’s opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung was out of intensive care and recovering from surgery to repair a major vein that was sliced in a knife attack two days ago, a surgeon who operated on him said on Thursday. Lee requires continued observation as the injury to the …

South Korean opposition leader leaves ICU after knife attack – surgeon Read More »

By Hyonhee Shin and Josh Smith SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea is shaking up the way it handles relations with South Korea, enacting changes to policy and government organisations that would effectively treat the South as a separate, enemy state. The moves, which break with decades of policy, could have North Korea’s foreign ministry taking …

Analysis-In threatening shift, North Korea moves to redefine relations with South Read More »

By Jack Kim SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korean and U.S. troops have conducted joint combat firing drills near the border with North Korea involving heavy weapons, as Pyongyang lambasted the allies for dangerous moves pushing the region to the brink of “an inferno of nuclear war.” The exercise by a South Korean Army mechanised infantry …

South Korea, US conduct week-long firing drills near North Korea border Read More »