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By Jessie Pang and James Pomfret HONG KONG, Dec 12 (Reuters) – Hong Kong’s High Court will hand down a verdict on Monday in the landmark national security trial of pro-democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai, according to a notice from the judiciary, in a case that has drawn international scrutiny as emblematic of China’s crackdown on …

Verdict in trial of Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai looms as new diplomatic flashpoint Read More »

BEIJING, Dec 12 (Reuters) – China said on Friday it had driven away a Philippine aircraft and multiple vessels near disputed atolls in South China Sea, in the latest in a series of confrontations in the strategic waterway in recent years. The Chinese military said it issued strong warnings and “expelled” a Philippine aircraft that …

China says it expelled Philippine aircraft, vessels near disputed atolls Read More »

By Panarat Thepgumpanat BANGKOK, Dec 12 (Reuters) – Thailand was heading on Friday for a snap poll as soon as February, after Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul won royal backing to dissolve parliament, heading off the risk of a no-confidence vote amid a raging border conflict with Cambodia. The election, due within 45 to 60 days, …

Thai PM sets course for early election amid border and parliamentary unrest Read More »

HONG KONG, Dec 12 (Reuters) – Hong Kong will seek to wrap up an independent investigation into a fire that killed at least 160 people in the Asia financial centre within nine months, the city’s leader said on Friday. John Lee spoke more than two weeks after the blaze ripped through seven high-rise residential towers …

Hong Kong leader says fire probe expected to conclude within 9 months Read More »

TOKYO, Dec 12 (Reuters) – Japan has lifted a tsunami advisory issued after an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 hit the country’s northeastern region on Friday, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said. The JMA earlier put the earthquake’s preliminary magnitude at 6.7. The quake struck at 11:44 a.m. (0244 GMT) off the coast of …

Tsunami advisory lifted after magnitude 6.9 earthquake hits Japan’s northeast region Read More »

HONG KONG, Dec 12 (Reuters) – Hong Kong police said on Friday they had arrested a passenger who was on Cathay Pacific’s CX811 flight from Boston to Hong Kong, after the carrier said the individual tried to open an aircraft door mid-flight on December 10. The airline said no passengers or crew were injured and …

Cathay passenger arrested after trying to open door mid-flight from Boston to Hong Kong Read More »