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MANILA (Reuters) – Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has signed into law next year’s record 5.768 trillion pesos ($103.36 billion) budget, which he said details his government’s battle plan to combat poverty, secure the borders and boost economic growth. Marcos, in a speech on Wednesday following the enactment of the budget, said his government was …

Philippines’ Marcos signs into law record $103 billion budget for 2024 Read More »

By Ryan Woo BEIJING (Reuters) – The cause of a wave of bitingly cold air that swept into China and rewrote seasonal records for low temperatures may lie further north – a potential weakening in the wall of fast-moving air currents that normally hold back blasts from the Arctic. With winds that triggered the highest …

Weakened polar vortex seen as likely culprit behind China’s big chill Read More »

TOKYO (Reuters) – Some 2.44 million people visited Japan in November, up more than 160% year-on-year and just under the number of visitors in the same month in 2019, before the pandemic curtailed global travel, official data showed on Wednesday. In November 2019, 2.441 million foreigners visited Japan, the Japan National Tourism Organization data showed. …

Japan visitors narrowly miss pre-COVID total in Nov Read More »

By Liang-sa Loh TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwan’s central bank has instructed two major foreign exchange banks on the island to bring in more U.S. dollars to prepare for increased demand in case of political uncertainty in January elections, though less than in previous years, sources said. Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, holds …

Taiwan asks banks to boost dollar bill supply as election nears Read More »

TAIPEI (Reuters) -Taiwan will “handle” Chinese balloons flying nearby based on threat assessments, though officials believe the current wave is for weather purposes, driven by the prevailing winds at this time of year, the defence ministry in Taipei said on Wednesday. The potential for China to use balloons for spying became a global issue in …

Taiwan to ‘handle’ spate of Chinese balloons based on threat level Read More »

SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea’s defence exports are expected to exceed $13 billion this year after the country signed contracts with a diverse list of nations, firmly establishing it as one of the world’s top 10 arms exporters, Yonhap news agency reported on Wednesday. Total contracts signed this year were valued at between $13 billion …

South Korea defence exports to top $13 billion this year – report Read More »

KARACHI, Pakistan (Reuters) – The World Bank’s board of executive directors approved $350 million in financing for the Second Resilient Institutions for Sustainable Economy (RISE-II) operation in Pakistan on Tuesday. RISE-II aims to strengthen fiscal management and promote competitiveness for sustained and inclusive economic growth in the country whose economy is struggling to grow, with …

World Bank: approved $350 million financing for RISE-II operation in Pakistan Read More »

By Saurabh Sharma AYODHYA, India (Reuters) – Like many other Muslims, Indian tailor Safi Mohammad plans to send his wife and two sons away before thousands of pilgrims arrive at his hometown of Ayodhya next month for the inauguration of one of Hinduism’s most sacred temples. The temple, built on a site Hindus believe to …

Some Muslims around major India temple fearful ahead of opening Read More »