By Napat Wesshasartar and Devjyot Ghoshal DON PILA, Thailand (Reuters) – When Thai farm labourer Anucha Angkaew scrambled out of the bunker where he had been sheltering from rockets on Israel’s border with the Gaza Strip around 7.30 am on Oct. 7, he expected to see Israeli soldiers. Instead, Anucha and his five Thai colleagues …
Exclusive-50 days in Hamas captivity: Thai man recalls beatings and bleakness Read More »
(Reuters) – Italy has told China that it is quitting the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), two government sources told Reuters on Wednesday, ending months of doubt over Rome’s future in Beijing’s ambitious infrastructure project. Italy signed a preliminary accord with China in March 2019 that made it the only Group of Seven (G7) country …
Factbox-Italy’s Belt and Road agreement with China Read More »
TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwan reported rare nighttime Chinese military activity around the island on Thursday, including aircraft crossing the sensitive median line of the Taiwan Strait, as Beijing continues such missions ahead of Taiwan’s January election. Democratically governed Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has complained for the past four years of regular …
Taiwan reports rare nighttime Chinese military activity nearby Read More »
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesia is considering granting visa-free entry to nationals of 20 countries, including the United States, China, Australia, India, South Korea, Germany, Britain and France, to boost its tourism and economy, its tourism minister said on Thursday. The government will finalise the list of countries included in the provision within one month, according …
Indonesia eyes visa waivers for 20 countries, including US, China, India Read More »
By Yew Lun Tian, Kevin Yao and Farah Master BEIJING/HONG KONG (Reuters) – Yang Guang’s rise from a village farmer to an Audi-driving businessman with two properties hinged largely on one of the most coveted documents in China: an urban hukou, or residency permit. The 45-year-old who lives in the central city of Zhengzhou likens …
China’s push to loosen Mao-era residence rules runs into hurdles Read More »
(Reuters) – Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Thursday called an early presidential election for Feb. 7, according to a document published by his office. Aliyev, 61, was last re-elected in 2018 for a seven-year term and, with political dissent largely suppressed, is almost certain to win a new term next year. In September, Aliyev ordered …
Azerbaijan’s Aliyev calls snap presidential election for February Read More »
(Reuters) -Singapore and China will put in place a 30-day mutual visa exemption agreement early next year, the Singapore foreign ministry said on Thursday. “Both countries will work out the implementation details of the mutual 30-day visa exemption arrangement and implement it in early 2024,” the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. Thailand and Malaysia …
Singapore, China plan reciprocal 30-day visa-free entry Read More »
BEIJING (Reuters) -China’s President Xi Jinping will visit Vietnam on Dec. 12-13 to meet top state officials and discuss upgrading the two countries’ relations, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Thursday. They will focus on areas of political security, multilateral and maritime issues, and promote further strategic cooperation, spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a press …
China’s President Xi to visit Vietnam, looking to build on ties Read More »
By Hyonhee Shin SEOUL (Reuters) – Up to 600 North Koreans have “vanished” after being forcibly deported by China in October, a Seoul-based human rights group said on Thursday, warning they may face imprisonment, torture, sexual violence and execution in the isolated state. The report by the Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG) came about two …
Up to 600 North Korean defectors deported by China ‘vanish’ – rights group Read More »
By Satoshi Sugiyama and Kantaro Komiya TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan’s ruling party faced mounting scrutiny on Thursday amid reports that lawmakers will be investigated over fundraising – a scandal that threatens to further dent Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s sinking popularity. Tokyo prosecutors will start investigating several dozen lawmakers from the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), including current …
Fundraising scandal in Japan’s ruling party turns heat on embattled PM Kishida Read More »
