KABUL (Reuters) -One or more loud explosions were heard late on Thursday evening in the Afghan capital of Kabul, according to the Taliban administration and eyewitnesses. It was not immediately clear what caused the blast. Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesman for the Taliban administration, said in a statement that an explosion had been heard and an …
Explosion heard in Kabul, Taliban says it is investigating Read More »
MOSCOW (Reuters) -President Vladimir Putin on Thursday urged the leaders of five Central Asian states to boost their trade with Russia, as Moscow seeks to build back its influence in a region that is also being courted by China. Russia’s total trade turnover last year with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan was over $45 …
Putin urges Central Asian states to step up trade with Russia Read More »
BEIJING (Reuters) -China’s commerce ministry added 14 foreign organisations to its “unreliable entity list”, it said in a statement on Thursday, restricting their ability to carry out commercial activities within the world’s second-largest economy. Some of the companies, which are mostly based in the United States, had carried out military and technological cooperation with Taiwan, …
By Yimou Lee and Ben Blanchard TAIPEI (Reuters) -Taiwan President Lai Ching-te is expected to announce a new advanced “all-domain” air defence system to better defend against China when he gives his keynote national day speech on Friday, four sources familiar with the matter said. Democratically-governed Taiwan has faced increased military and political pressure from …
ROME/BEJING (Reuters) -Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi backed an Italian plan to propose a global ceasefire to the United Nations ahead of next year’s Milano-Cortina winter Olympics, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Wednesday. Tajani spoke to reporters after a meeting between the two ministers in Rome. Statements from the Chinese foreign ministry on …
China endorses Italy’s plan for global ceasefire for Winter Games, Italian minister says Read More »
By Yimou Lee and Ben Blanchard TAIPEI (Reuters) -China is increasing military activities near Taiwan and honing its ability to stage a surprise attack, as well as seeking to undermine trust in the government with “hybrid” online warfare tactics, the island’s defence ministry said on Thursday. Democratically-governed Taiwan, which China views as its own territory, …
China honing abilities for a possible future attack, Taiwan defence report warns Read More »
By Heekyong Yang SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has praised the legacy of the country’s ruling party in a speech ahead of Friday’s 80th anniversary of its founding, as delegations from China, Russia and Vietnam arrived in Pyongyang to attend celebrations. Chinese Premier Li Qiang, a delegation from Russia led by former …
North Korea’s Kim lauds ruling party as foreign delegations visit for 80th anniversary Read More »
SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australia and India will strengthen maritime security and defence industrial cooperation, signing an agreement on mutual submarine rescue during the first annual defence ministers dialogue in Canberra, a joint statement said. Indian Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh made the first visit by an Indian defence minister to Australia in more than a decade …
Australia, India to boost submarine rescue, defence industry cooperation Read More »
NEW DELHI (Reuters) -Afghanistan’s Taliban foreign minister arrived in India on Thursday for talks aiming to foster economic ties with New Delhi in the first such visit by a leader of the Islamist group since it seized power in 2021. The six-day trip by Amir Khan Muttaqi highlights the Taliban’s efforts to spur engagement with …
Afghanistan’s Taliban foreign minister visits India to build closer ties Read More »
(Reuters) -An earthquake of magnitude 5.4 struck Ganzi prefecture in the Western highlands of China’s Sichuan province on Thursday, according to China Earthquake Networks Centre. The quake was at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles), the centre said. Ganzi, a sparsely populated region, borders Yunnan to the south and Tibet to the west. Known …
