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(Reuters) – At least 17 Rohingyas were killed and 30 remain missing after a boat capsized in bad weather in the Bay of Bengal earlier this week, aid workers in Myanmar said. Volunteers said eight people were rescued from the boat, which was headed for Malaysia, a coveted destination for thousands of Rohingya Muslims fleeing …

At least 17 dead as boat carrying Rohingyas sinks in Bay of Bengal Read More »

By Kirsty Needham SYDNEY (Reuters) – India, Japan, the United States and Australia will hold the Malabar navy exercise off the coast of Sydney on Friday, the first time the war games previously held in the Indian Ocean have taken place in Australia. Japanese and Indian navy vessels stopped in Pacific Island countries Solomon Islands …

India, Japan, US, Australia hold first Malabar naval exercise off Australia Read More »

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is likely to reshuffle his cabinet between Sept. 11 to 13, the Yomiuri Shimbun daily reported on Thursday. The reshuffle, which will likely be timed to fall between a tight schedule of diplomatic events, has been widely expected as Kishida seeks to bolster sagging support rates and …

Japan PM Kishida likely to reshuffle cabinet between Sept 11-13 – Yomiuri Read More »

By Lucy Craymer WELLINGTON (Reuters) – For the first time in decades, foreign and defence policy are in the electoral spotlight in New Zealand, as opinion surveys show public concern about the security environment and the major parties wrestle with how to respond to an assertive China. The first part of the country’s defence review, …

Analysis-In New Zealand, defence and security become election issues amid China’s Pacific push Read More »

SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for more preparations for the possibility of war, a boost in weapons production, and expansion of military drills, state media KCNA reported on Thursday. (Reporting by Hyunsu Yim; Editing by Leslie Adler)

By Kanishka Singh (Reuters) -Canada said on Wednesday that an opposition Canadian legislator with family in Hong Kong had been targeted in an online disinformation operation and said China most likely played a role. In a statement, the Canadian foreign ministry said the target was Michael Chong, a member of the opposition Conservative party, a …

Canada says China likely targeted lawmaker in disinformation campaign Read More »

By David Brunnstrom and Stanley Widianto WASHINGTON/JAKARTA (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden is unlikely to attend summits with Southeast Asian leaders in Jakarta next month, multiple sources told Reuters, an absence that would raise questions about U.S. commitment to a region vital in its efforts to push back against China’s expanding influence. Biden is …

Exclusive-Biden unlikely to attend ASEAN summits in September on trip to Asia -sources Read More »