Analysis-Japan hopes to shore up Philippines’ defence amid Taiwan conflict fears

By Tim Kelly, Sakura Murakami and Yukiko Toyoda TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan is preparing military aid for the Philippines to help secure sea approaches and safeguard Taiwan’s western flank, officials say, deepening security ties that could bring Japanese forces back there for the first time since World War Two. As it steps back from decades of…

Read More

U.S. lawmakers hope Ukraine can fight Russia with Russian assets

By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republican and Democratic members of the U.S. Congress introduced legislation on Thursday that would make it easier for Ukraine to fund its fight against Russian invaders by using seized and frozen Russian assets. The U.S. Congress has approved more than $100 billion in military, humanitarian and economic aid for…

Read More

Australian senator asked to resign after allegations of misconduct

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia’s main opposition Liberal Party leader asked a senator to resign on Friday following allegations of sexual misconduct against him by female senators, which he has denied. The accusations against Liberal Party Senator David Van follow numerous previous complaints about the culture in Australia’s parliament house, which led to an inquiry in…

Read More

Blinken not expecting breakthrough in China, with US more focused on Modi visit -Sullivan

By Yukiko Toyoda and Tim Kelly TOKYO (Reuters) -The U.S. expects a “transformational moment” in India ties during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming trip to Washington, President Joe Biden’s national security adviser said as he downplayed chances for a diplomatic breakthrough in China when U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits next week. “Secretary Blinken’s…

Read More

US grand jury indicts Pentagon leak suspect Teixeira, Justice Department says

By Sarah N. Lynch and Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A federal grand jury has indicted a U.S. Air National Guardsman accused of leaking top-secret military intelligence records online, the Justice Department said in a statement on Thursday. Jack Douglas Teixeira, 21, of North Dighton, Massachusetts, was indicted on six counts of willful retention and transmission…

Read More