Top diplomat says China, ASEAN pushing ahead with free trade area talks

BEIJING (Reuters) – China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are pushing ahead with talks on a third version of a free trade agreement at an ASEAN summit in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, China’s top diplomat Wang Yi said on Thursday. Wang, who was attending the forum with foreign ministers from several…

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Explainer-What are solid-fuel missiles, and why is North Korea developing them?

By Hyonhee Shin SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea’s Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), launched for the second time on Wednesday, uses solid-fuel technology, giving it the capability to launch with little preparation. Here are some characteristics of solid-fuel technology, and how it can help the North improve its missile systems. WHAT IS SOLID-FUEL TECHNOLOGY? Solid…

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NATO allies offer Ukraine security assurances as Biden hits out at ‘craven’ Putin

By Steve Holland, Andrew Gray, John Irish and Sabine Siebold VILNIUS (Reuters) -President Joe Biden accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of having a “craven lust for land and power” at the end of a NATO summit on Wednesday where Ukraine won new security assurances from the U.S. and its allies for its defence against Moscow….

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China’s US envoy makes rare Pentagon visit for security-related talks

By Phil Stewart and David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON (Reuters) -China’s ambassador to the United States held a rare meeting at the Pentagon on Wednesday with the top U.S. defense official for Asia, the Pentagon said, in talks that followed U.S. criticism of Chinese reluctance to engage in military communications. A brief Pentagon statement said Chinese Ambassador…

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Senators offer bill to block any U.S. president from leaving NATO

By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Democratic and Republican senators renewed an effort to block any U.S. president from leaving NATO on Wednesday, as leaders of the alliance attended an eventful summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. The joint resolution, seen by Reuters, is a fresh effort by Congress to prevent the president from withdrawing from the…

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Biden administration water cybersecurity plan temporarily blocked

By Clark Mindock (Reuters) – A U.S. appeals court on Wednesday temporarily blocked a Biden administration plan to improve cybersecurity for public water systems, after Republican-led states complained it would thrust burdensome costs on small and rural water suppliers. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis issued a stay temporarily suspending the…

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Egypt’s Sisi and Ethiopia’s PM discuss Sudan’s crisis and Ethiopian dam -presidency

CAIRO (Reuters) – Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Wednesday discussed the Sudanese crisis, bilateral relations and Ethiopia’s giant dam on the Blue Nile, the Egyptian presidency said. Sisi welcomed Ahmed at the presidential palace in Cairo, the presidency added. Egypt hosts a summit of Sudan’s neighbours on Thursday…

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Biden knocks Putin, soothes Zelenskiy at eventful NATO summit

By Steve Holland and Trevor Hunnicutt VILNIUS (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden concluded a NATO summit on Wednesday denouncing Russian President Vladimir Putin as “craven” and promising Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy full support even without membership in the military alliance. Capping the two-day meeting of NATO leaders in Lithuania, on Russia’s doorstep, Biden praised the…

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