Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

TAIPEI, April 26 (Reuters) - Taiwan's annual military drills this year take into account China's recent war games and focus on breaking a blockade, the defence ministry said on Wednesday, as a senior security official said Taiwan now had a "Five Eyes" intelligence link.

China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, has ramped up military pressure in the past three years to try to assert its sovereignty claim.

SHANGHAI, April 26 (Reuters) - Leaders from a top U.S. business lobbying group said on Wednesday that Beijing's probe against U.S.-based chipmaker Micron Technology Inc (MU.O) marked a "major concern" for other companies operating in the country.

25 Apr 2023; MEMO: Israel's defence industry enterprises will supply Azerbaijan with two satellites worth $120 million in total, Azerbaijan news outlet, Haqqin.az, reports.

This was reported by an Israeli journalist who accompanied Israel's Foreign Minister, Eli Cohen, during his visit to Azerbaijan on Tuesday and Wednesday, and published an article on its results, citing the FM's office and a source in Israel's security forces.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held trade talks with South Korean officials in Seoul on Wednesday, on the second leg of his four-nation trip, as the possible rival to Donald Trump seeks to build his diplomatic profile ahead of a widely anticipated presidential campaign launch.

SAN ANTONIO, Philippines (AP) — American and Filipino forces pummeled a ship with a barrage of high-precision rockets, airstrikes and artillery fire in their largest war drills on Wednesday in Philippine waters facing the disputed South China Sea that would likely antagonize China.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. watched the American show of firepower from an observation tower in the coastal town of San Antonio in northwestern Zambales province — the latest indication of his strong backing of the Philippines’ treaty alliance with the U.S.

BEIJING, April 25 (APP): Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Mao Ning Tuesday said that from April 29, all inbound travelers only need a negative antigen test result within 48 hours of flying rather than the previous mandatory PCR tests before boarding flights.

Immediately after the announcement, Chinese embassies in other countries issued updates to the latest epidemic prevention and control guidelines for travelers to China.

DHAKA, April 25 (NNN-BSS) — Newly-elected President Mohammed Sahabuddin received the first ceremonial salute at the south-western part of the Credential Ground of the Bangabhaban here Tuesday.

The Head of the State inspected his first Guard of Honour at Bangabhaban after taking oath. As the President attended his first office at night (Monday Night), no ceremonial guard of honour has taken place.

Subsequently, the programme was held Tuesday morning. Family members and Bangabhaban officials witnessed the ceremony at about 10.30am.

TOKYO, April 25 (NNN-BSS) – A red carpet was rolled out as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived in Tokyo Tuesday afternoon on a four-day official visit at the invitation of her Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida.

A special chartered VVIP flight (BG1403) of the Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the Prime Minister and her entourage members landed at the Haneda International Airport, Tokyo at 4.45pm (local time).

State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan TAKEI Shunsuke and Ambassador of Bangladesh to Japan Shahabuddin Ahmed received the Prime Minister at the airport.

BANGKOK, April 25 (Bernama-NNN) — The military must take the first steps to end the crisis in Myanmar says former United Nations Chief, Ban Ki-Moon.

Ban, who visited Myanmar on April 23 and 24, and met junta chief, Min Aung Hlaing and former President Thein Sein in Naypyidaw,  also called for an immediate cessation of violence and implementation of ASEAN’ Five-Point Consensus by the junta. 

The visit was seen as peacemaking mission to end violence and establish a peaceful, democratic, inclusive and legitimate government. 

JAKARTA, April 25 (Xinhua) -- A 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck off Indonesia's western province of West Sumatra earlier Tuesday and was potential to trigger a tsunami, forcing thousands of residents to flee the coastal areas, the weather agency and officials said.

The earthquake happened at 03:00 a.m. Jakarta time Tuesday (2000 GMT Monday), with the epicenter at 177 km northwest of Mentawai Islands district and a depth of 84 km under the seabed, said the country's meteorology, climatology and geophysics agency.