Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

TOKYO, Dec 27 (NNN-NHK) – Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, could be planning to sack his reconstruction minister, over his alleged involvement in political funding scandals, sources close to the matter and local media reported, yesterday.

According to sources within Kishida’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Kenya Akiba, could be ousted from his position by the end of the year, amid mounting calls from the opposition camp for him to step down.

SEOUL, Dec 27 (Reuters) - North Korea forged ahead with its missile programme in 2022 and took steps toward resuming testing of nuclear bombs, as world events including the COVID pandemic and war fractured the already tenuous international pressure against it.

The country acknowledged its first COVID-19 outbreak in May, prolonging already stringent border closures and other anti-pandemic measures, blocking international engagement and causing economic woes, but doing little to slow its weapons tests.

SHANGHAI, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Tesla (TSLA.O) plans to run a reduced production schedule at its Shanghai plant in January, extending the reduced output it began this month into next year, according to an internal schedule reviewed by Reuters.

Tesla will run production for 17 days in January between Jan. 3 to Jan. 19 and will stop electric vehicle output from Jan. 20 to Jan. 31 for an extended break for Chinese New Year, according to the plan seen by Reuters.

MANILA, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- The death toll of heavy rain and floods triggered by shear line in the Philippines has climbed to 17, said the government's disaster agency Tuesday evening.

At least 27 others are still missing, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) in its latest report.

The NDRRMC has tallied five deaths in the Bicol region on the main Luzon island, two in the central Philippines, and 10 in the southern Philippines. The agency did not say the cause of death, but media reports said it was mainly by drowning.

VIENTIANE, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- Lao government has announced the cancellation of required results in 48 hours of Antigen Test Kit (ATK) or Rapid Antigen Test for people entering Laos.

In addition, travelers entering Laos are no longer required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

According to a report issued on Tuesday from the Center of Information and Education for Health under the Lao Ministry of Health, the announcement aims to facilitate local residents and foreigners who want to depart from Laos or enter the Southeast Asian country.

BEIJING (AP) — Foreign companies welcomed China’s decision to end quarantines for travelers from abroad as an important step to revive slumping business activity while Japan on Tuesday joined India in announcing restrictions on visitors from the country as infections surge.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s president on Tuesday called for stronger air defenses and high-tech stealth drones while the military apologized for failing to shoot down North Korean drones that crossed the border for the first time in five years.

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese authorities are going door to door and paying people older than 60 to get vaccinated against COVID-19. But even as cases surge, 64-year-old Li Liansheng said his friends are alarmed by stories of fevers, blood clots and other side effects.

“When people hear about such incidents, they may not be willing to take the vaccines,” said Li, who had been vaccinated before he caught COVID-19. A few days after his 10-day bout with the virus, Li is nursing a sore throat and cough. He said it was like a “normal cold” with a mild fever.

BEIJING, Dec 26 (APP):Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson on Monday congratulated Pushpa Kamal Dahal on his appointment as the new Prime Minister of Nepal.

We have noted the smooth and successful general elections in Nepal. We congratulate Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda on his appointment as the new Prime Minister of Nepal, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Mao Ning said during her regular briefing held here.

Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal was sworn in as the new Nepali prime minister on Monday.

MANILA, Dec 26 (NNN-PNA) – At least six people have died and 19 others are missing, as heavy rain and flooding, triggered by the shear line have been seen in many regions in the Philippines over the weekend, the government said today.

In a report, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said, two died in the Bicol region on the main Luzon island, while four died in northern Mindanao, in the southern Philippines.

For the missing people, the agency said 10 were in the Bicol region. Three others were reported injured.