Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

Kim threatens to use nukes amid tensions with US, S. Korea

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un warned he’s ready to use his nuclear weapons in potential military conflicts with the United States and South Korea, state media said Thursday, as he unleashed fiery rhetoric against rivals he says are pushing the Korean Peninsula to the brink of war.

World shares mixed, oil prices higher after Fed rate hike

BANGKOK (AP) — Shares slipped in Europe on Thursday after gains in most Asian markets following an interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve.

U.S. futures fell, while oil prices jumped more than $1 a barrel.

The Fed’s latest hike, by three-quarters of a percentage point, lifts the benchmark short-term rate to its highest level since 2018. The aim is to bring surging inflation under control.

An update on the economy will come later Thursday with second quarter U.S. GDP data.

Malaysia Reported 4,759 New COVID-19 Infections, Nine More Deaths

KUALA LUMPUR, Jul 27 (NNN-BERNAMA) – Malaysia reported 4,759 new COVID-19 infections as of midnight, bringing the national total to 4,659,710, according to the Health Ministry.

There are three new imported cases, with 4,756 cases being local transmissions, data released by the ministry showed.

Nine new deaths have been reported, pushing the death toll to 35,932.

The ministry reported 4,806 new recoveries, raising the total number of cured and discharged to 4,577,518.

Laos Plans To Import Fuel From Saudi Arabia

VIENTIANE, July 27 (NNN-KPL) – The Lao government is considering importing fuel from Saudi Arabia, and exporting agricultural produce to the oil-rich nation.

According to the local daily, Vientiane Times, today, these issues were raised for discussions when Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Saleumxay Kommasith, held talks with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, via video link, last Thursday.

China closely tracking debris of its most powerful rocket

BEIJING, July 27 (Reuters) - China is closely tracking the remnants of a Long March 5B rocket launched over the weekend, but the chances of debris causing damage are very slim, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

Last year, China was accused of being opaque, particularly by NASA, after it kept silent about the estimated debris trajectory of a Long March 5B rocket and its reentry window. 

Cambodia's petroleum demand expected to reach 4.8 million tons by 2030: minister

PHNOM PENH, July 27 (Xinhua) -- The demand for petroleum products in Cambodia is projected to rise to 4.8 million tons in 2030, up from 2.8 million tons in 2020, the country's Minister of Mines and Energy Suy Sem said on Wednesday.

Speaking at the Oil, Gas and Power Cambodia 2022 conference here, Sem said the demand will increase to 8.3 million tons in 2040.

"Further investments in this sector are needed in order to respond to this growing demand," he said.

Uzbekistan hosts conference to rally support for Afghanistan

TASHKENT, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Uzbekistan hosted an international conference here on Tuesday to garner support for the economic and social revival of Afghanistan.

In a message to the conference themed "Afghanistan: security and economic development," Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev called on the Afghan government "to demonstrate strong will" to take decisive measures to counter terrorism, and break ties with all international terrorist organizations.

S. Korea reports 100,285 new COVID-19 cases

SEOUL, July 27 (Xinhua) -- South Korea reported 100,285 new COVID-19 cases as of midnight Tuesday compared to 24 hours ago, raising the total number of infections to 19,446,946, the health authorities said on Wednesday.

The daily caseload was up from 99,327 the previous day, and higher than 76,379 tallied a week earlier, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).

For the past week, the daily average number of confirmed cases was 72,735.

Among the new cases, 532 were imported from overseas, lifting the total to 42,683.

Strong quake kills 5, injures dozens in northern Philippines

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A strong earthquake set off landslides and damaged buildings in the northern Philippines on Wednesday, killing at least five people and injuring dozens. In the capital, hospital patients were evacuated and terrified people rushed outdoors.

The 7-magnitude quake was centered in a mountainous area of Abra province, said Renato Solidum, the head of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, who described the midmorning shaking as a major earthquake.

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