Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

TOKYO, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Japan's nuclear regulator on Friday authorized a controversial plan to discharge radioactive wastewater from a crippled nuclear plant in northeast Japan into the Pacific Ocean, prompting protests from the public.

The Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) on Friday held an extraordinary meeting and gave the final approval to the controversial plan submitted by the plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. (TEPCO), in line with a government decision.

BEIJING, Jul 22 (APP): Pakistan’s export to China crossed $1.918 billion in the first half (H1) of this year, up 10.97 percent from $1.728 billion in the same period of the previous year, which continue to increase on yearly basis, shows the official data from the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC).

According to sources, despite the epidemic of COVID-19, bilateral trade has increased significantly.

TOKYO, July 22 (Reuters) - Japan's nuclear regulators have approved a plan to release into the ocean water from the wrecked Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, the government said on Friday.

The water, used to cool reactors in the aftermath of the 2011 nuclear disaster, is being stored in huge tanks in the plant, and amounted to more than 1.3 million tonnes by July.

The regulators deemed it safe to release the water, which will still contain traces of tritium after treatment, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

PHNOM PENH, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's relevant ministries have confirmed their commitment to act upon recommendations by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, said a joint statement released on Friday.

The statement was issued a day after a roundtable discussion event here, with more than 200 participants from government bodies, development partners, non-governmental organizations, and private entities.

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s Cabinet on Friday formally decided to hold a state funeral on Sept. 27 for assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe amid national debate over the plan, which some criticize as an attempt to glorify a divisive political figure.

Abe was gunned down earlier this month during a campaign speech in the western city of Nara, shocking a nation known for safety and strict gun control. The alleged gunman was arrested immediately after the shooting and is being detained for interrogation as authorities seek to formally press murder charges.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea plans to lift its decades-long ban on public access to North Korean television, newspapers and other media as part of its efforts to promote mutual understanding between the rivals, officials said Friday, despite animosities over the North’s recent missile tests.

Divided along the world’s most heavily fortified border since 1948, the two Koreas prohibit their citizens from visiting each other’s territory and exchanging phone calls, emails and letters, and they block access to each other’s websites and TV stations.

SEREMBAN (Malaysia), July 21 (NNN-Bernama) — South Korea’s battery and electronic materials manufacturer Samsung SDI Co Ltd, through its unit Samsung SDI Energy Malaysia Sdn Bhd (SDIEM), is developing a RM7 billion (US$1.57 billion) plant in Malaysia’s Negeri Sembilan state to pioneer the electric vehicle (EV) battery cell industry in the country.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the new factory, which is expected to start operating in 2025, will create 1,300 job opportunities for the locals.

GEORGE TOWN (Malaysia), July 21 (NNN-Bernama) — Malaysian public university, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), has been selected to join the establishment of the Osaka University (OU) ASEAN Campuses and as a host in Malaysia, as both universities embark on a new level of partnership. 

In a statement, USM said both parties have officially affirmed the partnership through a virtual Signing Ceremony of Addendum on July 14, which also indicated USM and OU’s commitment to strengthen their relationship beyond research laboratories.  

KUALA LUMPUR, July 21 (NNN-Bernama) — Google has launched a new digital training programme, known as “Gemilang”, to help Malaysians develop digital skills and gain access to high-demand jobs. 

Google Malaysia managing director Marc Woo said under the programme, 31,000 Google Career Certificate scholarships will be offered through local partners including education institutions, industry partners and non-profits to earn a certificate at no cost. 

HANOI, July 21 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Department of State's recent report on human trafficking contains incorrect information about Vietnam, the spokesperson of Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday.

In a statement in response to the 2022 Trafficking in Persons Report released Tuesday, Le Thi Thu Hang expressed hope that the United States will closely work with Vietnam to make a more accurate assessment of the situation in Vietnam as well as the country's efforts to deal with the issue.