Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

BEIJING, Jul 11 (APP): China and Pakistan launched a joint naval exercise off Shanghai to further enhance military cooperation and deepen friendship.

Chinese analysts saying that the drills target maritime security threats, including those to strategic transport sea lanes.

Based on agreements reached by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy and the Pakistan Navy, the two sides will hold joint naval drill Sea Guardians-2 in maritime and aerial spaces off Shanghai in mid-July, Captain Liu Wensheng, a spokesperson for the PLA Navy, said in a statement.

KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 (NNN-Bernama) — Malaysia’s new COVID-19 cases increased by 27.9 per cent from July 3-9 compared to the week before that, Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said. 

He said some 21,355 cases were reported during that week as opposed to 16,694 cases recorded from June 26 to July 2. 

“Recoveries during the July 3-9 week also went up by 14.6 per cent from 14,293 cases to 16,379 cases,” he said in a statement on the country’s latest COVID-19 situation Monday. 

SEPANG (Selangor, Malaysia), July 11 (NNN-Bernama) — Malaysia hopes to retain its seat in the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Council after a 15-year track record, says Transport Minister Dr Wee Ka Siong.

He said the Transport Ministry had to work hard for the next two months as Malaysia was seeking re-election for the sixth consecutive term on the ICAO Council for the 2022-2025 term.

JAKARTA, July 11 (Reuters) - Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said on Monday that countries should avoid being used as "chess pieces" by global powers in a region that he said was at risk of being reshaped by geopolitical factors.

Addressing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) secretariat in a speech in the Indonesian capital

Jakarta, Wang said many countries in the region were under pressure to take sides.

HONG KONG, July 11 (Reuters) - Macau shut all its casinos for the first time in more than two years on Monday, sending shares in gaming firms tumbling as authorities struggle to contain the worst coronavirus outbreak yet in the world's biggest gambling hub.

The city's 30-plus casinos and other businesses will shut for one week and people were ordered to stay at home though short trips for essential services were allowed.

Police will monitor flows of people outside and stringent punishments will be imposed for those who disobey, the government said.

TOKYO, July 11 (Reuters) - A police investigation into the assassination of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe prompted the head of the country's branch the Unification Church to confirm on Monday that the mother of the suspect in the killing is a member.

Tetsuya Yamagami, an unemployed 41-year-old, has been identified by police as the suspect who approached Abe and opened fire during a campaign speech on Friday.

BEIJING, July 11 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Monday urged the United States to lift unilateral sanctions against Cuba completely.

Spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks in response to a query on the media reports that the U.S. State Department announced visa restrictions against 28 Cuban officials on July 9.

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong authorities are considering implementing a health code system in the city that would restrict the movements of those infected with the coronavirus and overseas arrivals, as infections rise again.

The system is similar to that of mainland China, in which a red code completely restricts a person’s movement, a yellow code is for partial restriction, while a green code means freedom of movement. The colors would appear on Hong Kong’s risk-exposure app LeaveHomeSafe.

TOKYO (AP) — An attack on democracy and freedom of speech. A throwback to the political murders of prewar Japan. Terrorism.

Public outrage, handwringing and vows of defiance by politicians and on social media are widespread following the daylight assassination by homemade gun of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a major political force even after he stepped down in 2020 as the nation’s longest-serving political leader.

TOKYO (AP) — Boosted by a new mandate in weekend elections, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met Monday with the U.S.’s top diplomat, who delivered condolences over the death of influential former leader Shinzo Abe and reassurances of a strong bilateral alliance.

Kishida’s governing Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner Komeito secured a solid majority in elections for parliament’s upper, less powerful, chamber in a vote Sunday that was imbued with meaning after Abe was assassinated while campaigning Friday.