Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

HONG KONG, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Having discussions and making "general remarks" about Hong Kong's coronavirus strategy is not illegal and does not violate the Chinese territory's national security law, the government said on Sunday, as it grapples to control a rise in cases.

Hong Kong has followed China in sticking to a zero-COVID policy with the economic and psychological tolls rapidly rising, and measures becoming more draconian than those first implemented in 2020.

BEIJING, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Moldovan counterpart, Maia Sandu, on Sunday exchanged congratulatory messages to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their countries' diplomatic relations.

In his message, Xi pointed out that China and Moldova are traditional partners of friendly cooperation.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea on Sunday fired what appeared to be the most powerful missile it has tested since President Joe Biden took office, as it revives its old playbook in brinkmanship to wrest concessions from Washington and neighbors amid a prolonged stalemate in diplomacy.

The Japanese and South Korean militaries said the missile was launched on a high trajectory, apparently to avoid the territorial spaces of neighbors, and reached a maximum altitude of 2,000 kilometers (1,242 miles) and traveled 800 kilometers (497 miles) before landing in the sea.

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Jan 29 (NNN-ANN) – Brunei reported 41 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday, bringing the total tally to 16,293.

According to Brunei’s Ministry of Health, the newly recorded cases included 32 local infections and nine imported cases.

As of Jan 27, 94.8 percent of Brunei’s population have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccines, while 93.9 percent have completed two doses and 39.2 percent have received booster doses.

 BEIJING, Jan 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Canada said five members of its Winter Olympics delegation in Beijing have tested positive for Covid-19.

   The winter sports powerhouse has not said whether those concerned are athletes, support staff or officials.

   “Currently five out of the 246 members of the Team Canada delegation in Beijing are in Covid-19 protocols,” the Canadian Olympic Committee said in a statement released late Friday.

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 29 (NNN-Bernama) — Over 150 Indian companies have invested US$3 billion in Malaysia and contributed to the creation of over 20,000 jobs in the country.

India’s High Commissioner to Malaysia B.N. Reddy said on the other hand, there was a good presence of Malaysian companies in India which have invested US$7 billion both directly and also through third countries.

Indian businesses are involved in various sectors in Malaysia such as ICT, biotechnology, manufacturing, and financial services.

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 29 (NNN-Bernama) — Over 150 Indian companies have invested US$3 billion in Malaysia and contributed to the creation of over 20,000 jobs in the country.

India’s High Commissioner to Malaysia B.N. Reddy said on the other hand, there was a good presence of Malaysian companies in India which have invested US$7 billion both directly and also through third countries.

Indian businesses are involved in various sectors in Malaysia such as ICT, biotechnology, manufacturing, and financial services.

PHNOM PENH, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will meet next month to discuss humanitarian aid for Myanmar, the current chair of the grouping, Cambodia, said on Saturday.

Cambodia's foreign minister, and ASEAN special envoy, Prak Sokhonn, is a preparing for his first visit to Myanmar, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

BANGKOK (AP) — The governor of a province in eastern Thailand on Saturday declared a state of emergency after an oil slick washed up on a sand beach, shutting down restaurants and shops in a setback for the pandemic-hit tourism industry.

Some 20-50 tons of oil are estimated to have leaked Tuesday night in the Gulf of Thailand from an undersea hose used to load tankers at an offshore mooring point owned by the Star Petroleum Refining Co.

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia is bracing for a third wave of COVID-19 infections as the highly transmissible omicron variant drives a surge in new cases, health authorities and experts said Saturday.

The country reported 11,588 new confirmed infections and 17 deaths on Saturday in the last 24-hour period. It was the highest daily caseload since August when Indonesia was struggling to contain a delta-driven wave.