Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

JAKARTA, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Russia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have concluded their first joint naval exercise, Indonesia's navy said on Saturday, as the region faces rising tensions with China.

The three-day exercise off the coast of Indonesia's Sumatra island aimed at increasing interoperability between the ASEAN member states and the Russian navy in the strategic maritime area. It comes amid rising tensions between major powers in the South China Sea, a resource-rich waterway of geopolitical significance.

BANGKOK, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Thai authorities intercepted nearly 900 kg (2,000 pounds) of crystal methamphetamine hidden in a cargo shipment at Bangkok's Port Custom Office and bound for Taiwan where it could be sold for up to $88 million, a customs official said on Saturday.

The drug was seized by customs officials late on Friday, hidden in powder form inside 161 white silicon slabs in packages destined for Taiwan.

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — The highest volcano on Indonesia’s most densely populated island of Java spewed thick columns of ash high into the sky on Saturday, triggering panic among people living nearby. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

Mount Semeru’s sudden eruption in Lumajang district in East Java province left several villages around its slopes blanketed with falling ash.

BEIJING (AP) — China’s Communist Party took American democracy to task on Saturday, sharply criticizing a global democracy summit being hosted by President Joe Biden next week and extolling the virtues of its governing system.

Party officials questioned how a polarized country that botched its response to COVID-19 could lecture others, and said that efforts to force others to copy the Western democratic model are “doomed to fail.”

Beijing, Dec 4 (AP) China's Communist Party took American democracy to task on Saturday, sharply criticising a global democracy summit being hosted by President Joe Biden next week and extolling the virtues of its governing system.

Party officials questioned how a polarised country that botched its response to COVID-19 could lecture others and said that efforts to force others to copy the Western democratic model are doomed to fail.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea again broke its daily records for coronavirus infections and deaths and confirmed three more cases of the new omicron variant as officials scramble to tighten social distancing and border controls.

The 5,352 new cases reported by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on Saturday marked the third time this week the daily tally exceeded 5,000. The country’s death toll was at 3,809 after a record 70 virus patients died in the past 24 hours, while the 752 patients in serious or critical conditions were also an all-time high.

TOKYO, Dec 3 (NNN-NHK) – The Japanese government is considering requiring railway operators across the country to install security cameras in newly built trains, following a knife attack inside a train in Tokyo in Oct, transport ministry officials said today.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, will study revising an ordinance on disaster prevention measures, that instructs operators to take safety measures to prevent fires, but so far, there are no requirements for security cameras.

PUTRAJAYA (Malaysia), Dec 3 (NNN-Bernama) — Malaysia has recorded its first case of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, involving a South African student studying at a private university in Ipoh city of Perak state.

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin told reporters Friday that the 19-year-old female student arrived from South Africa via Singapore on Nov 19 and had undergone a COVID-19 RT-PCR test upon entry at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).

BANGKOK, Dec 3 (Reuters) - The top U.S. diplomat for Asia on Friday said Washington is not asking its allies to choose between it and China, promoting instead a shared vision of a rules-based order "where large countries don't bully the weak".

Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink, speaking in Thailand as he wrapped up his swing through Southeast Asia, said he preferred to focus on an "affirmative agenda" of revitalising relationships in Asia.

MANILA, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- At least five were killed and 15 injured on Friday in an accident on a busy road in the central Philippine Cebu province, police and local media reported.

Police said the crash occurred at around 9:30 a.m. local time in Talisay City when a dump truck hit a car, triggering a domino effect as the car hit other cars and four motorcycles.

Police said four died on the spot, while the dump truck driver died at a local hospital while being treated for injuries.

Police are investigating the cause of the accident.