Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

MANILA, Sept 28 (NNN-PNA) – The Chinese Embassy in Manila said today that, China and the Philippines have agreed to strengthen cooperation, to combat transnational crimes, including cross-border gambling, kidnapping, and telecommunications fraud.

An embassy spokesperson said, the two governments reached an agreement during a recent video conference between China’s Ministry of Public Security and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Beijing, Sep 27 (PTI) China on Monday slammed the Quad grouping, saying some countries are forming "exclusive cliques" and hyping" the 'China threat' and the move is doomed to fail.

The Quad leaders at their first-in-person summit in Washington on September 25 pledged to ensure a "free and open" Indo-Pacific, which is also "inclusive and resilient", as they noted that the strategically vital region, witnessing China's growing military manoeuvring, is a bedrock of their shared security and prosperity.

VIENTIANE, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The power supply project for the China-Laos Railway was put into operation as the electricity was transmitted from the Khoksaad substation on the outskirts of Lao capital Vientiane to the Vientiane South Traction Substation of the China-Laos Railway on Sunday.

The power supply project for the China-Laos Railway is the first BOT (build-operate-transfer) power grid project in Laos, a key project to guarantee the scheduled operation of the China-Laos Railway and of building the China-Laos community with a shared future.

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — China’s Foreign Ministry said Monday that two Canadians detained in late 2019 who were allowed to return to Canada in a prisoner swap were released on bail for health reasons.

A ministry spokesperson made the comment as Beijing sought to downplay the connection between their release and the return to China of a long-detained executive of Huawei Technologies.

Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig were detained in December 2019, days after Huawei’s chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, was arrested in Canada at the request of U.S. authorities.

TOKYO (AP) — The stakes are high as Japanese governing party members vote Wednesday for four candidates seeking to replace Yoshihide Suga as prime minister. The next leader must address a pandemic-battered economy, a newly empowered military operating in a dangerous neighborhood, crucial ties with an inward-focused ally, Washington, and tense security standoffs with an emboldened China and its ally North Korea.

ZHUHAI, China (AP) — A military drone whose manufacturer says it can cruise for 20 hours at 15,000 meters (50,000 feet) was among Chinese warplanes, missiles and other weapons technology shown in public for the first time Tuesday at the opening of the country’s biggest air show.

TOKYO (AP) — Japan is set to lift all coronavirus emergency measures when they expire later this week as the infections slow and the nation tries to reactivate its economy.

Officials in charge of coronavirus measures got endorsement from experts at a meeting Tuesday, on the condition easing of restrictions will be gradual. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is expected to announce a lifting of the emergency and subsequent plans later Tuesday.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea fired a short-range missile into the sea Tuesday at nearly the same moment its U.N. diplomat was decrying the U.S.’s “hostile policy” against it, in an apparent return to its pattern of mixing weapons displays with peace overtures to wrest outside concessions.

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 27 (NNN-Bernama) — Malaysia’s new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours as at 12 noon Monday continue to fall with 10,959 cases reported.

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah in a post on social media said new infections reduced by 2,145 cases compared 13,104 cases Sunday.

“The latest development takes the cumulative total of COVID-19 cases in the country to 2,209,194 cases,” he said.

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Germany and World Food Programme (WFP) entered into a new partnership to support lower-income Cambodian families affected by COVID-19 and climate-related shocks, said a joint press release on Monday.

Under the partnership, Germany has committed 5 million euros, or approximately 5.86 million U.S. dollars, to provide cash assistance to vulnerable households to support their recovery, the press release said.