Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

HONG KONG (AP) — A marathon court hearing for 47 democracy activists charged under Hong Kong’s national security law entered its fourth day on Thursday, as the court deliberates whether the defendants will be granted bail.

The mass case is the most sweeping action taken against the city’s pro-democracy camp since the security law was implemented last June. The activists were charged and detained on Sunday over their involvement in an unofficial primary election last year that authorities say was part of a plot to paralyze Hong Kong’s government.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea may be trying to extract plutonium to make more nuclear weapons at its main atomic complex, recent satellite photos indicated, weeks after leader Kim Jong Un vowed to expand his nuclear arsenal.

The 38 North website, which specializes in North Korea studies, cited the imagery as indicating that a coal-fired steam plant at the North’s Yongbyon nuclear complex is in operation after about a two-year hiatus. Smoke was observed emanating from the plant’s smokestack at various times from late February and early March.

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Myanmar security forces were seen firing slingshots at protesters, chasing them down and even brutally beating an ambulance crew in video showing a dramatic escalation of violence against opponents of last month’s military coup.

A U.N. official speaking from Switzerland said 38 people had been killed Wednesday, a figure consistent with other reports though accounts are difficult to confirm inside the country. The increasingly deadly violence could galvanize the international community, which has responded fitfully so far.

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — A video of the arrest of Associated Press journalist Thein Zaw as he was photographing Myanmar security forces charging at anti-coup protesters shows him being quickly surrounded and held in a chokehold as handcuffs are placed on him.

Authorities have charged Thein Zaw and five other members of the media with violating a public order law that could see them imprisoned for up to three years.

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said on Wednesday the government is considering a two-week extension of a state of emergency in the Tokyo area due to the pressure on the medical system from COVID-19 cases.

“I think that about two weeks will be necessary, so I would like to make a final decision after hearing the opinions of the experts and people concerned,” Suga told reporters.

(Reuters) - Myanmar security forces opened fire on protests against military rule on Wednesday killing nine people, witnesses and media reported, a day after neighbouring countries called for restraint and offered to help Myanmar resolve the crisis.

The security forces resorted to live fire with little warning in several towns and cities, witnesses said, as the junta appeared more determined than ever to stamp out protests against a Feb. 1 coup that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

SEOUL, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Negotiators from South Korea and the United States will hold talks in Washington later this week to discuss how to share the upkeep cost for the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), Seoul's foreign ministry said Wednesday.

The ninth round of negotiations for the 11th Special Measures Agreement (SMA), a South Korea-U.S. deal to share the defense cost for about 28,500 U.S. troops stationed here, will be held in the U.S. capital on Friday.

The latest negotiation was virtually held on Feb. 5 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country's top political advisory body, will open its annual session on Thursday afternoon in Beijing, a spokesperson said Wednesday.

The session is set to conclude on March 10, Guo Weimin, spokesperson for the fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the CPPCC, told a press conference.

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Authorities in Myanmar have charged Associated Press journalist Thein Zaw and five other members of the media with violating a public order law that could see them imprisoned for up to three years, a lawyer said Tuesday.

The six were arrested while covering protests against the Feb. 1 military coup in Myanmar that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. The group includes journalists for Myanmar Now, Myanmar Photo Agency, 7Day News, Zee Kwet online news and a freelancer.

JAKARTA, March 2 (NNN-Bernama) — Mount Sinabung in North Sumatra, Indonesia erupted again early Tuesday morning, shooting clouds of smoke and ash as high as 5,000 metres.

According to a statement from Indonesia’s Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG), the eruption occurred at 6.42 am (western Indonesian time), with the smoke and ash moving in an east-southeast direction.

The 2,451m volcano became active again in 2010.