Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

BEIJING, Nov 25 (APP): Pakistan ranked 45th in the Internet Development Index with a score of 39.03, but the country, placed 42nd, surpassed Vietnam, Kazakhstan and other countries in innovation capacity, according to the World Internet Development Report 2020.

The report was released during the World Internet Conference – Internet Development Forum kicked off in Wuzhen, Zhejiang province, highlighting digital empowerment for a better future.

HANOI, Nov 25 (NNN-VNA) – A geo-park in central highlands Vietnam’s Dak Nong province, officially becomes the third in the country, to join the global geo-parks network of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), it was reported today.

The province’s Dak Nong Geo-park, which received a certificate as part of UNESCO’s Global Geo-parks Network, covers more than 4,700sq km of land, with 65 heritage and geomorphological sites, including volcanic craters, volcanic caves, and waterfalls.

HO CHI MINH CITY, Nov 25 (NNN-VNA) – The customs and police forces of Vietnam’s southern Ho Chi Minh City, seized over 20 kg of drugs hidden in cross-border delivery parcels.

The drugs, which were seized yesterday, include heroin, ecstasy, marijuana and crystal methamphetamine. They were hidden in carton boxes, foot massage machine and gift boxes, placed in nine parcels.

Among the drugs, more than 700 grams of heroin were found in parcels registered for shipping to Australia from Ho Chi Minh City, said the report.

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 25 (NNN-BERNAMA) — More than 200 million people from 194 countries, including world leaders, had gathered virtually on Sunday to call for world peace.

Organised by the Universal Peace Foundation (UPF) to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Korean War, the event was the third of the ‘Rally of Hope’ series, held this year. The first and second ones were held in August and Sept, respectively.

BEIJING, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- China's lunar probe Chang'e-5 successfully carried out its first orbital correction Tuesday night, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

The probe conducted the orbital correction at 10:06 p.m. (Beijing Time) when its 3000N engine was operational for about two seconds, and then continued its trip to the moon.

Prior to the orbital correction, the lunar probe had traveled for roughly 17 hours in space, and was about 160,000 km away from Earth. All of the probe's systems were in good condition, said the CNSA.

BEIJING, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- British moves to beef up ban on China's Huawei have undermined the mutual trust for bilateral cooperation, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Wednesday.

Spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks at a daily press briefing in response to a relevant question.

Without any concrete evidence, Britain, in collaboration with the United States, has been discriminating and suppressing Chinese companies citing nonexistent "security risks," Zhao said.

HONG KONG, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chief Executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam delivered the 2020 policy address Wednesday at a meeting of the HKSAR Legislative Council, highlighting support from the central authorities for Hong Kong to overcome the economic recession.

The policy address, the fourth one since Lam took office in 2017, came as Hong Kong strives to recover from the impacts of prolonged social unrest and the COVID-19 epidemic.

BEIJING, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- China expresses serious concerns over and firm opposition to India's recent claim to ban further Chinese apps on national security grounds, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said here Wednesday at a news briefing.

Zhao Lijian said the Chinese Embassy in India has issued a statement in response.

(AP) --- China is stepping up virus inspections on imported food packaging as cooler weather brings new waves of coronavirus infections in several overseas countries, Chinese officials said Wednesday.

Packaging is “not exempt” from carrying the virus, deputy director of the National Food Safety Risk Assessment Center Li Ning told reporters.

While the coronavirus positivity rate for tests on packages was just 0.48 per 10,000, that proportion is increasing along with the number of tests being conducted, Li said.

BEIJING, Nov 24 (APP): Expressing happiness over start of international transit activities at the Gwadar Port, Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Zhao Lijian on Tuesday said that China supported the greater role of the port, an important component of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) flagship project, in the regional cooperation on trade and goods.

“We are glad to see the new progress. We support the Gwadar Port’s greater role in the regional cooperation on trade and goods,” he said during his regular briefing held here.