Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

SEOUL, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- South Korea called on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Sunday to return to the dialogue table for substantive progress in the complete denuclearization of and a permanent peace settlement on the Korean Peninsula.

South Korea's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it took note of the DPRK's announcement on anticipating the restoration of inter-Korean relations as soon as appropriate conditions are created.

DUSHANBE, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Tajik President Emomali Rahmon has won Sunday's presidential election, beating four other candidates, according to the primary results announced Monday by the central commission for elections and referendums.

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares were mostly higher in muted trading Monday, as worries about the pandemic kept optimism in check despite a rally that closed out last week on Wall Street.

Investors growing wary over upcoming earnings reports have been cashing in recent gains, helping pull Japanese shares lower. Tokyo’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index lost 0.3% to 23,543.95. Big exporters logged some of the largest losses, with Toyota Motor Corp. falling 0.6% and Honda Motor Co. shedding 1.8%.

BAKU, October 11. /TASS/: Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has called a missile attack on the city of Ganja from Armenian territory a war crime.

"Armenia has blatantly violated the ceasefire regime and launched a missile attack on innocent residents in the city of Ganja. This is a war crime and gross violation of the Geneva Conventions," the head of state wrote on his Twitter page on Sunday. He also stated that "it is a disrespect to the negotiations under Russia’s mediation."

BANGKOK, Oct 11 (NNN-TNA) – At least 20 people have been killed, after a tour bus, which had 65 passengers on board, crashed with a cargo train, in central Thailand this morning.

Prathueng Yookassem, district chief officer from Chachoengsao Province, about 80 km east of Bangkok, where the accident occurred, told Thai PBS TV that, rescue workers counted 17 bodies, after the collision.

However, three more died after they were rushed to a nearby hospital.

Prathueng also said that there was no rail barricade, when the train ran through the crossroad.

Bangkok, Oct 11 (AP/PTI) At least 17 people died early Sunday when a train collided with a bus in central Thailand, officials said.

The tour bus was travelling with 65 passengers on board when it crossed the railway track during rain in Chacheongsao, 80 kilometers east of Bangkok, where a train smashed into the vehicle.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un warned that his country would “fully mobilize” its nuclear force if threatened as he took center stage at a military parade that unveiled what appeared to be a new intercontinental ballistic missile and other weapons.

BISHKEK, October 10. /TASS/: Members of Kyrgyzstan’s parliament unanimously approved Sadyr Japarov as the country’s new prime minister on Saturday, TASS reported from the scene.

The new prime minister pledged that he had no plans to change "the composition and structure" of a new government and promised not to run in the coming parliamentary election, nor to persecute his political opponents.

"I take full responsibility for the government’s work," he stressed.

BANGKOK, Oct 10 (NNN-TNA) – Thailand’s Ministry of Labour yesterday issued an announcement in multiple languages, advising Lao, Myanmar and Cambodian migrant workers, to quickly have their work permits renewed before the Oct 31 deadline, or face stiff punishment and be immediately deported back to their countries.

Labour Minister, Suchart Chomklin, said, he has been very lenient on migrant workers, due to concern of rising COVID-19 cases in their countries, adding, Thailand is experiencing a shortage of migrant workers.

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong police said on Saturday they had arrested nine people suspected of helping 12 Hong Kong activists who fled the city in August, heading for Taiwan, only to be intercepted by Chinese authorities and held on the mainland.

The detainees’ plight has grabbed international attention, with human rights groups raising concern as their families said they were denied access to independent lawyers, and aired suspicion that Hong Kong authorities helped in China’s arrests.