Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

BEIJING, Sep 8 (APP): Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Secretary General Vladimir Norov has said that equality and full involvement of women in addressing political and socioeconomic issues were a prerequisite for economic development, democracy and a stable society in the SCO member states.

He made the remarks in articles on the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action, according to a statement issued by the SCO Secretariat here on Tuesday.

BEIJING, Sep 8 (APP): A Chinese military spokesperson has urged the Indian side to desist from dangerous actions after accusing Indian troops of illegally crossing the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the western border region.

Zhang Shuili, spokesperson for the Western Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), made the remarks in a statement on Tuesday after stating that the Indian army again illegally crossed the LAC in Shenpao Mountain area near the southern bank of Pangong Tso (Lake) on Monday, China Global Television Network (CGTN) reported.

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan wants to reach broad consensus with the United Kingdom on trade this week, a Japanese government official said, signalling Tokyo’s desire to make progress on the bilateral trade deal before a change in government.

Japan’s ruling party will choose a new leader next week to take over from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who has decided to step down for health reasons. His successor will become the next premier and form a new cabinet.

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan’s economy sank deeper into its worst postwar contraction in the second quarter as the coronavirus jolted businesses more than initially thought, underscoring the daunting task the new prime minister faces in averting a steeper recession.

Other data put that challenge in perspective, with household spending and wages falling in July as the impact of the pandemic kept consumption frail even after lockdown measures were lifted in May.

SEOUL, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- South Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun will visit Washington this week for talks with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun, Seoul's foreign ministry said Tuesday.

Choi will make a three-day trip to Washington through Friday at the invitation of Biegun. It would be the first such visit by Choi since he took office on Aug. 18.

During the talks, Choi and Biegun will make a comprehensive discussion on issues of mutual concern, including the overall South Korea-U.S. relations and regional situations, the Seoul ministry said.

BEIJING, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese military spokesperson has slammed as unfounded a recent article by U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper against the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA).

The article was full of Cold War mentality and ideological bias, groundlessly misrepresented the PLA, and hyped up the so-called "Chinese military threat," Ren Guoqiang, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, said Sunday.

BEIJING (AP) — China said Indian forces crossed into territory it holds along their disputed border and fired warning shots at a Chinese patrol in a move it called a “serious military provocation” and a violation of their agreements.

The nuclear-armed rivals have been engaged in a tense standoff in the cold-desert Ladakh region since May, and their defense ministers met Friday in Moscow in the first high-level direct contact between the sides since the standoff began.

BEIJING, Sep 7 (APP): China on Monday said that it had never recognized the so-called Arunachal Pradesh illegally established by India on the Chinese territory.

“We have never recognised the so-called Arunachal Pradesh illegally established on the Chinese territory,” Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said during his regular briefing.

He said, China’s position on the eastern section of the China and India boundary and China’s Southern Tibet was consistent and clear.

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 7 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Long-term pass holders from 23 countries which have recorded more than 150,000 COVID-19 cases are barred from entering Malaysia effective today (Sept 7).

According to a list issued by the Immigration Department on its official Facebook account, the countries include the United States, Brazil, India, Russia, Peru, Colombia, South Africa, Mexico, Spain, Argentina and Chile.

Also on the list are Iran, United Kingdom, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, France, Turkey, Italy, Germany, Iraq, Philippines and Indonesia.

MANILA, Sept 7 (NNN-PNA) – A 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck Davao Occidental province, in the southern Philippines, last night, the Philippine Institute of Seismology and Volcanology (Phivolcs) said.

The institute said, the offshore quake hit at a depth of 143 km, about 26 km southeast of Don Marcelino town, at 11:23 p.m. local time.

The institute said, the quake, which was tectonic in origin, can trigger aftershocks but not cause damage or destructive tsunami threat.

The quake was also felt in the cities of General Santos and some other nearby towns.