Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Sept 7 NNN-ANN) – Brunei ranks among the top 50 safest places, globally, to live, during the COVID-19 pandemic, a global research report said.

According to local daily, the Borneo Bulletin on Sunday, the study by Deep Knowledge Group, a consortium of companies and non-profits owned by Deep Knowledge Ventures, a Hong Kong-based investment firm, indicated that the Brunei authorities’ whole-of-nation approach, strong leader, a very committed population and the involvement of everyone, managed to curb the COVID-19 spread.

SEOUL, Sept 7 (NNN) — The United Nations marked the first International Day of Clean Air for blues skies, today, September 7 as part of a global move to bring about increased awareness and international cooperation to reduce air pollution.

South Korea, which led global efforts to create this new International Day of Clean Air for blue skies, will host an event today to start celebrations around the world.

Various other events have been lined up worldwide to mark the day as well.

TOKYO, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- Two candidates began their campaigns on Monday as the leadership race for the new main opposition party to be formed by merging two existing parties officially kicked off.

Leader the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ), Yukio Edano, 56, is facing off against Kenta Izumi, 46, the policy chief of the Democratic Party for the People (DPP), in the race for the new party's top post.

HONG KONG, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Sunday voiced firm support for the HKSAR government and the Hong Kong police in resolutely enforcing the law and safeguarding Hong Kong's social stability and rule of law.

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia (AP) — Almost 300 Rohingya Muslims were found on a beach in Indonesia’s Aceh province Monday and were evacuated by military, police and Red Cross volunteers, authorities said.

The group arrived at Ujong Blang beach from one boat and were reported by local residents. The arriving officers found the group had dispersed into three groups after landing, Banda Sakti Subdistrict Military Commander Roni Mahendra said.

“We persuaded them and asked the local residents to help until they gathered again,” Mahendra said

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A powerful typhoon damaged buildings, flooded roads and knocked out power to thousands of homes in South Korea on Monday after battering islands in southern Japan. More than 20 people were injured.

BEIJING, Sep 6 (APP): The K2 unit at the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant in Pakistan, the first overseas unit using China’s homegrown Hualong One technology, has successfully completed Hot Functional Tests (HFT), said China National Nuclear Corporation.

The success has laid a solid foundation for subsequent major processes, including nuclear fuel loading and grid-connected power generation, China Global Television Network (CGTN) reported on Sunday.

PHNOM PENH, Sept 6 (NNN-AKP) – Cambodian Prime Minister, Samdech Techo Hun Sen said, strengthening globalisation and multilateral trade are crucial to support global economic growth and reducing poverty.

The prime minister made the remarks at the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit, held virtually from Sept 4 to 5, and co-hosted by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation and the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure of the United Arab Emirates.

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Police fired rounds of pepper balls at protesters in Hong Kong on Sunday as hundreds took to the streets to demonstrate against the postponement of legislative elections and a new national security law imposed by China.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam postponed the Sept. 6 election for seats in the Asian financial hub’s Legislative Council for a year in July because of a spike in coronavirus cases.

BEIJING, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Senior Chinese official Yang Jiechi said on Friday that his visit to Myanmar, Spain and Greece has deepened mutual trust, expanded cooperation, and produced multiple important consensus.

Yang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks in a written interview with Xinhua as he wrapped up the visit to the three countries.