Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

BEIJING, Apr 22 (APP):Pakistan Ambassador to China, Moin ul Haque hosted an ‘Eid Milan Party’ to celebrate the day with the Pakistani community in Beijing, China on Saturday.

The members of the Pakistani community including students, teachers, businessmen, families, children and Embassy officials attended.

Ambassador Haque welcomed the guests on the auspicious occasion and exchanged Eid greetings with them.

Earlier, Eid ul Fitr prayers were offered at the mosque of the Pakistan Embassy in Beijing.

TOKYO, April 23. /TASS/: Agriculture ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) member states voiced their resolute support to the implementation, extension, and expansion of the grain deal, according to the ministers’ communique following their meeting in southwestern Japanese city of Miyazaki on April 22-23.

The ministers also expressed the readiness of the G7 to support Ukraine in rebuilding its agricultural infrastructure, including irrigation facilities, food processing and storage facilities, as well as in providing financial support to Ukrainian farmers.

TOKYO, April 22 (Xinhua) -- A Japanese civil group held a rally here on Saturday to call on the government to return Chinese relics stolen by Japanese soldiers during World War II.

The Japanese society should face up to and liquidate the crimes of cultural aggression during the Japanese war of aggression against China, according to the group.

BEIJING, April 22 (Xinhua) -- One decade after former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden blew the whistle on U.S. spying on the email and cell phone communications of as many as 35 world leaders, newly leaked Pentagon documents have once again reminded the world that Washington's surveillance network targets not only foes, but also friendly nations including Ukraine, South Korea, and Israel.

BANGKOK (AP) — A top election official in Myanmar was fatally shot in his car in Yangon, the country’s commercial capital, in the latest attack attributed to militants opposed to military rule.

Sai Kyaw Thu, deputy director-general of the military-appointed Union Election Commission, was shot multiple times on Saturday, according to the military’s information office, media reports and a statement of responsibility from an urban guerrilla group.

KUALA LUMPUR, April 22 (NNN-Bernama) — The people’s ‘mood’ and support towards the Malaysian Unity Government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim have been very positive, said the country’s Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil.

 He said the findings of several studies conducted recently also found that there has been a positive sentiment towards the government.

However, he said this was not the time for the government to be complacent and get carried away.

MANILA, April 22 (Reuters) - Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and his foreign secretary met Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on Saturday with Manila and Beijing pledging to work together to resolve their maritime differences in the South China Sea.

Talks between the countries' key officials in Manila mark the latest in a series of high-level meetings of the Philippines with leaders of the United States and China as the two superpowers battle for strategic advantage in the Indo-Pacific.

BANGKOK, April 22 (Reuters) - Thai authorities on Saturday warned residents across large swathes of country, including the capital Bangkok, to avoid going outdoors due to extreme heat.

Parts of Asia are reporting extreme heat this month, with record-breaking temperatures seen in some countries. In Bangladesh and parts of India, extreme heat is leading to surge in power demand, causing power cuts and shortages for millions of people.

XI'AN, April 21 (Xinhua) -- The first flight on a new route from Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, to Astana, capital of Kazakhstan, took off on Friday.

It is the fourth direct passenger route launched between Xi'an and Central Asia this year, following routes to Almaty, Bishkek and Tashkent.

The flight on Friday was made by an Airbus A320 aircraft and was scheduled to depart Xi'an at 19:05 Beijing time, arriving in Astana at 22:55 local time.

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s defense chief on Saturday ordered troops to activate missile interceptors and get ready to shoot down fragments from a North Korean satellite that may fall on the Japanese territory.

North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un said earlier this week that its first military spy satellite that will be launched at an unspecified date.