Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, whose support has surged with her efforts against the coronavirus, said on Friday she would run for a second term as governor of the Japanese capital, raising the prospect of sustaining old rivalry with the prime minister.

Koike, 67, was Japan’s first female defence minister and also held the environment portfolio. Though she failed in a bid to become prime minister, analysts say her recent popularity support could rekindle her ambition to try again.

BEIJING, June 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — China and the United States should resume timely communication on trade and other issues, an adviser to the Chinese cabinet said, stressing that the world’s two biggest economies are too intertwined to be decoupled.

The coronavirus pandemic has worsened already poor relations between Beijing and Washington, with accusations from the Trump administration of a Chinese cover-up and delayed release of information about the outbreak.

PYONGYANG, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Ri Son Gwon, foreign minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), criticized the U.S. policy toward Pyongyang on Friday, saying his country will build up more reliable force to cope with the long-term military threats from Washington.

Ri made the remarks on the two-year anniversary of the first DPRK-U.S. summit in Singapore on June 12, 2018, during which the DPRK's top leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump signed a joint statement.

BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Education in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) must hold fast to the right direction of the "one country, two systems" principle, a central government spokesperson said Friday.

The spokesperson of the State Council Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office made the remarks while commenting on certain people in Hong Kong using middle school students to oppose the national security legislation for the HKSAR.

BEIJING (AP) — Protesters in Hong Kong got its government to withdraw extradition legislation last year, but now they’re getting a more dreaded national security law. And the message from Beijing is: Protest is futile.

One year ago Friday, protesters took over streets and blocked the legislature, preventing lawmakers from starting debate on the extradition bill. The youthful crowd clashed with police, who deployed tear gas and pepper spray in a portent of the months of protest that lay ahead.

BEIJING, June 11 (APP): India has, since last August, taken constant actions to unilaterally change the status quo of Kashmir and continued to exacerbate regional tensions.

A review of the region’s history easily reveals that India has often emphasized its own interests and appeals concerning border issues, including that of Kashmir.

Beijing, Jun 11 (PTI) China has reported 15 new coronavirus cases, including 11 confirmed imported infections, the health authority here said on Thursday.

According to the China National Health Commission (NHC), 11 new COVID-19 cases were reported in China on Wednesday and all of them were imported, including six in Shanghai, three in Guangdong, one in Tianjin and Fujian each.

No new domestically transmitted COVID-19 cases were reported on the Chinese mainland, according to a daily report issued by the NHC.

SEOUL (Reuters) - An outside panel will weigh the validity of an investigation into Samsung Group heir Jay Y. Lee over a 2015 merger and alleged accounting fraud, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office said on Thursday.

The planned panel’s recommendations could help pave the way for Lee’s attorneys to challenge the legality of the prosecution’s claims.

The Supreme Prosecutors’ Office will form the panel composed of 15 experts from fields including legal circles, academia and civic groups, the ministry of government legislation said.

BEIJING (Reuters) - China and the United States should resume timely communication on trade and other issues, an adviser to the Chinese cabinet said on Thursday, stressing that the world’s two biggest economies are too intertwined to be decoupled.

The coronavirus pandemic has worsened already poor relations between Beijing and Washington, with accusations from the Trump administration of a Chinese cover-up and delayed release of information about the outbreak.

TAIYUAN, June 11 (Xinhua) -- China successfully sent an ocean observation satellite into space from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China's Shanxi Province Thursday.

A Long March-2C rocket, carrying the satellite HY-1D, lifted off at 2:31 a.m. (Beijing Time), according to the China National Space Administration.

The new satellite will form China's first satellite constellation for marine civil service together with HY-1C, which was launched in September 2018.

Thursday's launch was the 334th by the Long March rocket series.