Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 10 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Malaysia and Japan are well on the way to bringing their ties to new heights in the next few years with the rejuvenation of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s ‘Look East Policy’, says Japan’s Ambassador to Malaysia, Hiroshi Oka.

“(I am) happy to see the Look East Policy re-energised with Mahathir (coming) back to Prime Minister’s office…we would like to deepen and strengthen the mutual friendship between Malaysia and Japan in all fields namely business, politics, culture and perhaps education.

TOKYO, January 10. /TASS/: Japan has failed to convince Russia that it intends to deploy US Aegis Ashore missile systems on its territory solely for defensive purposes, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said after talks with his Japanese counterpart Takeo Mori on Friday.

Both diplomats held their meeting as part of the 11th round of the Russia-Japan strategic dialogue.

SINGAPORE, Jan 10 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Malaysia and Singapore are committed to concluding the agreement on the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link project by April this year.

This was disclosed by Malaysia’s Transport Minister Anthony Loke in his official Facebook page today.

Loke was here in Singapore visiting his counterpart Khaw Boon Wan.

BEIJING, Jan 11 (NNN-XINHUA) – Hu Huaibang, ex-chairman of China Development Bank (CDB), has been expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC), over serious violations of Party discipline and law, the top anti-graft body announced today (Saturday).

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese authorities have requested the International Criminal Police Organization (ICPO) for an Interpol wanted notice for the wife of former Nissan Motor (7201.T) boss Carole Ghosn, local media reported on Saturday.

If the notice is issued for his wife, Carole, the couple’s travel chances outside of Lebanon may be restricted, Mainichi newspaper said. Interpol has already issued an arrest warrant for Ghosn.

The request from Japan was made on Thursday, Mainichi and other Japanese media said, quoting unnamed sources.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A North Korean official on Saturday said that the U.S. and South Korea are dreaming if they think that President Donald Trump’s sending a birthday message would get leader Kim Jong Un back to the negotiating table.

North Korean Foreign Ministry adviser Kim Kye Gwan repeated the North’s deep frustrations over stalled nuclear negotiations with the Trump administration and stressed that the country will never fully deal away its nuclear capabilities for ending U.S.-led sanctions despite its economic difficulties.

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — The future of Taiwan’s democracy was on the line Saturday as the self-ruled island voted on whether to give independence-leaning President Tsai Ing-wen a second term.

Taiwan has developed its own identity since separating from China during civil war in 1949 but has never declared formal independence. Beijing still claims sovereignty over the island of 23 million people and threatens to use force to seize control if necessary.

TAWAU, Jan 10 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Three Americans have been ordered to leave Sabah immediately after they were found to have entered and resided in Malaysia without a valid pass or permit, said Sabah Immigration Director Datuk Dr Muhamad Sade Mohamad Amin.

He said the three Americans – a 38-year-old man, his son and daughter aged 14 and 16 years – entered the country through the KL International Airport (KLIA) in 2017, and later reported that their passports were missing.

BANGKOK, Jan 10 (NNN-BERNAMA) – A masked gunman went on a shooting spree that killed three people, including a two-year-old boy in a jewellery store during robbery at a shopping mall in Lop Buri Province Thursday night.

A closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage showed the gunman, clad in black shirt and camouflage pants, carrying a handgun with a long sound suppressor entering the shopping mall.

10 January 2020; AFP: Out of Japan and free to speak to the media, a fugitive Carlos Ghosn is proving a fresh headache for his old firm Nissan as it struggles to rebuild its reputation.

The tycoon who once headed the automaker jumped bail and fled Japan last month while awaiting trial on financial misconduct charges. And he has not pulled any punches when it comes to the firm he helped turn around.