Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong leader John Lee tested positive for the coronavirus after meeting with other regional leaders the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Thailand, the city’s government said Monday.

Lee tested negative throughout his four-day stay in Bangkok but his test upon his arrival at Hong Kong’s airport on Sunday night was positive, it said.

Lee is now in isolation and will work from home, according to the statement from the Chief Executive’s Office. Other officials at his office who went to Thailand with Lee all tested negative.

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — The southern Chinese metropolis of Guangzhou locked down its largest district Monday as it tries to tamp down a major COVID-19 outbreak, suspending public transit and requiring residents to present a negative test if they want to leave their homes.

The outbreak is testing China’s attempt to bring a more targeted approach to its zero-COVID policies while facing multiple outbreaks driven by fast-spreading omicron variants. China is the only major country in the world still trying to curb virus transmissions through strict lockdown measures and mass testing.

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — An earthquake shook Indonesia’s main island of Java on Monday, killing at least 46 people, damaging dozens of buildings and sending residents into the capital’s streets for safety.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the magnitude 5.6 quake was centered in the Cianjur region in West Java province at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles).

“There are 46 dead people at the Cianjur regional hospital and around 700 injured people. Many were hurt because they were hit by collapsed buildings,” National Disaster Mitigation Agency chief Suharyanto said.

ASTANA, November 20. /TASS/: Given its geopolitical location, Kazakhstan should pursue a multi-vector policy, incumbent President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev told reporters after voting in the Sunday's presidential election.

"I believe that given our geopolitical situaiton, given the fact that we have over $500 billion involved in our economy, given that there are global companies operating in our market, we simply have to pursue a multi-vector, as they say now, foreign policy," Tokayev said.

TOKYO, November 20. /TASS/: Former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori has censured Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky for having caused suffering to many of his fellow citizens, says an article published on the website of The Nikkei newspaper on Sunday.

"Why is it that everyone criticizes Russian President [Vladimir] Putin, but no one bashes Zelensky? He has caused suffering to many Ukrainians," the former prime minister said, speaking at an event organized by Muneo Suzuki, a member of the upper house of parliament, in Tokyo on November 18.

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 20 (NNN-BERNAMA) – Malaysia reported 2,450 new COVID-19 infections as of midnight, bringing the national total to 4,965,666, according to the health ministry.

There are no new imported cases, with all 2,450 cases being local transmissions, data released on the ministry’s website showed.

Another five new deaths have been reported, pushing the death toll to 36,593.

The ministry reported 3,000 new recoveries, bringing the total number of cured and discharged to 4,901,917.

BEIJING, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Michael Bloomberg apologised last week at a business forum hosted by the news agency he founded for remarks by British former Prime Minister Boris Johnson criticising China as autocratic.

The controversy highlights China's influence in Asia and sensitivities about overt criticism of Beijing.

ASTANA, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Kazakhstan on Sunday held a snap presidential race, and six candidates, including incumbent President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, are running for the Central Asian country's top job.

According to the Central Election Commission, about 11.95 million registered voters will cast their ballots at more than 10,000 polling stations in Kazakhstan and abroad.

Kazakhstan amended its constitution in September this year, extending a presidential term from five to seven years but banning a president from serving consecutive terms.

TOKYO, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Sunday evening affirmed his plan to appoint Takeaki Matsumoto, former foreign minister, as the country's new internal affairs minister.

This came after Minoru Terada was sacked by Kishida earlier in the day amid mounting pressure due to a fund-related scandal and declining support for his cabinet.

The replacement will be formally announced on Monday morning, according to local media.

TOKYO, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Internal Affairs Minister Minoru Terada was sacked by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Sunday amid mounting pressure due to a fund-related scandal and declining support for his cabinet, local media reported.

After meeting with Kishida at the prime minister's official residence, Terada told reporters that he did not want to be an obstacle to the government's legislative efforts during the ongoing parliamentary session, Kyodo News reported Sunday.

Kishida told the press that Terada's successor will be announced on Monday morning.