Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

BEIJING, Nov 6 (APP): China on Monday vowed that it would do its utmost to restore peace in Palestine and continue to work with the international community to make unremitting and relentless efforts to mediate conflicts and bring the Palestinian question back to the track of the two-state solution.

“China will do its utmost to restore peace in Palestine as it takes over the presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) this month,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said while responding to a question about Gaza situation during his regular briefing.

ASTANA, November 6. /TASS/: Kazakhstan expects Russian President Vladimir Putin to make an official visit to Astana on November 9, the office of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said in a statement.

"On November 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin will make an official visit to Astana on November 9, 2023, at the invitation of the head of state, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The two countries’ leaders are expected to hold talks, discussing pressing issues related to Kazakh-Russian strategic partnership," the statement reads.

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 (NNN-Bernama) — Malaysia will decide within the next two days on its participation in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Economic Leaders’ Week 2023, said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

“I am coordinating with all countries. So far, most (of the countries) are attending. So I will check on this (matter) in one or two days,” he told reporters after officiating at the launch of the Malaysia Digital Expo (MDX) 2023 Grand Finale here.

BEIJING, Nov 6 (Reuters) - President Xi Jinping said on Monday stable ties between China and Australia served each other's interests and both should expand their cooperation, sending a clear signal that Beijing was ready to move on from recent tensions.

China and Australia should promote the development of their strategic partnership as they build up mutual understanding and trust, Xi told Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the first Australian leader to visit Beijing since 2016, at the Great Hall of the People in the heart of the Chinese capital.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea said Monday it plans to launch its first domestically built spy satellite at the end of this month to better monitor rival North Korea, which is expanding its arsenal of nuclear weapons.

The plan was unveiled days after North Korea failed to follow through on a vow to make a third attempt to launch its own reconnaissance satellite in October, likely because of technical issues.

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A radio anchor was fatally shot by a man inside his southern Philippine station Sunday in a brazen attack that was witnessed by people watching the program live on Facebook.

The gunman gained entry into the home-based radio station of provincial news broadcaster Juan Jumalon by pretending to be a listener. He then shot him twice during a live morning broadcast in Calamba town in Misamis Occidental province, police said.

PUTRAJAYA (Malaysia), Nov 4 (NNN-Bernama) — The Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida will undertake a Working Visit to Malaysia on Nov 4-5, marking his first visit to Malaysia since his appointment as Japan’s Prime Minister in Oct 2021. 

Foreign Ministry (Wisma Putra) in a statement on Saturday said Kishida is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with his Malaysian counterpart Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim where both leaders are expected to review the progress of bilateral relations.

SEPANG (Malaysia), Nov 3 (NNN-Bernama) — Malaysia’s first shipment of humanitarian aid for Palestinians weighing 20 tonnes, including medical supplies, loaded on a special cargo plane, departed for Al-Arish International Airport, Egypt Friday night.

The cargo plane took off at about 11.30 pm from the Cargo Terminal of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) here, and the humanitarian aid will then be handed over to the Egyptian Red Crescent Society, acting as a partner to bring them into Gaza through the Rafah border.

MANILA, Nov 4 (Reuters) - The Philippines' National Security Adviser on Saturday rejected talk of a plot to destabilise the government of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, saying the military and entire security sector were loyal to the commander-in-chief.

"Yes, there were healthy and passionate exchanges (and) debates among some retired or former military officers and even some criticism against certain policies of the current administration, but they are within the bounds of our democratic space," National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said.

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Nepalese authorities said their focus was on finding survivors after a strong earthquake shook districts in northwestern Nepal just before midnight Friday, killing at least 128 people and injuring dozens more.

The death toll was expected to rise as communications were still cut off in many places, officials said Saturday.

“The priority is to find the survivors and take them to hospital,” said regional police chief, Bhim Dhakal, “while we recover bodies of the deceased.”