Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

TOKYO, June 19. /TASS/: At least 21 were injured in the earthquake of 6.7 magnitude that rocked Japan's Yamagata prefecture late Tuesday, NHK TV channel reported on Wednesday.

Earlier reports said that 15 people were injured in the earthquake.

The epicenter of the Tuesday's earthquake lay at the depth of around 14 km under the seabed off the coast of the Yamagata prefecture. The magnitude was initially estimated at 6.8 but later lowered to 6.7. Ten aftershocks of up to 4.1 magnitude followed after the earthquake. A tsunami alert was issued but was later recalled.

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong lawmakers grilled the city’s security secretary Wednesday over allegations of police brutality during protests over an extradition bill that eventually was suspended.

The agenda for the meeting showed that pro-democracy members were planning to file a motion of no-confidence for Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s handling of the legislation, which sparked the demonstrations over recent weeks including a massive march on Sunday.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping praised North Korea on Wednesday for moving in the “right direction” by politically resolving issues on the Korean Peninsula, in a rare op-ed published by a North Korean state newspaper that comes on the eve of Xi’s visit to Pyongyang to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares were mostly higher Wednesday on optimism about trade after President Donald Trump said he will talk with the Chinese leader later this month in Japan.

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 added 1.7% to 21,321.17 in early trading. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 1.0% to 6,637.70. South Korea’s Kospi was also up 1.0% at 2,119.80. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 2.4% to 28,158.85, while the Shanghai Composite added 1.2% to 2,925.68.

HONG KONG (AP) — All but a handful of protesters in Hong Kong have gone home, but the crisis that brought hundreds of thousands into the streets to oppose an extradition bill is far from over.

The way forward for both Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam and her opponents is uncertain because of the limits built into the city’s “one country, two systems” arrangement with Beijing after Britain ceded control of the former colony in 1997.

18 June 2019; DW: Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam on Tuesday offered a "most sincere apology to all people of Hong Kong" for a political crisis that erupted over a controversial extradition bill.

"I personally have to shoulder much of the responsibility," Lam said. "This has led to controversies, disputes and anxieties in society."

On Sunday, an estimated two million people took to the streets to demand Lam resign and the extradition bill, which would ease extradition to mainland China, be shelved.

Beijing, Jun 18; AFP/GANASHAKTI: China on Tuesday warned against opening a "Pandora's box" in the Middle East after the United States announced the deployment of 1,000 additional troops to the region amid escalating tensions with Iran.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi also urged Tehran to not abandon the nuclear agreement "so easily" after Iran said it would exceed its uranium stockpile limit if world powers fail to fulfil their commitments under the agreement in 10 days.

Pyongyang, Jun 18; AFP/GANASHAKTI: On a grey stone column in Pyongyang, a mural shows Chinese and North Korean soldiers rushing into battle against US-led forces in the Korean War.

Decades later, the monument is a regular stop for new waves of Chinese going to the North, this time as tourists.

Hundreds of soldiers and workers have been sprucing up the obelisk and its grounds in recent days ahead of a state visit to Pyongyang by Chinese President Xi Jinping this week.

Beijing, Jun 17; PTI/GANASHAKTI: President Xi Jinping would make his maiden visit to Pyongyang this week - the first by a Chinese leader in 14 years - in a big boost to the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who is under heavy pressure from the US to give up nuclear weapons programme.

Xi will visit Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) - the official name for North Korea - from June 20 to 21, at the invitation of Kim, the spokesperson for the International Department of the ruling Communist Party of China, Hu Zhaoming, announced here.

BANGKOK, June 18 (Xinhua) -- Former Thai singer Prissana Praisaeng, or Pooky, was arrested in Bangkok for allegedly trafficking more than five kg of ketamine, police said on Tuesday.

Pooky, 40, was arrested in her rented house together with her husband, 49, on Monday.

In the raid, police found 98.3 grams of crystal meth, eight speed pills, 10 ecstasy pills, four grams of ketamine and 40 grams of marijuana, along with chemicals and equipment believed to be used to produce narcotics.