Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

Malaysia’s nationalists seen on track to form new government

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia’s next government appeared to be leaning to the religious right after a coalition of Malay nationalists won support of an influential bloc on Sunday after tightly fought general elections failed to produce a clear winner. The nation’s king still has to approve any deal.

VP Harris to visit front-line Philippine island in sea feud

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris will underscore America’s commitment to defending treaty ally the Philippines with a visit that started Sunday and involves flying to an island province facing the disputed South China Sea, where Washington has accused China of bullying smaller claimant nations.

Symposium on Sino-Pak bio-health agriculture demonstration park held

BEIJING, Nov. 19 (APP): The 4th International Symposium on the Belt and Road Bio-health Agriculture and the Development of Sino-Pak Bio-health Agriculture Oversea Sci-tech Demonstration Park was held at Northwest A&F University (NWAFU), Yangling, China.

At the symposium, 22 keynote reports were delivered on bio-immunity and bio-protein technology, healthy seed industry, bio-information technology, smart agriculture technology and healthy animal husbandry.

China ready to join Chile for stronger comprehensive strategic partnership, says Xi

BANGKOK, Nov 19 (NNN-Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping said here that China is ready to join Chile in pushing for further development of their comprehensive strategic partnership.

Chile was the first South American country to establish diplomatic relations with China, said Xi in meeting with Chilean President Gabriel Boric on the sidelines of the 29th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting.

North Korea's Kim reveals daughter at ballistic missile test

SEOUL, Nov 19 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un revealed his daughter to the world for the first time on Saturday in striking photos showing the pair hand-in-hand before the launch of the nuclear-armed country's largest ballistic missile the day before.

North Korea test-fired a Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Friday, state news agency KCNA reported on Saturday.

A surprising addition to the launch was the presence of Kim's daughter, whose existence had never been publicly confirmed before.

Malaysia ex-PM Mahathir loses seat in first election defeat in 53 years

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Malaysia's veteran leader Mahathir Mohamad suffered his first election defeat in 53 years on Saturday in a blow that could mark the end of a seven-decade political career.

Mahathir, 97, who served as Malaysia's prime minister for more than two decades in two stints, failed to retain his parliamentary seat in the Langkawi island constituency, coming in fourth in a five-cornered fight.

The seat was won by Mohd Suhaimi Abdullah, a candidate from the Perikatan alliance, which is led by another former prime minister, Muhyiddin Yassin.

Malaysia heads for hung parliament in tight election race

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Malaysia's opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim took a narrow lead in Saturday's general election, though he and his main contenders were far short of a simple majority needed to form the government, early results from the Election Commission showed.

Former premier Muhyiddin Yassin took an early close second, while Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob's ruling coalition put up the weakest showing among the three main contenders, losing ground in traditional strongholds, the results showed.

China’s COVID-19 restrictions hit historic Beijing theater

BEIJING (AP) — Performances have been suspended at one of Beijing’s oldest and most renowned theaters as part of a new wave of shop and restaurant closures in response to a spike in COVID-19 cases in the Chinese capital.

The Jixiang Theater in the downtown Wangfujing shopping district was originally built in 1906 and recently moved to its present location on the 8th floor of a shopping mall that also houses shops and a fast food restaurant. It is famed for performances of Peking opera and other traditional art forms.

China, US officials to attend Southeast Asia defense meeting

BEIJING (AP) — The defense chiefs of rival powers China and the U.S. will both attend next week’s expanded meeting of Southeast Asian security ministers in Cambodia, though it’s unclear whether they would meet face to face.

China’s Defense Ministry said Gen. Wei Fenghe will attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus from Sunday to Thursday.

The Department of Defense said Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III will also attend following stops in Canada and Indonesia.

Asia-Pacific leaders condemn war, renew calls for open trade

BANGKOK (AP) — Leaders from around the Asia-Pacific called for an end to Russia’s war on Ukraine and pledged to steer the region’s economies toward sustainable growth as they wrapped up summit meetings Saturday.

Host Thailand garnered a diplomatic coup in managing to bridge divisions among the 21 members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum by saying that most members had condemned the war. Russia is an APEC member, as is China, which generally has refrained from criticizing Moscow.

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