Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

PYONGYANG, October 19. /TASS/: Russia is ready to discuss and consider Turkey’s initiative to establish a guarantor system in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with Moscow and Ankara staying in touch on the issue, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters in Pyongyang.

"We are ready to discuss any constructive proposals. The said initiative <…> is clearly driven by the intention to de-escalate things and bring the situation back to normal," Russia’s top diplomat said.

VIENTIANE, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Delegates from ASEAN police forces met in the Lao capital Vientiane, vowing to continue their fight against transnational crimes as well as strengthen the relations between ASEAN police forces, dialogue partners and observer countries.

The pledge was made at a meeting of the heads of the ASEAN Police Delegation and negotiating partners, as part of the 41st ASEANAPOL Conference held in Vientiane on Tuesday, chaired by Lao Deputy Minister of Public Security Khamking Phouilamanivong.

TOKYO, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Japan's largest labor union said on Thursday that it will seek a pay hike of at least 5 percent in annual wage negotiations next spring, strengthening its stance from this year to cope with persistent inflation.

In its basic policy for 2024 wage negotiations, the Japanese Trade Union Confederation, also known as Rengo, decided to demand a pay hike of 5 percent or more, including a base-pay rise of 3 percent or more.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Hamas fighters likely fired North Korean weapons during their Oct. 7 assault on Israel, a militant video and weapons seized by Israel show, despite Pyongyang’s denials that it arms the militant group.

South Korean officials, two experts on North Korean arms and an Associated Press analysis of weapons captured on the battlefield by Israel point toward Hamas using Pyongyang’s F-7 rocket-propelled grenade, a shoulder-fired weapon that fighters typically use against armored vehicles.

PYONGYANG, October 18. /TASS/: Moscow expresses solidarity and full support for Pyongyang's course of safeguarding its independence and right to determine its development guidelines, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at an official government reception.

"Russia expresses solidarity and full support for the determination of the DPRK under the guidance of its leader, comrade Kim Jong Un to defend its independence and the right of its people to determine their own fate and ways of development," Lavrov pointed out.

HANOI, Oct 18 (NNN-VNA) – Vietnam reported 99,639 dengue fever cases with 27 deaths, since the beginning of this year, the health ministry said, yesterday.

The number of new dengue cases over the past week has decreased compared to the previous week.

However, the infection number in the capital city Hanoi, has shown no sign of declining.

Since the end of last month, the infection rate in Hanoi has increased sharply, standing around 2,500-2,600 cases per week, an increase of 1.5 times compared to the first week of Sept.

BEIJING, Oct 18 (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday praised Chinese President Xi Jinping for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and invited global investment in the Northern Sea route which he said could deepen trade between east and west.

Speaking on his second known trip outside the former Soviet Union since the Ukraine war, Putin thanked the Chinese leader for his invitation and said Russia could play a key role in China's modern day revival of the ancient Silk Road.

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet will attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit to be held on Friday in the Saudi capital of Riyadh, the foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

"The summit is a vital platform for the ASEAN and GCC leaders to explore ways to enhance mutually beneficial spheres of cooperation, including trade and investment, smart cities, energy, counter-terrorism and tourism," the statement said.

BEIJING, October 17. /TASS/: Hungary has never sought confrontation with Russia, as Budapest has always planned to expand ties instead, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban told Russian President Vladimir Putin at a meeting.

"Hungary has never sought to confront Russia. Rather, the opposite is true: Hungary has always pursued the goal of building and expanding the best communication," Orban said.

BEIJING, October 17. /TASS/: The historical trend toward peace and mutually beneficial cooperation among countries cannot be stopped, Chinese President Xi Jinping said at a reception for the heads of delegations participating in the Belt and Road forum at the Great Hall of the People.

"The historical trend toward peace, development and mutually beneficial cooperation cannot be stopped. People's striving for a better life and the aspiration of all countries for common development and prosperity are irresistible," the Xinhua news agency quotes him as saying.