Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

Mongolia’s Central Bank Purchased Around 18 Tonnes Of Gold In 2023

ULAN BATOR, Jan 2 (NNN-APA) – Mongolia’s central bank said today, it had purchased a total of 17.8 tonnes of gold in 2023, from legal entities and individuals.

Purchasing gold is one of the key ways for the central bank to ensure the country’s economic stability, according to the Bank of Mongolia.

A statement revealed that, at the close of 2023, Mongolia’s foreign exchange reserves reached 4.8 billion U.S. dollars, marking a rise of 1.4 billion dollars from the end of 2022.

Earthquake Jolts Off Central Indonesia

JAKARTA, Jan 2 (NNN-ANTARA) – An earthquake, with a magnitude of 5.1, struck off East Nusa Tenggara province, in central Indonesia today, the country’s meteorology, climatology and geophysics agency said.

The earthquake rocked at 11:46 a.m. local time (0446 GMT), with the epicentre situated 16 km south-west of Kupang regency, and a depth of 37 km, the agency said.

No tsunami warning has been issued by the agency, as the quake would not trigger giant waves.

Japan quake: Rescuers rush to reach survivors

WAJIMA, Japan, Jan 2 (Reuters) - A powerful earthquake that hit Japan on New Year's Day killed at least 55 people, with rescue teams struggling in freezing temperatures on Tuesday to reach coastal areas where many are feared trapped under possibly thousands of destroyed homes.

In Suzu, a town of just over 5,000 households near the quake's epicentre, 90% of houses may have been destroyed, according to its mayor Masuhiro Izumiya.

"The situation is catastrophic," he said.

Foreign tourist arrivals to Indonesia surpass 10 mln in first 11 months of 2023

JAKARTA, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia received over 10.4 million foreign tourists in the first 11 months of 2023, marking a 110.8 percent increase compared to the same period in 2022, the Statistics Indonesia (BPS) announced Tuesday.

November alone saw 917,410 foreign tourist arrivals, reflecting a 30.17 percent year-on-year growth, BPS Acting Head Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti told a press conference. However, the number represented a 6.24 percent decline compared to October 2023.

Thai prime minister says visa-free policy for Chinese visitors to be made permanent in March

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand and China will soon implement visa-free entry for each other’s citizens, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said Tuesday.

Chinese nationals will be granted visa-free entry on a permanent basis beginning March 1, Srettha said after his Cabinet’s weekly meeting. Chinese visitors have been allowed visa-free entry since September last year, but the privilege was due to expire on Feb. 29.

Japan: Planes collide and catch fire at Japan’s busy Haneda airport, killing 5. Hundreds evacuated safely

TOKYO (AP) — A passenger plane and a Japanese coast guard aircraft collided on the runway at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on Tuesday and burst into flames, with five people on the smaller plane killed, officials said.

All 379 people on Japan Airlines flight JAL-516 got out safely before the plane was engulfed in flames, Transport Minister Tetsuo Saito confirmed. The pilot of the coast guard plane escaped but the five crew members died, Saito said.

South Korean opposition leader is stabbed in the neck. Police say attacker approached for autograph

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s tough-speaking liberal opposition leader, Lee Jae-myung, was stabbed in the neck by an unidentified knife-wielding man who attempted to kill him during his visit to the southeastern city of Busan on Tuesday, police said.

Lee, 59, the head of the main opposition Democratic Party, was airlifted to a Seoul hospital after receiving emergency treatment in Busan. Lee’s party later said he was recovering at an intensive care unit at the Seoul National University Hospital following a two-hour operation.

Powerful earthquakes leave at least 55 dead, destroy buildings along Japan’s western coast

WAJIMA, Japan (AP) — A series of powerful earthquakes that hit western Japan have left at least 55 people dead and damaged thousands of buildings, vehicles and boats. Officials warned Tuesday that more quakes could lie ahead.

Aftershocks continued to shake Ishikawa prefecture and nearby areas a day after a magnitude 7.6 temblor slammed the area.

Damage was so great that it could not immediately be assessed. Japanese media reports said tens of thousands of homes were destroyed.

China: Five countries formally join BRICS

BEIJING, Jan 1 (APP): The BRICS memberships of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Iran and Ethiopia officially took effect on Monday.
The countries were invited to join the group in August 2023 after the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, CGTN reported.

Originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, BRICS, an important platform for cooperation among emerging markets and developing countries, has received numerous membership requests in recent years.

Two Dead In Philippine Capital House Fire

MANILA, Jan 1 (NNN-PNA) – Two people died due to a house fire, in Taguig City in Metro Manila yesterday, the Bureau of Fire Protection said.

The bureau said, the two victims were trapped in the house that went into flame. The victims’ names, gender and other personal details were not made available.

Firefighters have extinguished the fire, the bureau said.

Further investigation is ongoing, it added.

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