TOKYO -- Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Wednesday reiterated his intention to remain in office, denying reports of his imminent resignation and emphasizing the need to avoid a political vacuum.
Speaking to reporters after meeting with senior figures from the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Ishiba said they did not discuss his resignation at all, adding "the reports are unfounded." (Japan-PM-Resign)
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BANGKOK -- Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai on Wednesday ordered to downgrade diplomatic relations with Cambodia by recalling the country's ambassador from Phnom Penh after a Thai soldier stepped on a landmine in border areas.
The Prime Minister's office said in a statement that Thailand would also expel Cambodia's ambassador to Thailand. (Thailand-Cambodia-Ties)
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COLOMBO -- Sixteen were injured when a bus carrying school children veered off the road and struck an embankment in Sri Lanka's Southern Province on Wednesday morning, police said.
The injured were admitted to local hospitals. Several of them have been discharged after receiving treatment, according to the police. (Sri Lanka-Road-Accident)
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NEW DELHI -- The Indian government has extended the NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) for Pakistani flights until August 23, officials said Wednesday.
The information was shared by Murlidhar Mohol, India's federal junior minister for civil aviation, through a social media post. (India-Pakistan-NOTAM)
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SEOUL -- South Korea's births grew for the 11th straight month due to higher marriages, statistical office data showed Wednesday.
The number of newborn babies climbed 3.8 percent from a year earlier to 20,309 in May, continuing to go up since July last year, according to Statistics Korea. (South Korea-Births-May) ■
