KUALA LUMPUR -- Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak entered his defense on Tuesday for the corruption charges related to the state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

Kuala Lumpur High Court Judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali on Nov. 11 ordered Najib to present his case as prosecution has established cases on the seven charges against him -- three charges of criminal breach of trust, one count of abusing his position and three counts of money laundering related to SRC International funds, a former subsidiary of 1MDB. (Malaysia-Najib-Case)

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MALE -- The Maldives government has signed a concept paper for a framework of cooperation with the government of China's Yunnan Province, local media reported here Tuesday.

The agreement was signed by Multilateral Secretary at the Maldives Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ali Naseer Mohamed and Director-General of Yunan Province's Foreign Affairs Office Pu Hong.

The framework of cooperation aims to improve bilateral economic ties. (Maldives-China-Cooperation)

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COLOMBO -- Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has instructed a committee investigating the Easter Sunday terror attacks to expedite their probe to identify all those who were responsible for the attacks and produce them before the law, a statement released by the president's office said here Tuesday.

President Rajapaksa in discussions with members of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) to investigate and inquire into the Easter Sunday terror attacks, said there was an urgent need to identify roots and modalities of the April 21 suicide attacks and uncover all information related to the attacks. (Sri Lanka-Attacks-Probe)

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HONG KONG -- The Hong Kong-related act recently passed by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by the U.S. president is "completely unnecessary and unjustifiable," Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Chief Executive Carrie Lam said on Tuesday.

At a media briefing before the weekly Executive Council meeting, Lam said the HKSAR government strongly opposes the so-called Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019, and regards it as a "very regrettable" move by a foreign legislature and administration to interfere in the Hong Kong affairs through their own legislation. (Hong Kong-U.S.-Act)

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KABUL -- Four Taliban militants were killed and two others arrested by Afghan Special Forces in two provinces, the command of special forces said Tuesday.

"One militant was killed and two others were arrested after troops launched an operation in Nahri Sarraj district of southern Helmand province Monday night. The special forces seized a binocular and destroyed 350 kg explosive materials with some amount of weapons following the raid," the Afghan National Army Special Operations Corps said in a statement. (Afghanistan-Militant) Enditem

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