SINGAPORE -- The 5th ASEAN Ministerial Conference on Cybersecurity (AMCC) was convened virtually on Wednesday.

Singapore's Minister for Communications and Information S. Iswaran said at the opening ceremony that the ministers would discuss building a rules-based cyberspace and strengthening regional cyber resilience through Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) protection at the meeting.

When delivering his opening remarks, Iswaran said ASEAN member states face an unprecedented level of exposure to cyber threats today, as ASEAN's digital economy grows.

"It is more important than ever for ASEAN to tackle the challenge of cybersecurity together in a sustained, holistic and coordinated manner," he said. (ASEAN-Cybersecurity)

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TOKYO -- In talks with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga in Tokyo on Wednesday, Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki indicated he wanted increased dialogue with the central government about resolving its contentious plan to relocate a U.S. military base within Japan's southernmost prefecture.

Tamaki called for the establishment of a framework for talks after he met Suga for the first time since he became prime minister last month, he told reporters, adding that he also asked for assistance from the central government in helping boosting the southern island prefecture's economy. (Japan-Okinawa Governor-PM)

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DHAKA -- The Bangladeshi government has decided to cancel one of the country's major public examinations this year amid COVID-19 fears.

Bangladeshi Education Minister Dipu Moni made the announcement at a press conference in Dhaka Wednesday.

She said that some 1.4 million candidates of this year's Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and its equivalent examinations will be evaluated based on their results in two of their previous public examinations -- Junior School Certificate (JSC) and Secondary School Certificate (SSC). (Bangladesh-Exams-Cancel)

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BANGKOK -- Thailand's Ministry of Finance on Wednesday proposed to the Center for Economic Situation Administration (CESA) two stimulus packages aimed at reviving a grim economy set in the last quarter of the year.

The ministry had agreed to roll out the "shim-shop-chai" (Taste-Shop-Spend) scheme, revamped in co-pay form, and the "shop-chuai-chart" (Shop to Help the Nation) scheme, with cash refunds or tax deductions for shoppers, said the ministry's permanent-secretary Prasong Poontaneat. (Thailand-Stimulus Packages)

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KATHMANDU -- The COVID-19 situation in Nepal is worsening as the government reported Wednesday a record single day spike of 3,439 cases.

It is the first time that COVID-19 cases in Nepal surpassed 3,000 in a single day.

The last record high daily infections were reported on Oct. 2 when the country registered 2,722 cases.

With new infections reported in last 24 hours, the total COVID-19 cases in the country had reached 94,253, said Jageshwor Gautam, spokesperson of Nepal's Ministry of Health and Population, at a regular press briefing on Wednesday. (Nepal-COVID-19 Cases) Enditem

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