Top Asian News 6:39 a.m. GMT

World leaders talking to Biden about the virus, other issues

World leaders spoke to President-elect Joe Biden on Thursday about cooperating on the coronavirus pandemic, climate change and other issues, even as President Donald Trump's refusal to concede complicates the U.S. post-election transition. In his conversations with key Asian allies, Biden seemed intent on easing their uncertainties about a less-engaged Washington, which built up during the four years of Trump’s “America First” approach. A look at their conversations: SOUTH KOREA: The office of South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Biden during their 14-minute call reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to defend South Korea and said he would closely coordinate with Seoul in a push to defuse a nuclear standoff with North Korea.

Hong Kong legislature opens; democracy bloc set to resign

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong's legislature opened Thursday ahead of the planned mass resignation of its pro-democracy bloc, one day after the government ousted four of its members. One of the pro-democracy lawmakers, Lam Cheuk-ting, unfurled a banner from a balcony of the legislative council building saying the city's leader Carrie Lam had brought disaster to Hong Kong and its people. The group had said they would hand in resignation letters on Thursday, but it was not immediately clear when they would do it or even what the proper procedure was. One said the removal of their four colleagues could sound the “death knell” for democracy in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory.

Pacific isles, secretive states among last virus-free places

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — From Argentina to Zimbabwe, from the Vatican to the White House, the coronavirus has spread relentlessly. It's been confirmed on every continent but one and in nearly every country. Yet a few places have yet to report even a single case of infection. Some have been genuinely spared so far, while others may be hiding the truth. Here's a closer look: PACIFIC ISLANDS: The largest cluster of countries without the coronavirus is in the South Pacific. Tonga, Kiribati, Samoa, Micronesia and Tuvalu are among the small island nations yet to report a single case. They haven't been spared from the pandemic's effects, however.

Asia Today: New Delhi cases spike again ahead of Diwali fest

NEW DELHI (AP) — India reported 47,905 new cases of coronavirus infection with New Delhi setting another daily record Thursday. The surge of 8,593 cases in the nation's capital is the highest for any major Indian city and comes as people crowd shopping areas ahead of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, on Saturday. Deaths, too, are climbing again, with 85 in New Delhi in the past 24 hours. Deaths are a lagging indicator of the impact of the virus, due to long periods of illness and medical treatment. Overall, India’s new cases held steady. The Health Ministry also reported 550 deaths in the past 24 hours, taking total fatalities to 128,121.

Singapore arrests 21 members of South Korean religious sect

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Singaporean authorities have arrested 21 people who are thought to be connected to a secretive South Korean religious sect that was widely blamed for thousands of virus infections in that country. The 12 women and nine men were arrested for “allegedly being members of an unlawful society," Singapore’s home affairs ministry said. Its statement issued late Wednesday added that the groups had been participating in “activities connected to the unregistered local chapter of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus,” which is registered in South Korea. It did not release their nationalities, but said the church had been ordered to cease operations last February and said five Korean members had been deported then.

Typhoon-ravaged northeast Philippines pummeled by new storm

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A typhoon swelled rivers and flooded low-lying areas as it passed over the storm-battered northeast Philippines, where rescuers were deployed early Thursday to help people flee the rising waters. The typhoon passed north of Manila between Bulacan and Pampanga provinces, toppling trees and knocking out power. Officials had said previously that nearly 200,000 people had been evacuated, some of them forcibly, from vulnerable coastal and low-lying areas. Rescue teams were deployed to flooded areas in Rizal province near the capital, Adm. George Ursabia, the coast guard chief, told DZBB radio. From the Rizal town of Rodriguez, resident Yolanda Laude called the radio station to ask to be rescued.

ASEAN summit begins online meetings with regional leaders

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam's prime minister highlighted challenges Southeast Asian nations and others faced this year as he opened a regional summit Thursday that is again largely being held online due to the pandemic. The biannual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, chaired by Vietnam this year, is expected to focus on a wide range of topics, including South China Sea disputes, the coronavirus and trade. The spread of the virus was apparent with Cambodia being represented by its deputy prime minister rather than long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen, who is self-quarantining after being exposed to a visiting minister who had the virus.

North Korea calls UN nuclear watchdog `a marionette' of West

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — North Korea called the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog “a marionette dancing to the tune” of hostile Western countries Wednesday, rejecting its information about the country's nuclear program as “grossly distorted” and based on “guesswork and fabrication.” North Korean Ambassador Kim Song delivered the rebuke at a U.N. General Assembly meeting where the International Atomic Energy Agency’s executive director, Rafael Grossi, called Pyongyang's nuclear activities “deeply regrettable" and “a clear violation” of Security Council resolutions. The IAEA has not had inspectors in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea -- North Korea’s official name -- since Pyongyang expelled them in 2009.

Recordings reveal WHO's analysis of pandemic in private

GENEVA (AP) — As the coronavirus explodes again, the World Health Organization finds itself both under intense pressure to reform and holding out hope that U.S. President-elect Joe Biden will reverse a decision by Washington to leave the health agency. With its annual meeting underway this week, WHO has been sharply criticized for not taking a stronger and more vocal role in handling the pandemic. For example, in private internal meetings in the early days of the virus, top scientists described some countries' approaches as “an unfortunate laboratory to study the virus” and a “macabre” opportunity to see what worked, recordings obtained by The Associated Press show.

A top rebel leader surrenders to Indian army in northeast

GAUHATI, India (AP) — A top insurgent leader and four of his fighters operating along India’s border with Bangladesh and Myanmar have surrendered to the Indian army in the country’s troubled northeast, the army said Thursday. Drishti Rajkhowa, who now is in the Indian army's custody, is considered the No. 2 leader in the United Liberation Front of Asom, a faction headed by Paresh Baruah. He and four others also gave up a huge quantity of arms, the statement said, without giving any details. The group is fighting for independence from India. Another faction of ULFA, headed by Arabinda Rajkhowa, has been in peace talks with the Indian government since 2011.