ASIA NEWS AGENDA ON WEDNESDAY
+ War with North Korea ‘avoidable’: UN chief
+ Hong Kong activist in court on protest charge
+ Duterte lashes out at Philippine news site
UNITED NATIONS
– A war with North Korea is avoidable, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says, urging direct talks between key powers on dismantling Pyongyang’s nuclear programme.
HONG KONG
– Democracy activist Joshua Wong returns to court on a protest-related charge which could see him jailed again.
THE PHILIPPINES
– Monitoring the growing conflict between the government and news website Rappler, which authorities are trying to shut down amid allegations President Duterte improperly intervened in a massive warship deal.
– OTHER AGENDA ITEMS –
AUSTRALIA
– Tennis. Third day of the Australian Open Grand Slam in Melbourne.
– Cycling. Stage two of the Tour Down Under in South Australia.
BANGLADESH
– Cricket. Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe, 2nd ODI of the tri-nation series.
INDIA
– Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travels to Indian premier Narendra Modi’s home state of Gujarat on day four of his India visit.
SINGAPORE 
– Golf. Sergio Garcia speaks at a press conference ahead of the SMBC Singapore Open.
THAILAND
– An elderly Thai historian accused of insulting the country’s monarchy appears in court to learn whether the case against him will proceed.

AAP
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