JAKARTA -- Indonesian Minister for Maritime and Fishery Affairs Edhy Prabowo has been arrested on charges of corruption related to a controversial policy to resume exports of baby lobsters.

At a press conference held at the commission's headquarters in Jakarta on Wednesday evening, the Corruption Eradication Commission senior officials said Edhy Prabowo and his colleagues have allegedly received bribes amounting to at least 9.8 billion rupiahs (695,655 U.S. dollars) from exporters who took advantages from his decision to lift the ban on lobster larvae export. (Indonesia-Minister-Corruption)

- - - -

MOSCOW -- Russia has reported a new single-day record of 25,487 coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours, taking the total tally to 2,187,990, the country's COVID-19 response center said Thursday.

Meanwhile, 524 more fatalities were registered, also a single-day record, raising the national death toll to 38,062. (Russia-COVID-19)

- - - -

BISHKEK -- A 16-day global campaign against gender based violence "Life without violence," which is dedicated to the International Day for the Elimination of All Forms of Violence Against Women, started in Kyrgyzstan on Thursday.

Minister of Labor and Social Development of Kyrgyzstan Aliza Soltonbekova told reporters that the global campaign calls for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls. (Kyrgyzstan-Violence-Campaign)

- - - -

SEOUL -- South Korean stocks hit a fresh record high Thursday as foreign investors remained net buyers in the local stock market for 16 trading days running.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 24.37 points, or 0.94 percent, to settle at 2,625.91. Trading volume stood at 1.36 billion shares worth 12.5 trillion won (11.3 billion U.S. dollars). (South Korea-Stock Market)