Xinhua world news summary at 1530 GMT, Feb. 6

TOKYO -- U.S. Vice President Mike Pence arrived in Japan on Tuesday to hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso.

Government officials here said Pence is scheduled to hold talks with the Japanese premiere on Wednesday and Aso thereafter. (Japan-US vice president-Visit)

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MOSCOW -- Moscow and Tehran will further coordinate their efforts to improve the Astana format aimed at promoting the Syrian peace process, the presidents of the two countries said Tuesday.

According to the Kremlin's press service, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani, discussed the prospects of a political settlement of the Syrian crisis during a phone conversation. (Russia-Iran-Astana format)

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PYONGYANG -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Tuesday warned against the resumption of joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises after the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

The official Korean Central News Agency warned in a commentary that there were "increasing concerns at home and abroad about the situation on the Korean Peninsula after the Olympics" as Washington was "touting the resumption of the joint military exercises" with Seoul "as soon as the Olympics ends." (DPRK-US-Wargames)

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MALE -- Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen on Tuesday said he had declared a 15-day state of emergency because the Supreme Court chief justice had planned to overthrow the government.

Yameen, in an address to his nation which was televised across the island country, said the recent Supreme Court order to release top opposition leaders was "shocking" and this had threatened to "cripple" the functioning of the state. (Maldives-Abdulla Yameen-Political emergency)

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SEOUL -- A 280-member delegation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), including cheerleaders and demonstrators of Taekwondo, a traditional Korean martial art, will come to South Korea via land route Wednesday for the 23rd Winter Olympics, Seoul's unification ministry said Tuesday. (South Korea-DPRK-Winter Olympics) Enditem