Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

YANGON, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Two towns in Myanmar recorded the hottest day in nearly 60 years on Wednesday, the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology said on Thursday.

Hkamti, a town of western Myanmar's Sagaing Region, logged its highest temperature in 58 years at 42.3 degrees Celsius, said the weather bureau.

Myitkyina, a town of northern Myanmar's Kachin state, registered its hottest day in 57 years at 41.8 degrees Celsius, it added.

TOKYO (AP) — U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stressed the importance of communication during a stopover Thursday in Tokyo, calling it unfortunate that his Chinese counterpart is refusing to meet him at an upcoming annual security conference in Singapore, which both men are attending.

SINGAPORE (AP) — China and Singapore laid the groundwork Thursday for a hotline between the two countries that would establish a high-level communications link between Beijing and a close American partner in Asia at a time when Chinese tensions with Washington are high and dialogue has stalled.

TOKYO (AP) — Asian benchmarks were mostly higher Thursday after the United States House of Representatives approved a debt ceiling and budget cuts package, avoiding a default crisis.

But the enthusiasm was muted by worries about the Chinese economy after disappointing recent data on a recovery in the world’s second largest economy, and a key driver of regional growth.

SINGAPORE (AP) — Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Thursday that he tested positive for COVID-19 for a second time in less than two weeks, in a rare case of a rebound.

Lee, 71, was diagnosed with COVID-19 for the first time on May 22, following work trips to Africa and Asia. He tested negative six days later. But in a Facebook post Thursday, Lee shared a photo of a positive antigen rapid test that he took.

PHNOM PENH, May 31 (NNN-AKP) – Cambodia Airport Investment Co., Ltd (CAIC), yesterday signed a joint venture agreement, with Singapore’s SIA Engineering Company (SIAEC), to form aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services in Cambodia.

Under the agreement, CAIC will hold a 49 percent equity stake in the joint venture, with SIAEC holding 51 percent, said a joint statement.

SHENZHEN, China, May 31 (Reuters) - For the ambitious Chinese tech entrepreneur, expanding into the U.S. just keeps getting harder.

Before 2019, there were few major impediments to having a Chinese company that did business in the U.S. from China. But amid escalating U.S.-Sino trade tensions, particularly after Washington slapped sanctions on telecom giant Huawei (HWT.UL), some Chinese firms began setting up headquarters overseas - moves that could help them draw less U.S. government attention.

HONG KONG, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Wednesday affirmed Hong Kong's status as a major international financial center in a staff report.

The staff report, released by the IMF Board, said Hong Kong has robust institutional frameworks, substantial capital and liquidity buffers, high-quality financial sector regulation, and a well-functioning Linked Exchange Rate System (LERS).

TOKYO, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The Japanese parliament on Wednesday enacted legislation to allow nuclear reactors in the country to be operated beyond the current limit of 60 years in a push to cut carbon emissions and ensure stable electricity supplies.

The newly approved bill allows nuclear plants to operate for longer than 60 years if approved by the industry minister and is subject to regular inspections by the Nuclear Regulation Authority.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea’s launch of a spy satellite on Wednesday ended in an embarrassing failure, but still prompted public confusion and security jitters in neighboring South Korea and Japan, which are wary of the North’s growing weapons arsenal.

About 14 minutes after the launch at 6:27 a.m., authorities in Seoul, South Korea’s capital, sent text messages to all mobile phones in the city urging people to prepare to move to safer places, without explaining the reason. In some areas, the warning was broadcast over loudspeakers.