Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese side always holds that the removal of all extra tariffs imposed on Chinese goods by the United States will benefit both countries and the world, the Ministry of Commerce said Thursday.

Given the current situation of soaring inflation, the sooner the U.S. side lifts its additional tariffs on Chinese goods, the sooner consumers and businesses will benefit, the ministry's spokesperson Shu Jueting told a press briefing.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea discussed assigning additional duties to front-line army units at a key military meeting, state media said Thursday, a move that analysts said indicates it plans to deploy battlefield nuclear weapons targeting South Korea along the rivals’ tense border.

While much international attention has focused on North Korea’s testing of intercontinental ballistic missiles potentially capable of reaching the U.S. mainland, it is also developing a variety of nuclear-capable short-range missiles that can target South Korea.

GEORGE TOWN (Malaysia), June 21 (NNN–Bernama) — The region’s premier gathering of the semiconductor and microelectronics industry, SEMICON Southeast Asia 2022, underscores the significance of the Electrical and Electronics (E&E) industry both in Malaysia and the broader Southeast Asia region. 

The conference’s main organiser Semiconductor Equipment & Materials International (SEMI) president and chief executive officer (CEO) Ajit Manocha said the semiconductor industry has coped well and shown strong growth despite unprecedented challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

KUALA LUMPUR, June 21 (NNN-Bernama) — Malaysian government will formulate a National Adaptation Plan (MyNAP) relating to the impact of climate change, which will include a long-term action plan and strategies for various sectors, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said.

He said the sectors include public health, infrastructure, water resources and security, agriculture, forestry and biodiversity.

BEIJING, June 21 (Reuters) - A small Chinese study detailed in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal showed neutralising antibodies against some Omicron sub-variants were largely undetectable after two doses of a Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine, with a booster shot only partly restoring them.

TAIPEI, June 21 (Reuters) - Taiwan scrambled jets on Tuesday to warn away 29 Chinese aircraft in its air defence zone, including bombers that flew to the south of the island and into the Pacific, in the latest uptick in tensions and largest incursion since late May.

Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has complained for the past two years or so of repeated missions by the Chinese air force near the democratically governed island, often in the southwestern part of its air defence identification zone, or ADIZ, close to the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands.

TOKYO (AP) — Organizers of last year’s COVID-delayed Tokyo Olympics were expected to place the final cost of the Games at 1.42 trillion yen, about twice what was forecast when the IOC awarded them in 2013.

Tokyo Olympic officials, meeting Tuesday before the body dissolves at the end of the month, were to detail final numbers, which were increased by the pandemic, but were in record range long before that.

BEIJING (AP) — Asian stocks rebounded Tuesday as Wall Street futures moved higher while U.S. markets were closed for a holiday.

Shanghai, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Sydney gained. Oil prices rebounded to above $110 per barrel.

The future for Wall Street’s benchmark S&P 500 index was up 1.4% after a three-day holiday weekend.

“Today’s gains are attempting to pare back on previous losses, suggesting the presence of dip-buyers,” said Yeap Jun Rong of IG in a report.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — It’s only been a month since North Korea acknowledged having a COVID-19 outbreak, after steadfastly denying any cases for more than two years. But already it may be preparing to declare victory.

According to state media, North Korea has avoided the mass deaths many expected in a nation with one of the world’s worst health care systems, little or no access to vaccines, and what outsiders see as a long record of ignoring the suffering of its people.

(AP) --- The headlines on the newsstands in Seoul blared fresh warnings of a possible nuclear test by North Korea.

Out on the sidewalks, 28-year-old office worker Lee Jae Sang already had an opinion about how to respond to North Korea’s fast-growing capacity to lob nuclear bombs across borders and oceans.

“Our country should also develop a nuclear program. And prepare for a possible nuclear war,” said Lee, voicing a desire that a February poll showed was shared by 3 out of 4 South Koreans.