Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

HANOI, May 14 (NNN-VNA) – A total of 132,865 units of automobiles were sold in the Vietnamese market in the first four months of this year, up 31 percent, year on year, according to the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers’ Association.

Sales of domestically assembled automobiles surged 38 percent to 79,442 units, while those of imported ones rose 22 percent, year on year, to 53,423, according to the association’s monthly sales report released Thursday.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — China withdrew as host of soccer’s 2023 Asian Cup on Saturday in the latest cancellation of the country’s sports hosting duties during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Asian Football Confederation praised Chinese soccer officials for making “this very difficult but necessary decision in the collective interests of the AFC Asian Cup.”

The 24-nation tournament was due to be played in 10 cities in mostly newly built stadiums in June and July of next year.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea on Saturday reported 21 new deaths and 174,440 more people with fever symptoms as the country scrambles to slow the spread of COVID-19 across its unvaccinated population.

The new deaths and cases, which were from Friday, increased total numbers to 27 deaths and 524,440 illnesses amid a rapid spread of fever since late April. North Korea said 243,630 people had recovered and 280,810 remained in quarantine. State media didn’t specify how many of the fever cases and deaths were confirmed as COVID-19 infections.

DUSHANBE, May 13. /TASS/: The situation in Afghanistan cannot be allowed to collapse, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a news conference in Dushanbe.

"The situation [in Afghanistan] cannot be allowed to collapse again, as this would be too hard for the Afghan people, who have suffered from the presence of NATO for 20 years," Lavrov said after a meeting of the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers.

BEIJING, May 13 (Reuters) - China's immigration authority is still providing services for necessary trips outside the country, it said on Friday, denying rumours that passport issuances were halted and that residency cards for living in foreign countries were being invalidated.

Officials have promptly processed certificates for people who need to travel abroad for necessary and urgent matters such as study, scientific research, trade and businesses and medical issues, the National Immigration Administration (NIA) said in a statement.

BEIJING, May 13 (Xinhua) -- China's National Immigration Administration (NIA) on Friday dismissed false overseas media reports on its border control practices, saying such rumors aim to distort and discredit the country's entry and exit policies.

Recently, some overseas media outlets have hyped disinformation suggesting China has suspended issuing passports to citizens, or prevented people from leaving the country.

YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) — Nissan is considering adding a new auto plant in the U.S. to keep up with growing demand for electric vehicles, a top executive at the Japanese automaker said Friday.

“It may not be a surprise that we go for a third plant,” Chief Operating Officer Ashwani Gupta told reporters at Yokohama headquarters.

BEIJING (AP) — Shanghai will try again to reopen in a few days after it has eliminated COVID-19 transmission among the population at large as an outbreak in China’s largest city subsides, an official said Friday.

The strict lockdown of the city — now in its seventh week but moved, lifted and reinforced at times to the frustration of residents — is part of the ruling Communist Party’s “zero-COVID” goal that has exacted a mounting economic toll and that even the World Health Organization says may be unsustainable.

(AP) --- Asian shares bounced back Friday from losses earlier in the week, shrugging off data showing U.S. wholesale prices soared 11% in April from a year earlier.

The regional rally followed a mixed and muted close on Wall Street. Oil prices and U.S. futures also were higher.

Investors are puzzling over what’s next with inflation and the U.S. central bank’s response to it. Trading has been volatile, with indexes prone to sharp swings as investors try to shield their portfolios from the impact of the highest inflation in decades.

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Allies of Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the presumptive next president of the Philippines, appear set to dominate both chambers of Congress, further alarming activists after the late dictator son’s apparent election victory restored his family to the seat of power.