Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

TOKYO, Oct 26 (NNN-NHK) – Japan today launched a new satellite into orbit, to replace the ageing first quasi-zenith satellite, which has been providing accurate global positioning data for services, such as autonomous driving cars and flying drones.

The new satellite, loaded in an H-2A rocket, was launched at 11:19 a.m. local time today from the Tanegashima Space Centre in Kagoshima Prefecture, south-western Japan.

The launch was initially scheduled for Monday, but was put off due to bad weather.

BEIJING, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chief of the Chinese side of the China-U.S. comprehensive economic dialogue, held a video conversation with U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Tuesday morning.

The two sides conducted practical, candid, and constructive exchanges on macroeconomic situation and bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

BEIJING, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The State Council, China's cabinet, has released an action plan to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030.

The plan puts forward China's main objectives for the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) and the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), including increasing the share of non-fossil energy consumption, improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong will tighten COVID-19 restrictions despite a lack of local outbreaks to better align with China’s policies and increase chances of quarantine-free travel between the territory and mainland, leader Carrie Lam said Tuesday.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Southeast Asian leaders began their annual summit without Myanmar on Tuesday amid a diplomatic standoff over the exclusion of the leader of the military-ruled nation from the group’s meetings.

Myanmar skipped the summit in protest after the Association of Southeast Asian Nations shut out its top general from its meetings.

ASEAN’s refusal to allow Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing to represent Myanmar at the summit was its harshest rebuke yet of the country’s military rulers since they ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi in February.

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Princess Mako quietly married a commoner without traditional wedding celebrations Tuesday and said their marriage — delayed three years and called unfit by some — “was a necessary choice to live while cherishing our hearts.”

The marriage to Kei Komuro cost Mako her royal status and she has taken her husband’s surname — the first time she has had a family name. Most Japanese women must abandon their own family names upon marriage due to a law requiring only one surname per married couple.

BEIJING, Oct 25 (APP): Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will transport 15 million Sinovac vaccines by five special aircraft from the Capital International Airport Beijing to Islamabad from October 29 to November 2. The national flag carrier will launch PAK-6857, PAK-6858, PK-6856, PK-6852 and PK-6853 respectively to transport Covid-19 vaccines from October 29 to November 2, PIA Country Manager, Qadir Bux Sangi told APP here on Monday.

PUTRAJAYA (Malaysia), Oct 25 (NNN-Bernama) — Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob will lead the Malaysian delegation to the 38th and 39th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits scheduled from Oct 26 to 28 via video conferencing.

Foreign Ministry (Wisma Putra) in a statement on Monday said the Prime Minister will be accompanied by the Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah, Senior Minister of International Trade and Industry Mohamed Azmin Ali, as well as senior government officials.

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 (NNN-Bernama) — Indonesian President Joko Widodo, also known as Jokowi, has underlined three main keys for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to restart activities and accelerate economic recovery post-COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking at the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit 2021 held virtually on Monday, he said accelerating vaccination against the coronavirus is the first key as healthcare remains as the 10-member bloc’s utmost priority.

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 (NNN-Bernama) — Canada is exploring ways to take its relationship with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to the next level including to a possible free trade agreement, while Australia wants to boost trade with the grouping including in green economy.