Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

Oct 22 (Reuters) - Myanmar's military government said on Friday it rejected a decision by its Southeast Asian neighbours to invite only a non-political figure to an upcoming regional summit in a snub to the leader of the Feb. 1 coup.

The junta's foreign ministry said in a press release that the heads of state or government of Myanmar enjoyed equal and full rights to participate in summits of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The next summit is due on Oct. 26-28. It is not clear who, if anybody, will now represent Myanmar at the meeting.

HONG KONG, Oct 22 (Reuters) - The Hong Kong government on Friday criticised Washington for its "safe haven" scheme for Hong Kongers to stay and work in the United States amid Beijing's crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in the Chinese territory.

In August, U.S. President Joe Biden announced a temporary safe haven scheme for Hong Kong residents, allowing what could be thousands of people to extend their stay in response to the crackdown.

Biden cited "compelling foreign policy reasons" for the plan given China's continued "assault on Hong Kong's autonomy".

LANZHOU, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- As a new wave of COVID-19 infections hits various regions in China, local authorities are taking targeted and intensive measures to contain its spread, highlighting the country's principle of putting people's lives and health first.

As of Thursday, new locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases had been reported in 10 provincial-level regions, including Shaanxi, Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Ningxia, Qinghai, and Beijing.

BEIJING (AP) — China on Friday said there is “no room” for compromise or concessions over the issue of Taiwan, following a comment by U.S. President Joe Biden that the U.S. is committed to defending the island if it is attacked.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin reasserted China’s longstanding claim that the island is its territory at a daily briefing after Biden made his comment a day before at a forum hosted by CNN.

TOKYO (AP) — Carlos Ghosn, the former auto industry superstar whose career screeched to a halt with his arrest three years ago, isn’t about to settle into quiet retirement.

The former head of the Nissan-Renault alliance fled to Lebanon in late 2019, while out on bail facing financial misconduct charges in Japan. In a recent interview with The Associated Press, Ghosn was confident, energized and determined to fight to restore his reputation.

BEIJING (AP) — China’s capital Beijing has begun offering booster shots against COVID-19, four months before the city and surrounding regions are to host the Winter Olympics.

Anyone 18 or older who have received two-dose Chinese vaccines and belong to at-risk groups, including those participating, organizing or working on games facilities, would be eligible for the additional shot, state media reported Friday.

BEIJING, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- China will accelerate the release of coal production capacity to ensure an adequate supply of energy, said Jing Jian, an official with the National Mine Safety Administration, on Wednesday.

The move aims to mitigate the recent coal supply crunch, Jing said at a press conference, adding that the country will streamline the approval process for coal production to put qualified mines into operation as soon as possible.

BEIJING, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- China strongly condemned and firmly rejected the so-called report on the political relations and cooperation between the European Union (EU) and Taiwan adopted by the European Parliament and urged the European Parliament to immediately stop its words and deeds that undermined China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Thursday.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea was preparing to test-launch its first domestically produced space rocket Thursday in what officials describe as an important step in its pursuit of a satellite launch program.

If weather and other conditions prevail, the three-stage Nuri rocket was scheduled to be launched at around 4 p.m. (700 GMT) with an aim to deliver a dummy payload — a 1.5-ton block of stainless steel and aluminum — into orbit 600 to 800 kilometers (372 to 497 miles) above Earth.

MANILA, Oct 20 (Reuters) - The Philippines has issued a diplomatic protest over Chinese vessels challenging its ships patrolling the South China Sea with sirens, horns and radio communications, its foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

Tensions between Manila and Beijing have been simmering for years in the strategic waterway where both countries have territorial claims.

"These provocative acts threaten the peace, good order, and security of the South China Sea and run contrary to China's obligations under international law," the foreign ministry said on Twitter.