Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

TOKYO, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Japanese government said on Monday that it would ease quarantine rules for travelers who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 starting Oct. 1, shortening the required period for self-isolating at home from 14 days to 10 days.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said at a press conference that people who have been fully vaccinated would be allowed to go outside after a 10-day quarantine period as long as their COVID-19 tests were negative.

BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- China urges the United States to stop using democracy as a tool to suppress other countries, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Monday.

Spokesperson Hua Chunying told a press briefing when asked to comment on the remarks made by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the global summit for democracy proposed by the United States.

Hua said the so-called "democracy summit" put together by the United States is, in essence, drawing ideological lines and engaging in bloc politics.

TOKYO (AP) — Global shares were mixed Monday, as fears of further waves of coronavirus outbreaks clouded the economic outlook for the region, tempering gains.

France’s CAC 40 added 0.6% to 6,678.66 in early trading, while Germany’s DAX gained nearly 0.9% to 15,667.40. Britain’s FTSE 100 edged up 0.3% to 7,072.39. U.S. shares were set for gains, with the future for the Dow industrials up 0.5% at 34,840.00. The S&P 500 future rose 0.4% to 4,462.25.

BEIJING (AP) — Global shoppers face possible shortages of smartphones and other goods ahead of Christmas after power cuts to meet government energy use targets forced Chinese factories to shut down and left some households in the dark.

In the northeastern city of Liaoyang, 23 people were hospitalized with gas poisoning after ventilation in a metal casting factory was shut off following a power outage, according to state broadcaster CCTV. No deaths were reported.

SHENZHEN, China/TORONTO, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou arrived in China on Saturday, ending her near three-year U.S. extradition fight, the same day two Canadians detained by Beijing for more than 1,000 days returned home, potentially paving the way for improved ties between China and the two western allies.

Meng, the daughter of Huawei Technologies founder Ren Zhengfei, was allowed to go home after reaching an agreement with U.S. prosecutors on Friday to end a bank fraud case against her.

MANILA, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- China delivered an additional batch of Sinovac CoronaVac vaccines to the Philippines on Sunday to support the Southeast Asian country's COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

China has been delivering CoronaVac to the Philippines since Feb. 28. It was the first to provide coronavirus vaccines to the Philippines, allowing the country to kick off its vaccination drive on March 1.

BANGKOK (AP) — In his speech last week to open the U.N. General Assembly, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres bracketed Myanmar with Afghanistan and Ethiopia as nations where “peace and stability remain a distant dream.”

He declared unwavering support for the people of the turbulent, military-ruled Southeast Asia state “in their pursuit of democracy, peace, human rights and the rule of law.”

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea on Sunday urged North Korea to restore dormant communication hotlines, a day after the North repeated an offer to open conditional talks.

The North might be seeking to extract concessions about two weeks after it raised tensions by carrying out its first missile tests in six months. North Korea has twice reached out to South Korea saying it’s open to talks if conditions are met.

Taipei, Sep 25 (AP-PTI) Taiwan's main opposition Nationalist Party chose former leader Eric Chu as its new chairperson Saturday in an election overshadowed by increasing pressure from neighbor China.

Four candidates, including incumbent chair Johnny Chiang, had competed for the leadership of the party that has advocated closer relations with Beijing.

That means agreeing to Beijing's demand that it regard Taiwan as a part of China, something Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party has refused to do.

YANGON, Sept 25 (NNN-MNA) – Five suspects were arrested, in connection with vandalism of aircraft in Myanmar, state media reported today.

A flight of Air KBZ, which planned to fly to Heho of Shan state from Yangon, was replaced with another, as leaves were found in both of the pilot tubes of the aircraft, before its journey on Aug 12, the report said.

Due to a malfunction of Auto Pilot System, the replaced flight had to return to the Yangon International Airport seven minutes after take-off, and it was later found out that both pilot tubes were stuffed with leaves.