Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

MANILA, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- The United States can not whitewash its failure in COVID-19 pandemic response by smearing China on origins tracing, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian said Monday.

"The U.S. administration, in disregard of science and in favor of political manipulation, has persistently instructed its intelligence community to compile a so-called report on the origins of COVID-19 and released a statement slandering and attacking China," Huang wrote in an article published in the Manila Times, a daily English-language newspaper in the Philippines.

BEIJING, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry was invited to visit China from Aug. 31 to Sept. 3, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment said Tuesday.

During the period, China Special Envoy for Climate Change Xie Zhenhua will hold talks with John Kerry in Tianjin to exchange views on topics including the Sino-U.S. climate change cooperation and the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. 

BANGKOK (AP) — Thai lawmakers on Tuesday began a no-confidence debate targeting Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and five of his Cabinet members, with the opposition focusing on charges the government bungled its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The debate is scheduled to last four days, with voting by the lower house set for Saturday. Organizers of ongoing anti-government street protests have vowed to step up their own separate efforts during the debate to force Prayuth out of office.

BEIJING (AP) — China’s factory activity decelerated in August as export demand weakened, a survey showed Tuesday.

The monthly purchasing managers’ index of the Chinese statistics bureau and an official industry group declined to 50.1 from July’s 50.4 on a 100-point scale on which numbers above 50 show activity increasing.

A sub-measure of new exports fell by a full point from the previous month to 46.7, according to the National Bureau of Statistics and the China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing.

TOKYO (AP) — U.S. climate envoy John Kerry met in Tokyo on Tuesday with Japan’s top diplomat to push efforts to fight climate change ahead of a United Nations conference in November.

Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi highlighted what he said was the importance of getting other major carbon emitters, especially China, to cooperate.

TOKYO (AP) — Global shares were mostly higher Tuesday, despite continuing concerns about rising COVID-19 cases in Asia and parts of the U.S. and Europe.

France’s CAC 40 edged up nearly 0.1% in early trading to 6,693.02, while Germany’s DAX was up 0.5% at 15,970.67. But Britain’s FTSE 100 slipped 0.1% to 7,141.30. U.S. shares were set to drift higher with Dow futures up 0.2% at 35,417.00. S&P 500 futures rose 0.2% to 4,535.50.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 30 (NNN-Bernama) — A total of 30 Cabinet ministers and 37 deputy ministers were sworn in before the King, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah at Istana Negara here today.

The Queen, Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah was in attendance.

The new Cabinet line-up under Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s administration comprising 31 ministers including four senior ministers and 38 deputy ministers was announced last Friday.

TAIPEI, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Taiwan launched a new English-language news and media streaming platform on Monday aiming to give it a greater voice on the world stage and help to tackle Beijing's "squeeze" of the Chinese-claimed island on the world stage.

Taiwan+, backed by T$775 million ($28 million) in government funding, will broadcast content online focusing on news, as well as features about Taiwan, from food and tourism to culture and technology.

TOKYO, Aug 30 (Reuters) - The Japanese government is considering holding a general election on Oct. 17, Kyodo news said on Monday citing government sources, even as public support for Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga hits record lows in two new opinion polls.

Suga has failed to capitalise on delivering the Olympics for the country, currently being hit hard by a fresh wave of coronavirus infections. The government has declared a fourth state of emergency in most of the country amid a sluggish vaccination rollout.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob is under self-quarantine after coming into close contact with a COVID-19 patient, the government said on Monday.

Ismail Sabri was not able to attend the swearing-in ceremony of his cabinet, which was held at the National Palace on Monday, the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.

It added that he would virtually attend the National Day Celebration scheduled for Tuesday.