Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

BANGKOK (AP) — Iran continues to produce uranium metal, which can be used in the production of a nuclear bomb, the United Nation’s atomic watchdog confirmed Tuesday, in a move that further complicates the possibility of reviving a landmark 2015 deal with world powers on the Iranian nuclear program.

In a report issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna to member nations, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said that his inspectors had confirmed on Saturday that Iran had now produced 200 grams of uranium metal enriched up to 20%.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia’s king summoned the heads of political parties on Tuesday as he swiftly began the task of selecting a new prime minister amid a worsening coronavirus outbreak.

BEIJING (AP) — Global stock markets and Wall Street futures sank Tuesday amid turmoil in Afghanistan and unease about China’s economic outlook after weak July activity.

Investors looked ahead to a speech by Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell for an update on the health of the biggest global economy. Traders also awaited U.S. retail sales and factory data.

Markets in London and Frankfurt opened lower. Shanghai, Tokyo and Hong Kong retreated.

BEIJING (AP) — China has expressed a willingness to hold talks with the U.S. to promote a “soft landing” in Afghanistan, while heavily criticizing Washington and again demanding that the Biden administration halt its attacks on China.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in a phone call Monday with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, blamed what he called America’s “hasty” military withdrawal the chaos accompanying the Talibain’s seizure of power in Afghanistan, according to a Foreign Ministry statement dated Tuesday.

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — The defense team for the former head of state of Cambodia’s brutal Khmer Rouge regime argued Tuesday that his genocide conviction should be overturned, calling into question evidence presented at his original trial before an international tribunal.

In the second day of Khieu Samphan’s appeal, attorney Anta Guissé told judges that evidence of killings of Vietnamese minorities in Cambodian border provinces Prey Veng and Svay Rieng was weak, and questioned whether the slayings rose to the level of genocide.

TAIPEI, Aug 16 (Reuters) - Taiwan has rejected an application for the emergency use of UBI Pharma's (6562.TWO) COVID-19 vaccine candidate, the government said on Monday, though the president said she would get a separate domestic shot in a show of support for the scheme.

Although Taiwan has ordered millions of Moderna (MRNA.O) and AstraZeneca (AZN.L) shots, developing a local vaccine has been a major goal and it is due next week to start administering its first domestic vaccine, made by Medigen Vaccine Biologics (6547.TWO).

BANGKOK, Aug 16 (Reuters) - Thai police used water cannon and tear gas to disperse protesters near the office of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha on Monday, as opposition parties moved to censure him in parliament over his handling of a COVID-19 crisis.

Hundreds of protesters marched on the Government House to demand Prayuth resigns, the latest show of growing public anger about a worsening epidemic and a chaotic vaccine rollout.

MANILA, Aug 16 (Reuters) - Exhausted by the COVID workload, Loui quit her job as an intensive care unit nurse at a private hospital in the Philippines earlier this year.

The 30-year old, who declined to give her last name for fear of reprisals, is among thousands of medical workers who have resigned during the pandemic, complaining of low pay and poor working conditions. Others have sought better jobs abroad.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah has accepted the resignation tendered by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and his cabinet, the national palace said on Monday.

Sultan Abdullah also appointed Muhyiddin as the caretaker prime minister until his successor was chosen, the national palace said in a statement.

In a televised address, Muhyiddin said he resigned as he had lost the majority support in the lower house of parliament.

TOKYO, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- The support rate of Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's cabinet decreased by 4.1 points from a month ago to a record low of 31.8 percent, and 65.1 percent of people show their unwillingness for Suga to remain in his post, local media reported Monday.

The disapproval rating increased by 0.8 points to 50.6 percent, the highest level on record since the launch of the Suga cabinet last September.