Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

China’s manufacturing contracts, signaling recovery concerns

BEIJING (AP) — China’s factory activity declined in April, an official survey showed Sunday, signaling policymakers’ challenges in sustaining momentum in the country’s economic recovery.

According to the government statistics bureau and an official industry group, a monthly purchasing managers’ index declined to 49.2 from March’s 51.9 on a 100-point scale where numbers below 50 indicate activity contracting.

Uzbekistan votes on changes that extend president’s tenure

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan (AP) — Voters in Uzebekistan, the most populous former Soviet Central Asian republic, cast ballots Sunday in a referendum on a revised constitution that promises human rights reforms but that also would allow the country’s president to stay in office until 2040.

Approval appears certain. Backers have conducted an array of promotional events featuring local celebrities, and elections in Uzbekistan are widely regarded as noncompetitive.

Chinese combat drone 'circles' Taiwan

29 Apr 2023; AA: At least 38 Chinese aircraft and a combat drone crossed the Taiwan Strait early Friday, the island nation’s Defense Ministry claimed. 

The Chinese jets, including the TB-001 drone, crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s southwest, southeast, and northeast air defense identification zone (ADIZ), according to the ministry which also released the flight paths of the Chinese jets. 

Two Taiwanese wanted in shooting case back home held in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, April 29 (Bernama) — Two Taiwan nationals who were wanted in a shooting case in their country were detained at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). 

Both suspects were believed to be members of a secret society as well as members of a scam syndicate in Taiwan.          

Malaysia’s Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said both men were nabbed as soon as they arrived at KLIA on April 20 from Taiwan. 

Japan should have correct understanding of China: Chinese ambassador

TOKYO, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Japan should have a correct understanding of China from the root, adopt strategic independence, understand the trend of the times, and truly promote the stable development of bilateral relations with a constructive attitude, Chinese Ambassador Wu Jianghao said.

N. Korea insults Biden, slams defense agreement with Seoul

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The powerful sister of North Korea’s leader says her country would stage more provocative displays of its military might in response to a new U.S.-South Korean agreement to intensify nuclear deterrence to counter the North’s nuclear threat, which she insists shows their “extreme” hostility toward Pyongyang.

US ex-security adviser calls for closer ties with Taiwan

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — A former U.S. national security adviser called for deeper interaction between his country and Taiwan during a visit Saturday to the self-ruled island, which has seen increasing military threats from China.

John Bolton, a potential Republican presidential candidate in 2024, said at a pro-Taiwan independence event in Taipei that national security teams from both sides must develop contingency plans on how to respond to actions Beijing might take, warning it would be too late once an attack occurs.

11 dead, 9 still missing after boat sinks in west Indonesia

PEKANBARU (Indonesia), April 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A speedboat carrying at least 78 people sank in western Indonesia, and rescuers were searching for nine people still missing in the rough seas early on Friday.

Rescuers have retrieved 11 bodies, mostly women and children, and rescued 58 people so far, many of them unconscious after drifting in choppy waters for hours, said Nyoman Sidhakarya, the Pekanbaru Search and Rescue Agency chief.

Local television footage showed people standing on an overturned boat trying to reach a fishing boat packed with survivors.

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