Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

China releases action plan to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030

BEIJING, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The State Council, China's cabinet, has released an action plan to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030.

The plan puts forward China's main objectives for the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) and the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), including increasing the share of non-fossil energy consumption, improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

Myanmar skips ASEAN summit after its military ruler excluded

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Southeast Asian leaders began their annual summit without Myanmar on Tuesday amid a diplomatic standoff over the exclusion of the leader of the military-ruled nation from the group’s meetings.

Myanmar skipped the summit in protest after the Association of Southeast Asian Nations shut out its top general from its meetings.

ASEAN’s refusal to allow Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing to represent Myanmar at the summit was its harshest rebuke yet of the country’s military rulers since they ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi in February.

Japan’s Princess Mako marries commoner, loses royal status

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Princess Mako quietly married a commoner without traditional wedding celebrations Tuesday and said their marriage — delayed three years and called unfit by some — “was a necessary choice to live while cherishing our hearts.”

The marriage to Kei Komuro cost Mako her royal status and she has taken her husband’s surname — the first time she has had a family name. Most Japanese women must abandon their own family names upon marriage due to a law requiring only one surname per married couple.

Pakistan: PIA to airlift 15 million Sinovac vaccine doses from Oct 29 to Nov 2

BEIJING, Oct 25 (APP): Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will transport 15 million Sinovac vaccines by five special aircraft from the Capital International Airport Beijing to Islamabad from October 29 to November 2. The national flag carrier will launch PAK-6857, PAK-6858, PK-6856, PK-6852 and PK-6853 respectively to transport Covid-19 vaccines from October 29 to November 2, PIA Country Manager, Qadir Bux Sangi told APP here on Monday.

PM Ismail Sabri To Lead Malaysian Delegation To 38th And 39th ASEAN Summits, Related Summits

PUTRAJAYA (Malaysia), Oct 25 (NNN-Bernama) — Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob will lead the Malaysian delegation to the 38th and 39th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits scheduled from Oct 26 to 28 via video conferencing.

Foreign Ministry (Wisma Putra) in a statement on Monday said the Prime Minister will be accompanied by the Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah, Senior Minister of International Trade and Industry Mohamed Azmin Ali, as well as senior government officials.

Indonesian President Calls On ASEAN To Accelerate Vaccination, Reactivate Safe Travels, Promote Digital Economy

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 (NNN-Bernama) — Indonesian President Joko Widodo, also known as Jokowi, has underlined three main keys for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to restart activities and accelerate economic recovery post-COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking at the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit 2021 held virtually on Monday, he said accelerating vaccination against the coronavirus is the first key as healthcare remains as the 10-member bloc’s utmost priority.

Canada Keen On Free Trade Agreement With ASEAN, Australia Wants More Trade

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 (NNN-Bernama) — Canada is exploring ways to take its relationship with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to the next level including to a possible free trade agreement, while Australia wants to boost trade with the grouping including in green economy.

President Biden to attend ASEAN-U.S. summit on Tuesday

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Oct 25 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden will attend a meeting with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Tuesday, the U.S. embassy in Brunei told Reuters.

Biden will lead the U.S. delegation for the ASEAN-United States summit, the embassy said. The virtual summit will be held as part of ASEAN leaders' meeting this week.

Amnesty to shut Hong Kong offices given national security law risks

HONG KONG, Oct 25 (Reuters) - International rights group Amnesty International said on Monday it would close its Hong Kong offices because a China-imposed security law had now made it "effectively impossible" for rights groups to work freely without the risk of reprisals.

Anjhula Mya Singh Bais, the chair of Amnesty’s international board, said in a statement that the two offices would close by year-end, noting an intensification of a crackdown that has forced at least 35 groups to disband under the law this year.

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