Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

FUKUOKA, Japan (AP) — The Latest on the meeting of financial leaders of the Group of 20 major economies (all times local):

1:50 p.m.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says he plans to speak one-on-one with China’s central bank governor about trade.

Mnuchin said Saturday that he would hold routine talks on various issues and then meet privately with Yi Gang, chairman of the People’s Bank of China.

FUKUOKA, Japan (AP) — Finance chiefs of the Group of 20 major economies meeting in the Japanese city of Fukuoka debated Saturday over how to revise tax systems to ensure big companies pay their fair share and support economies as global growth slows.

One aim is to prevent a “race to the bottom” by countries trying to lure companies by offering unsustainably and unfairly low tax rates as an incentive.

BEIJING, June 6 (Xinhua) -- China-U.S. trade has been mutually beneficial, and the United States has reaped substantial benefits from bilateral economic and trade cooperation, China's Ministry of Commerce said Thursday in a research report.

TOKYO (AP) — Japan is calling for further efforts to cut carbon emissions by promoting renewables but also nuclear energy despite the 2011 Fukushima reactors meltdowns.

The energy white paper, adopted by the Cabinet Friday, says Japan faces an “urgent task” of reducing carbon emissions coming from utilities that have relied heavily on fossil fuels to make up for shortages of cleaner nuclear energy. The call comes as the Fukushima nuclear reactors are slowly being restarted amid lingering anti-nuclear sentiments since the 2011 crisis.

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares were mostly higher Friday on investor optimism about a possible trade deal between the U.S. and Mexico before tariffs take effect.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained nearly 0.4% to 20,850.24 in morning trading, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.5% to 6,416.50. South Korea’s Kospi was little changed but inched up less than 0.1% to 2,069.75. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng added nearly 0.3% to 26,965.28, while the Shanghai Composite lost 1.2% to 26,965.28.

Thailand's junta chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha was elected late Wednesday as the kingdom's first civilian prime minister since the 2014 coup he led, in a vote by a parliament stacked with appointed allies of the conservative, arch-royalist army.

Prayut swept aside his sole challenger, the charismatic 40-year-old billionaire Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit who led the anti-military bloc, garnering 500 votes to his rival's 244.

6 June 2019; DW: The potential sale by the United States, Taiwan's main arms supplier, includes more than a hundred tanks, along with anti-tank and Stinger missiles.

Taiwan's Defense Ministry confirmed the request on Thursday and in a speech, President Tsai Ing-wen said "We will keep on strengthening our self-defense capabilities (and) will also keep on being a contributor to regional peace."

The list of weaponry includes:

BANGKOK (AP) — When Prayuth Chan-ocha led a military coup to take over Thailand’s government five years ago, he wore a dowdy officer’s uniform. A five-year makeover transformed him into a politician, now styled in a well-tailored Western suit or an elegant silk “suea phraratchathan,” a Thai spin on the Nehru jacket.

The now-retired general, who has run Thailand with absolute power since the 2014 coup, completed his transition to a civilian leader Wednesday when Parliament chose him as prime minister of the new government.

SINGAPORE (AP) — Asian stocks were mixed on Thursday as traders kept a close watch on impending U.S. tariffs on Mexico while trade talks with Beijing remained at a standstill.

TOKYO, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks rose Thursday morning following Wall Street's overnight lead, but gains were capped amid concerns over the United States' failure to reach a deal with Mexico on tariffs.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 56.36 points, or 0.27 percent, from Wednesday to 20,832.46.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, added 0.51 point, or 0.03 percent, at 1,530.59.