Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

NUR-SULTAN, August 27. /TASS/: The death toll of the fire and the subsequent explosions at a munitions depot in Kazakhstan’s Zhambyl District has increased to nine, the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Kazakhstan announced Friday.

"According to the latest data, a total of nine people died, including employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the [nearby] military unit, the militarized security and the military prosecutor’s office. The victims are currently being identified," the statement says.

Earlier reports indicated that five people died in the incident.

BEIJING, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- China firmly opposes Japan unveiling a defense white paper for children, and has lodged solemn representations with Japan, urging Japan not to mislead the next generation, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday.

Japan's defense ministry on Aug. 16 released a 30-page white paper for elementary and junior high school students on its website, which covers China's military development, the Diaoyu Islands and the South China Sea issues.

BEIJING, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- China's State Council has released a plan to boost employment during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025).

With the major goal of achieving fuller employment and creating better quality jobs, efforts should be made to implement the employment-first policy, improve the policy system, strengthen training services, and take solid steps to promote common prosperity for all, says the plan.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — U.N. human rights investigators have asked North Korea to clarify whether it has ordered troops to shoot on sight any trespassers who cross its northern border in violation of the country’s pandemic closure.

They were referring to a report by a news site focused on North Korea, Daily NK, which published a photo of what it said was a poster describing an August 2020 proclamation prohibiting acts that impede the closure of the northern border, shared mostly with China and a smaller section with Russia.

SINGAPORE (AP) — Asian stock markets were mixed Friday as investors awaited more guidance on the U.S. Federal Reserve’s easing plans.

The moves in Asia follow a pullback on Wall Street after the deadly attacks on Afghan civilians and U.S. troops at the Kabul airport on Thursday.

Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 lost 0.3% to 27,651.51 while the Kospi in South Korea added 0.3% to 3,139.00. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong was 0.6% higher at 25,559.56.

26 Aug 2021; MEMO: Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang said his government is keen to support Syria in combating the coronavirus pandemic, improving the livelihood of its people and accelerating reconstruction.

HONG KONG, Aug 26 (Reuters) - The pro-democracy group that organises Hong Kong's annual June 4 rally to commemorate those who died in the bloody Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989 is being investigated by national security police on suspicion of collusion with foreign forces.

Police sent a letter to the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China requesting information about its membership, finances and activities by Sept. 7, according to a copy the group sent to reporters.

TOKYO, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Japanese former foreign minister Fumio Kishida challenged Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Thursday for the leadership of the ruling party, as the premier struggles with crumbling approval rates ahead of a general election.

Suga repeated he would seek re-election in the Sept. 29 race for Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president, while ex-internal affairs minister Sanae Takaichi also threw her hat in the ring.

BEIJING, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson on Wednesday urged the United States to stop political manipulation on the issue of coronavirus origins tracing, saying the United States should invite WHO experts to launch a probe into Fort Detrick and the University of North Carolina (UNC) to find the source of the virus if it is bent on insisting the lab-leak theory.

TOKYO (AP) — A brief return visit to Tokyo by International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach to view the Paralympic Games has been widely criticized in Japan but defended by organizers.

Bach, who spent about a month in Japan for the recently-completed Olympics, returned the day before Tuesday’s Paralympic opening ceremony and then departed about 24 hours later after attending some events and handing out medals at the swimming venue.

Organizers said he followed all the pandemic protocols.