Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

BAKU (AZERBAIJAN), Oct 22 (Bernama) — Senior Officials from the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) began their two-day meeting here on Monday, deliberating on current developments in the international sphere and issues related to NAM member countries.

The Preparatory Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) and the Preparatory Ministerial Meeting on October 23-24 will preced the 18th Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the NAM that will be held here on Oct 25-26.

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Tuesday he would not retract his criticism of New Delhi’s actions in the disputed region of Kashmir even though Indian traders have urged a boycott of Malaysian palm oil.

The impasse could exacerbate what Mahathir described as a trade war between the world’s second biggest producer and exporter of the commodity and its biggest buyer so far this year.

BANGKOK (AP) — World shares are mixed following upbeat talk by President Donald Trump and other U.S. officials on the status of trade negotiations with China.

Britain’s FTSE 100 edged 0.1% lower to 7,155.92, while the CAC 40 in Paris lost 0.5% to 5,622.37. Germany’s DAX was flat at 12,747.46. New York was set for a tepid start, with the future contract for the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 0.1% at 26,774.00. The S&P 500 future also lost 0.1% to 3,003.40.

BEIJING, Oct 21 (APP): A seven-member Pakistan’s military delegation headed by a senior military commander of GHQ attended the opening ceremony of the 9th Beijing International Xiangshan Forum officially began at Beijing International Convention Centre here on Monday.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Chin’s Defence Minister Wei Fenghe briefed the participants about defensive military strategy of China.

BEIJING (Reuters) - The United States is not seeking to “decouple” from China and not asking any country to choose sides, a senior U.S. defense official said on Monday, offering a softer outlook on relations bruised by a bitter trade war.

China has been nervous that the United States is seeking to sever, or at least severely curb, economic ties in what has been called a “decoupling”. Beijing fears that the Trump administration wants a complete separation with China.

SHENZHEN, China, October 21, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The 27th China (Shenzhen) International Gift and Home Products Fair opened on October 20 at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center ("Shenzhen Gifts & Home Fair" for short).

Organized by Reed Huabo Exhibition Co., Ltd, this four-day fair brings together over 2,500 reliable suppliers from China and beyond presenting their most competitive and creative products at 5,300 booths across 9 halls.

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares were mixed Monday amid uncertainties about Britain’s exit from the European Union and the ongoing trade conflict between the U.S. and China.

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 gained nearly 0.3% in afternoon trading to 22,555.14. South Korea’s Kospi picked up 0.2% to 2,064.27, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng added 0.2% to 26,783.22. The S&P/ASX 200 in Australia inched up less than 0.1% to 6,652.50, while the Shanghai Composite slipped 0.2% to 2,932.96.

Shares fell in Taiwan and were mixed in Southeast Asia.

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesian President Joko Widodo was sworn in Sunday for his second and final five-year term with pledges to champion democracy and take bolder actions against poverty and entrenched corruption in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation.

Known for his down-to-earth style, Widodo opted for an austere ceremony at the heavily guarded Parliament in contrast to the festive parade and horse-drawn carriage at his first inauguration, a relaxed affair where he was cheered on by thousands of waving supporters.

WUZHEN, China (Reuters) - A “Cold War mentality” and “bully behavior” are hindering mutual trust in cyberspace, China’s propaganda chief said on Sunday at the start of the World Internet Conference in the eastern Chinese town of Wuzhen.

Huang Kunming, head of the publicity department of China’s ruling Communist Party, also said that under the pretext of national security, some countries had launched cyber attacks on countries and enterprises.

Huang did not specify which countries he was referring to.

WUZHEN, China (Reuters) - Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi Corp plans to launch more than 10 5G phones in 2020, CEO Lei Jun said on Sunday, speaking at the World Internet conference in the eastern Chinese town of Wuzhen.

Lei’s remarks come as the company faces intense competition in its home market from rival Huawei Technologies. Last month Xiaomi launched the Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro, the company’s first 5G-enabled phone for the domestic market.