Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

With US absent, world's exporters turn attention to China

7 Nov 2018; AFP: There is a notable no-show among the dozens of national pavilions at Shanghai's massive import fair -- the United States -- a metaphor for isolationist Trump policies that attendees say are pushing them closer to China.

The China International Import Expo opened Monday with thousands of foreign companies wooing Chinese buyers with products including Italian helicopters, Canadian fur, Dominican cigars, and Japanese fresh fish.

Chinese ‘gait recognition’ tech IDs people by how they walk

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese authorities have begun deploying a new surveillance tool: “gait recognition” software that uses people’s body shapes and how they walk to identify them, even when their faces are hidden from cameras.

Already used by police on the streets of Beijing and Shanghai, “gait recognition” is part of a push across China to develop artificial-intelligence and data-driven surveillance that is raising concern about how far the technology will go.

Malaysia charges another former ally of ex-PM Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian prosecutors charged another former ally of ex-Prime Minister Najib Razak with multiple counts of corruption on Monday as the government continues investigation into the alleged wrongdoing by its predecessor.

Musa Aman, former chief minister of state of Sabah, was charged with 35 counts of corruption involving 263 million ringgit (about 63 million U.S dollars).

The charges involved receiving bribes to approve timber concessions during Musa's 2003 to 2018 tenure as chief minister.

China to continue Iran trade despite new US sanctions

Beijing, Nov 5 (AFP) China denounced new US sanctions targeting Iran's oil and financial sectors as "long-arm jurisdiction" on Monday and vowed to continue its bilateral trade with the Islamic republic.

The measures, which took effect on Monday, follow US President Donald Trump's decision to abandon a multi-nation nuclear deal with Tehran, which he said was flawed and does not adequately constrain Iran's destabilising behaviour in the Middle East.

China's imports of goods, services to exceed USD 40 trillion in 15 yrs: Xi

Beijing, Nov 5 (PTI) China's imported goods and services are set to exceed USD 40 trillion in the next 15 years, President Xi Jinping pledged Monday as he kicked off a major import fair in which India and 80 other countries are participating.

An Indian delegation led by Commerce Secretary Anup Wadhawan is taking part the first China International Import Expo inaugurated in the eastern metropolis of Shanghai.

N Korea welcomes Cuban president to Pyongyang

Pyongyang , Nov 4; AFP: Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel was due in Pyongyang on Sunday, North Korea's state media reported, describing the visit as a "historic event" highlighting the "invincible friendship" of the two allies.

The visit comes amid stalled talks between North Korea and the United States and only days after Washington imposed fresh economic restrictions on Cuba.

Washington's ties with Havana were fully restored in 2015 after more than half a century of enmity, but have deteriorated since President Donald Trump took office.

Bill Gates predicts taxes on robots will help people keep their jobs

TOKYO, November 4. /TASS/. American billionaire, founder of Microsoft Bill Gates believes that the tax system will change in the future, and a special tax on robots will be introduced to help people keep their jobs. He made this statement in an interview with Japan’s Nikkei newspaper.

"[With] the idea that robots will help us make more goods and services with less people, we have defined the job is not the only thing that we were born to do. If we have to work less, then yes, it is a question of how we should spend that time," Gates said.

China says willing to help Pakistan over fiscal crisis

BEIJING (AP) — Close ally China said Saturday it was willing to offer assistance to Pakistan to help it weather its current fiscal woes but that terms of such aid are still being discussed.

That followed a meeting in Beijing between Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Pakistan’s newly elected Prime Minister Imran Khan, who met the previous day with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Pakistan’s growing fiscal crisis has raised questions about its ability to repay Chinese loans granted as part of Beiing’s “Belt and Road” infrastructure initiative.

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