APD | Weekly top 10 hot news (Sep 10- Sep 16)

APD NEWS

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Every weekend, Asia Pacific Daily will provide you with a run-down of the latest hot news.

This week, the following hot news you should know:


Top 1 | Biden to nominate career diplomat Tracy as U.S. envoy to Russia: report

U.S. President Joe Biden plans to nominate career diplomat Lynne Tracy as U.S. ambassador to Russia, Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing a source familiar with the matter.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the CNN report.

Tracy, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, served as deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow from 2014 to 2017.


Top 2 | China always Kyrgyzstan's reliable friend, partner: Xi Jinping

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday told his Kyrgyz counterpart Sadyr Zhaparov that China has always been and will continue to be a trustworthy and reliable friend and partner of Kyrgyzstan.

The two leaders met in the Uzbek city of Samarkand ahead of the 22nd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

Recalling their meeting in Beijing in February this year, Xi said they have reached a series of important consensuses after friendly, in-depth and pragmatic communication.


Top 3 | WHO: 17 million people in WHO European Region suffered long COVID-19

New research suggests at least 17 million people across the 53 member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region may have experienced long COVID-19 symptoms during the first two years of the coronavirus pandemic, with women more likely than men to suffer from the condition, the WHO said Tuesday.

The research, conducted for the WHO/Europe, was unclear on whether the symptoms that linger, recur or first appear at least one month after a coronavirus infection were more common in vaccinated or unvaccinated people. At least 17 million people met the WHO's criteria of long COVID-19 – with symptoms lasting at least three months in 2020 and 2021, the report said.

The modeling also suggests that women are twice as likely as men to experience long COVID-19, and the risk increases dramatically among severe infections needing hospitalization, the report said. One-in-three women and one-in-five men are likely to develop long COVID-19, according to the report.


Top 4 | Scots pay tribute to late Queen Elizabeth and welcome new king

The late Queen Elizabeth's coffin was taken along the Royal Mile in the Scottish capital Edinburgh on Monday in a silent and solemn procession watched by thousands of people paying their respects to Britain's longest serving monarch.

The oak coffin, draped in the Royal Standard of Scotland and with a wreath of white flowers placed on top, was then carried into St. Giles Cathedral and the crown of Scotland laid on it.

While a grieving crowd - with many people in tears - stood outside, King Charles and other members of the royal family, as well as political leaders and dignitaries, attended a service of thanksgiving for the queen.


Top 5 | Asian markets rally in early trading, building on U.S. gains

Asian markets rallied in early trading on Monday, building on the momentum of gains in the U.S. and Europe at the end of last week, as investors price in the expectation of further interest rate hikes aimed at taming inflation.

Equities in Japan, Australia, Singapore and Jakarta surged, while markets in Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland and South Korea were closed for a public holiday.

The euro continued to gain against the U.S. dollar, with investors in Europe weighing the prospect of the European Central Bank (ECB) following the U.S. Federal Reserve's lead and raising key rates.


Top 6 | Top Chinese legislator pays official goodwill visit to Russia

Li Zhanshu, chairman of China's National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, paid an official goodwill visit to Russia from Wednesday to Saturday, at the invitation of Chairman of the Russian State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin.

During his visit, Li met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the country's far eastern city of Vladivostok, held talks with Volodin and Russian Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko respectively in Moscow, and also met with leaders of the five State Duma factions.

When meeting with the Russian president, Li conveyed cordial greetings and best wishes from Chinese President Xi Jinping to Putin. He said that under the strategic guidance and personal efforts of President Xi and President Putin, the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era has maintained a strong momentum of development.


Top 7 | Xi congratulates King Charles III on accession to British throne

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday sent a congratulatory message to King Charles III on his accession to the British throne.

Xi pointed out that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries at the ambassadorial level.

The Chinese president said he is ready to work with King Charles III to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of the two countries, expand friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation, and strengthen communication on global issues, so as to bring benefits to the two countries and their peoples and contribute to world peace and development.


Top 8 | Harris criticizes 'extremist' Republican leaders

With the midterm elections less than two months away, Vice President Kamala Harris on Saturday said the "stakes could not be higher" as both parties wrestle for control of Congress.

Speaking at the Democratic National Committee's summer meeting in Maryland, Harris echoed President Joe Biden's recent attacks on "MAGA" Republican leaders who he says are a threat to the nation.

The vice president criticized the fallout from the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade as one example of such leaders attempting to "take away freedoms." At least 15 states have ceased nearly abortion services since the court's ruling in late June.


Top 9 | Biden extends 2001 terrorism national emergency for another year

The White House has announced that U.S. President Joe Biden extended the national emergency declared following the 9/11 terrorist attacks for another year on Friday.

In a statement, Biden declared that "I am continuing for one year the national emergency previously declared on September 14, 2001, in Proclamation 7463, with respect to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the continuing and immediate threat of further attacks on the United States."


Top 10 | Ukrainian President to appeal directly to U.S. defense companies

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to speak to U.S. arms makers and military leaders on Wednesday, September 21, when he is expected to make an appeal for more weapons against Russia, according to Reuters.

Zelenskyy was set to speak by video link before a conference hosted by the National Defense Industrial Association in Austin, Texas, in his first-ever speech to the U.S. defense industry.

Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov was also slated to appear and appeal for support for Ukraine.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)