Top Asian News 3:33 a.m. GMT

China launches investigation in response to EU probes of solar, wind power and other products

BEIJING (AP) — China announced an investigation Wednesday into whether the European Union has adopted unfair trade practices in its probes of Chinese companies bidding on projects in the 27-nation bloc. The move is the latest in a brewing trade war between the two economic giants. The investigation will focus on wind power, photovoltaics, security equipment and electric trains, the Chinese Commerce Ministry said. The EU has used a new regulation to investigate companies bidding for projects within the European Union. These include a probe into whether Chinese subsidies give wind turbine companies an unfair advantage in the competition for projects in Spain, Greece, France, Romania and Bulgaria.

Papua New Guinea lawmaker pleads not guilty in Sydney court to assaulting woman

SYDNEY (AP) — Papua New Guinea’s sidelined Petroleum Minister Jimmy Maladina pleaded not guilty in a Sydney court Thursday to a charge of assaulting a woman during a domestic dispute. His lawyer Margaret Cunneen entered the plea on his behalf during his brief appearance in Waverley Local Court. Neither Maladine nor Cuneen made a statement to media waiting outside court. Police allege he assaulted a 31-year-old woman Saturday at an address in nearby Bondi in Sydney’s expensive eastern suburbs and she suffered facial injuries. A conviction on the charge of assault resulting in bodily harm could carry a potential maximum sentence of five years in prison.

A railway union strike in Sri Lanka leaves tens of thousands of commuters stranded

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — A railway union strike stopped most trains across Sri Lanka on Wednesday, leaving tens of thousands of passengers to brave the few dangerously overcrowded trains that kept running or be stranded at the station. The Station Masters’ Union launched the strike to demand that vacancies be filled and other administrative issues be resolved. Hundreds of scheduled train journeys were canceled Wednesday due to the strike, leaving the very few trains that ran jam-packed with passengers. Local TV stations showed people risking their lives to get to school and work, barely hanging on to the sides of the train while balancing on footboards made slippery by the rain.

India’s Modi discusses the Ukraine war with Austria’s leader a day after meeting Putin

VIENNA (AP) — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the war in Ukraine on Wednesday with the leader of Austria, an ally of Kyiv that has a policy of military neutrality, emphasizing the need for diplomacy a day after he met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Modi met Chancellor Karl Nehammer on what he said was the first visit to Austria by an Indian prime minister in 41 years. Nehammer told reporters it was important to understand India’s position on Ukraine and convey Europe’s concerns. He said it was an “important and significant signal” that India took part in a summit in Switzerland last month and added that Austria could act as a “bridge-builder” in helping move forward peace efforts.

Thailand’s Election Commission certifies newly elected senators despite pending complaints

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand’s Election Commission on Wednesday officially certified the 200 newly elected senators who will replace the 250 military-appointed members who have served in the upper chamber since 2019, even though official complaints about the process are still pending. The new Senate, whose first session has not yet been set, loses one of most significant powers -- the right to vote along with the House of Representatives in approving the appointment of a prime minister. That aspect was dramatically demonstrated last year when the senators, overwhelmingly conservative, blocked the progressive Move Forward party, which won the most seats in the general election, from forming a new government.

Pakistan says 1.45 million Afghans can stay for another year following UN refugee chief’s visit

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan announced Wednesday it is extending the stay of 1.45 million Afghan refugees who legally reside in the country, a day after a visit by the U.N. refugee agency. Afghan refugees with proper documentation will be able to remain in Pakistan until June 30, 2025, according to a statement issued by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s office. On Tuesday, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi urged Pakistani authorities to extend the validity of their registration cards — critical identity documents. The previous stay extension issued by Pakistan’s government ended June 30, causing broad uncertainty and fear they may be repatriated.

China and Bangladesh reaffirm their ties as territorial and economic issues rise in the region

BEIJING (AP) — China and Bangladesh are reaffirming their ties during a visit by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Beijing on Wednesday as tensions rise in the region over territorial disputes and resources. China’s official Xinhua News Agency quoted Wang Huning, a member of China’s Politburo Standing Committee who met with Hasina, as saying that “China and Bangladesh have respected and treated each other with equality, setting a good example of friendly coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation between countries.” Xinhua reported Hasina later met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and “elevated their relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.” No details were given.

Takeaways from AP’s report on how China’s textile recycling efforts take a back seat to fast fashion

WENZHOU, China (AP) — China is the world’s largest textile producer and consumer, throwing away 26 million tons of clothes each year, mostly made of unrecyclable synthetics. A recycling factory in Zhejiang province on China’s east coast repurposes discarded cotton clothes to try to deal with the urgent waste problem. So, too, are young innovative designers in Shanghai, by remaking old garments into new ones or creating clothing out of waste items such as plastic bottles, fishing nets, flour sacks and even pineapple leaves. But these efforts are dwarfed by giant fast-fashion brands churning out cheap synthetic garments for a consumer base spreading rapidly across the world.

26 million tons of clothing end up in China’s landfills each year, propelled by fast fashion

WENZHOU, China (AP) — At a factory in Zhejiang province on China’s eastern coast, two mounds of discarded cotton clothing and bed linens, loosely separated into dark and light colors, pile up on a workroom floor. Jacket sleeves, collars and brand labels protrude from the stacks as workers feed the garments into shredding machines. It’s the first stage of a new life for the textiles, part of a recycling effort at the Wenzhou Tiancheng Textile Company, one of the largest cotton recycling plants in China. Textile waste is an urgent global problem, with only 12% recycled worldwide, according to fashion sustainability nonprofit Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

New top US envoy to Taiwan pledges to help the island with self-defense as threats from China loom

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — The United States’ new top envoy to Taiwan promised Wednesday that Washington will help the self-ruled island defend itself as China ramps up its military threats. The weight of the message from Raymond Greene, who assumed his new role as director of the American Institute in Taiwan on Monday, was underscored by the strong show of force from China’s People Liberation Army displayed toward Taiwan on the same day. “First of all, and the most important thing, the U.S. will strongly support Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities,” Greene said as he met with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te. “We both have common and long-term interests in peace and stability over the Taiwan Strait.” Lai said Taiwan will strive to maintain the status quo with Beijing, which claims the island democracy of 23 million people as its own territory, to be reclaimed by force if necessary.