Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

BEIJING (Reuters) - China’s exports rose for the first time in five months in December and by more than expected, signaling a modest recovery in demand as Beijing and Washington agreed to defuse their prolonged trade war.

The world’s largest economies are set to sign a Phase 1 trade deal on Wednesday, marking a significant de-escalation but not an end to a dispute that has rattled financial markets and threatened to derail global economic growth.

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong’s embattled leader Carrie Lam on Tuesday pledged HK$10 billion ($1.3 billion) in new relief measures to prop up an economy as it grapple with months of anti-government protests that have hurt business confidence in the city.

The proposed new spending brings the global financial hub’s total stimulus to HK$35 billion since this summer, when protests escalated and have since taken a heavy economic toll, especially in the tourism and retail sectors.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices steadied on Tuesday, after recent declines, as investors focused on the signing of a preliminary trade deal between the United States and China, the world’s top oil consumers, and on expectations of a drawdown in U.S. stockpiles.

However, price gains were capped by receding Middle East tensions, with both Tehran and Washington desisting from any further escalation after this month’s clashes.

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 14 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Malaysia is ranked the 16th most peaceful country in the world, according to the Global Peace Index (GPI) 2019.

Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu said Malaysia was also deemed the third most peaceful country in Southeast Asia behind Japan and Singapore.

“This GPI report is important and should be highlighted as it will attract foreign investors and tourists to the country.

SEOUL, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's top nuclear envoy will make a four-day visit to Washington this week for talks with his U.S. counterpart over the Korean Peninsula issues, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

Lee Do-hoon, South Korea's special representative for the Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, will travel to Washington on Wednesday to meet with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun who also serves as the chief U.S. envoy in denuclearization talks with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

BEIJING (AP) — China’s global exports ended 2019 up 0.5% despite a tariff war with the United States as Beijing and Washington prepared to sign an interim trade deal.

Exports to the United States fell 12.5% compared with 2018 to $418.5 billion following President Donald Trump’s tariff hikes on Chinese goods, customs data showed Tuesday. December sales to the U.S. market contracted 14.5% from a year earlier to $34.4 billion despite the interim agreement and conciliatory comments by both sides.

TAGAYTAY, Philippines (AP) — A volcano near the Philippine capital spewed lava, ash and steam and trembled constantly Tuesday on the third day of an eruption that could portend a much bigger and dangerous eruption, officials warned as tens of thousands of people fled ash-blanketed villages in the danger zone.

BEIJING, Jan 13 (APP): The latest, powered-up version of the JF-17 fighter jet reportedly features technologies from China’s top-notch J-20 fighter jet and made its maiden flight in December, as the warplane co-developed by China and Pakistan saw major upgrades in electronic devices that will significantly increase its combat efficiency, experts said.

BEIJING (Reuters) - The Phase 1 trade deal to be signed this week by China and the United States “stops the bleeding” but does not end the trade war, a senior U.S. Chamber of Commerce official said on Monday, warning that significant challenges remain.

Myron Brilliant, the chamber’s Executive Vice President, told a media briefings in the Chinese capital that there is “clearly a sigh of relief from both sides” with the agreement, expected to be signed on Wednesday in Washington, and that the depth of the Phase 1 was more positive than initially thought.

GEORGE TOWN, Jan 13 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Malaysia’s shadow economy accounts for 21 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) and amounts to an estimated RM300 billion, says Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.

He said the strong underground economy, which he attributed to illegal activities that are difficult to track down, should be tackeld effectively.