Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong protesters made long human chains and marched through shopping malls on New Year’s Eve, urging people not to give up the fight for democracy in 2020, while police were out in force across the city to quell any unrest.

Authorities have canceled the popular midnight fireworks for the first time in a decade, citing security concerns. A “Symphony of Lights” is planned instead, involving projections on the city’s tallest skyscrapers after a countdown to midnight.

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 30 (NNN-BERNAMA) — The 15-day visa-free stay in Malaysia next year that has been extended by the government for tourists from China and India is expected to further enhance the country’s attraction as a holiday destination.

Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association (MITA) president Uzaidi Udanis said many people in China and India travel abroad every year for their holiday and the visa exemption will attract more of them to come to Malaysia.

TOKYO, Dec 31 (NNN-NHK) – Former Nissan Motor Chairman, Carlos Ghosn, may have fled Japan and arrived in Lebanon, in possible violation of his bail conditions, which restrict overseas travel, local media reported today.

One of the ex-auto tycoon’s bail conditions was that, he was prohibited from leaving Japan, after being released from detention.

The former Nissan chief was charged with aggravated breach of trust and violating the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act and is awaiting trial here.

BANGKOK, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Thai police on Monday warned all alcohol stores against selling alcoholic beverages to the underage, or face heavy penalties.

The police are on a watch on retail stores that sell alcohol to those under the age of 20, especially during the New Year holiday as death toll for the first three days of the holiday season have already climbed to 159 on Sunday, said Pol Lt-Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapat, assistant national police chief and spokesman of the Center to Prevent and Reduce Road Accidents.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for active “diplomatic and military countermeasures” to preserve the country’s security in a lengthy speech at a key political conference possibly meant to legitimize major changes to his nuclear diplomacy with the United States.

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan’s legislature on Tuesday passed a law aimed at blocking political interference from China, less than two weeks before presidential and legislative elections.

The approval of the the Anti-Infiltration Law follows accusations that China is strongly backing candidates from the main opposition Nationalist Party, including providing campaign funds and mobilizing support on social media.

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares were lower in quiet New Year’s Eve trading on Tuesday, with many markets closed. The declines tracked a broad retreat overnight on Wall Street that erased some of the major indexes’ recent gains, though the market remains on track to end the year with its best performance since 2013.

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese experts are investigating an outbreak of respiratory illness in the central city of Wuhan that some have likened to the 2002-2003 SARS epidemic.

The city’s health commission said in a statement Tuesday that 27 people had fallen ill with a strain of viral pneumonia, seven of whom were in serious condition.

It said most had visited a seafood market in the sprawling city, apparently pointing to a common origin of the outbreak.

BEIJING (AP) — China’s Huawei Technologies said Tuesday that its sales rose a lower-than-projected 18% in 2019 and predicted tough times ahead as the U.S. moves to restrict its business.

The flash sales estimate came in an annual New Year’s message to employees. Chairman Eric Xu warned that mediocre managers would face demotion as the telecom giant and leader in 5G mobile technology focuses on survival.

TOKYO (AP) — Nissan’s former Chairman Carlos Ghosn said Tuesday from Lebanon he was not fleeing justice but instead left Japan to avoid “injustice and political persecution” over financial misconduct allegations during his tenure leading the automaker.

Ghosn had been released on bail by a Tokyo court while awaiting trial but was not allowed to travel overseas. He disclosed his location in a statement through his representatives that did not describe how he left Japan, where he had been under surveillance. He promised to talk to reporters next week.