Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

BEIJING, Dec 23 (APP): The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member countries jointly foiled more than 360 terrorists and extremist schemes last year and arrested 695 suspects, Liu Jie, deputy director of the executive committee of the SCO’s regional anti-terrorist structure, said.

More than 160,000 posts and 3,000 social media accounts containing terrorist and extremist content had also been blocked under the SCO framework, he was quoted by China Daily here on Monday.

BEIJING, December 23. /TASS/: Concerns of the United States about the humanitarian situation in Syria are hypocritical, the US position is founded on double standards, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang told a briefing on Monday, responding to stark criticism of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo regarding decisions taken by Russia and China to veto a draft resolution on cross-border humanitarian aid to Syria at the UN Security Council.

23 December 2019; AFP: China Monday denied allegations that prisoners were being used for forced labour, after a British newspaper reported that a London schoolgirl found a message in a Christmas card claiming to be from inmates at Shanghai's Qingpu Prison.

MANILA (Reuters) - At least 11 people have been killed and more than 300 treated in hospital after drinking coconut wine in the Philippines, including some who were celebrating at a Christmas party, health and local authorities said on Monday.

The poisoning occurred in Laguna and Quezon, two provinces south of Manila, and all had consumed lambanog, a drink popular in provinces and consumed widely during holidays and celebrations.

Many were admitted to hospitals on the urging of mayor Vener Munoz in Rizal, Laguna, where the deaths occurred between Thursday and Sunday.

TOKYO, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to hold talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on the sidelines of a trilateral summit scheduled to be held on Tuesday in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, government officials said Monday.

On the fringes of the summit, the pair who have not held formal talks in around 15 months are expected to address the souring of ties between both countries that have hindered their diplomatic and trade relations.

HONG KONG, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Five Hong Kong youths will join the United Nations next year as the first batch of Hong Kong junior professional officers (JPO) recommended by China's central government to the UN, Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) announced Monday in a ceremony.

This is the first time that Hong Kong SAR takes part in the JPO program.

BEIJING, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- China on Monday expressed strong dissatisfaction with the United States over the negative contents distorting and smearing China's military development and on issues relating to Taiwan, Hong Kong and Xinjiang as well as prohibited purchase of Chinese products, in the U.S. 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, said a Foreign Ministry spokesperson.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang told a news briefing that China has lodged solemn representations with the United States over this.

BEIJING (AP) — China said Monday it will reduce tariffs Jan. 1 on more than 850 foreign products including frozen pork, asthma medications and some high-tech components to spur economic development.

The announcement followed an interim trade agreement with Washington in a tariff war that has rattled financial markets.

The step adds to a series of tariff cuts over the past two years that Beijing says are aimed at improving supplies of consumer goods and encouraging competition. Chinese officials say they should not be seen as concessions to U.S. pressure.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A new satellite image of a factory where North Korea makes military equipment used to launch long-range missiles shows the construction of a new structure.

The release of several images from Planet Labs comes amid concern that North Korea could launch a rocket or missile as it seeks concessions in stalled nuclear negotiations with the United States.

North Korea has warned that what “Christmas gift” it gives the U.S. depends on what action Washington takes.

SINGAPORE, Dec 23 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Two Malaysian men were arrested for bringing in four bottles of brown liquid, believed to be Kratom on Dec 10 at Jurong Port, according to Singapore’s Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA).

In its Facebook page Sunday, ICA said its officers discovered the bottles in a Malaysia-registered lorry conveying metal beams.

“Two other bottles containing remnants of a similar liquid were also found. The bottles were hidden beneath and behind the driver’s seat,” it said.