Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

INCHEON, South Korea (Reuters) - Stephen Biegun, the U.S. special envoy for North Korea, arrived in South Korea on Sunday as Pyongyang stepped up pressure on Washington to make concessions to revive stalled denuclearization talks ahead of a year-end deadline.

Biegun’s arrival came a day after North Korea said it made another “crucial test” at a rocket launch site to develop a strategic weapon to deter U.S. nuclear threats.

Analysts said such tests could help North Korea build more reliable intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) capable of reaching the United States.

MANILA, Philippines (Reuters) - A strong earthquake struck near the Philippine city of Davao on Sunday, killing a child, damaging buildings and causing several injuries, officials said, the latest in a series of tremors to strike the southern part of the country in recent months.

The magnitude 6.8 quake was centered 61 km (38 miles) southwest of Davao on the island of Mindanao, at a depth of 28.2 km, the U.S. Geological Survey said, revising down the magnitude from an earlier 6.9.

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Small groups of anti-government protesters gathered in shopping malls across Hong Kong on Sunday amid sporadic scuffles with riot police, with Chief Executive Carrie Lam away on a visit to Beijing.

In the peak shopping season ahead of Christmas, groups of masked protesters, clad in black, marched through malls chanting slogans including “Fight for freedom” and “Return justice to us”.

BEIJING, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Saturday sent a congratulatory message to Boris Johnson on the latter's re-election as British prime minister.

In his message, Li said that China-Britain relations have generally maintained development momentum in recent years, and bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various fields enjoy huge potential.

China and Britain are both permanent members of the UN Security Council and major world economies, and their relationship bears global significance, added the premier.

BEIJING (AP) — China’s government says it will postpone planned punitive tariffs on U.S.-made automobiles and other goods following an interim trade deal with Washington.

Sunday’s announcement came after Washington agreed to postpone a planned tariff hike on $160 billion of Chinese goods and to cut in half penalties that already were imposed.

DAVAO, Dec 15 (NNN-PNA) – According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), a powerful 6.9-magnitude tremor, has hit the island of Mindanao, near the city of Davao, in the Philippines.

The epicentre of the quake was situated at 56 km (35 miles) southwest of the city, at a depth of 53 km (33 miles).

No tsunami warning has been issued by the authorities, following the quake.

At the moment, there is no information about casualties or damage, inflicted by the tremor.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea said it successfully performed another “crucial test” at its long-range rocket launch site that will further strengthen its nuclear deterrent.

The test — the second at the facility in a week, according to North Korea’s Academy of Defense Science — possibly involved technologies to improve intercontinental ballistic missiles that could potentially reach the continental United States.

BEIJING, Dec 14 (APP): China became the world’s third most popular destination for international students in 2018, receiving 10 percent of the world’s international students, ahead of many long-standing host countries.
Currently, over 28,000 Pakistani students are studying in China, out of which, over 7,000 are recipient of the Chinese government scholarship.

Number of Pakistani students had increased from 9,500 in the year 2013 to 25,000 in 2018 after the launch of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework.

BEIJING, Dec 14 (APP): The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) launched a joint online anti-terrorism exercise in China, in which competent authorities of eight SCO member states simulated a complete crackdown against online terrorist propaganda amid rising cybersecurity challenges.

NAYPYITAW (Reuters) - Thousands of supporters of Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi thronged the streets of the capital Naypyitaw on Saturday to celebrate her arrival back from The Hague, where she defended the country against genocide charges.

The Nobel laureate waved as her black car drove slowly past crowds who waved flags, held up pictures of her face and shouted jubilant greetings.