Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

BEIJING, Dec 25 (APP): Pakistan’s National Pavilion on JD.com, China’s famous e-commerce platform was launched aimed at providing a useful platform to Pakistani and Chinese traders to promote Pakistan’s high-quality products through China’s huge online market.

Pakistan Ambassador to China, Moin ul Haque inaugurated Pakistan’s first online national pavilion in China at a simple ceremony held at the Embassy of Pakistan.

Vice President of Prestige International, Ms. Sisy Ge, Senior Advisor of Prestige International, Luo Xiangdon and senior Pakistani officials were present.

BEIJING, Dec 25 (APP): China and Pakistan are closely cooperating in marine information research and marine environmental data sharing, revealed by the recently held 3rd China-Pakistan Marine Information Workshop by China’s Harbin Engineering University and COMSATS University Islamabad.

As a comprehensive and interdisciplinary field, ocean information involves multiple areas including electronics, information, communication, computer science, network, artificial intelligence, etc.

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 25 (NNN-Bernama) — The Malaysian ringgit is expected to extend its uptrend momentum against the US dollar next week, riding on positive market sentiment as fears over Omicron subside.

Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd chief economist Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the latest news that the Omicron variant might be less lethal than its predecessors suggested that the reopening of the economy would continue to progress well, resulting in more lively economic activities.

BANGKOK, Dec 25 (NNN-Bernama) — The amendment to Thailand’s Sports Doping Control Act 2012 is expected to be completed next month in bid to end a ban imposed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Government Spokesperson Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said Thailand has been amending 24 sections of the law related to WADA standards, with the draft amendments to be submitted to the cabinet next Tuesday.

“The amendment process is expected to completed by January 2022.

TOKYO, Dec 24 (Reuters) - Japan's cabinet approved on Friday an annual budget of $940 billion that is a record for a tenth straight year, putting priority on the response to battling COVID-19 and the prime minister's aim of growth and wealth distribution.

The budget of 107.6 trillion yen ($941.55 billion) for the fiscal year that starts in April 2022 is Japan's biggest initial spending plan, underscoring a priority of reviving the pandemic-hit economy over returning to long-term fiscal health.

Dec 23 (Reuters) - Three doses of Sinovac's CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccine do not produce adequate levels of antibodies to fight the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, researchers from Hong Kong said in a statement.

Their analysis revealed Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was more effective, as a third dose of the shot administered after two doses of the same or China's Sinovac vaccine provided "protective levels" of antibody against Omicron.

BEIJING, Dec 22 (Reuters) - China "fully affirms" the work of Hong Kong's chief executive, Carrie Lam, and her government, Premier Li Keqiang has said, according to media in the Asian financial hub.

Lam is visiting Beijing this week to deliver an annual briefing to Chinese leaders.

24 Dec 2021; MEMO: China on Friday lashed out at the US over a new law related to Uyghurs, saying it "should save the labels of 'forced labour' and 'genocide' for itself", Anadolu Agency reported.

BEIJING, Dec 22 (Reuters) - China "fully affirms" the work of Hong Kong's chief executive, Carrie Lam, and her government, Premier Li Keqiang has said, according to media in the Asian financial hub.

Lam is visiting Beijing this week to deliver an annual briefing to Chinese leaders.

Dec 25 (Reuters) - Xian in northwest China reported an increase in daily COVID-19 infections for Friday, and local companies curtailed activity as the country's latest COVID-19 hot spot entered its third day of lockdown.

The city of 13 million detected 75 domestically transmitted cases with confirmed symptoms for Friday, its highest daily count of the year and reversing the previous day's decline, official data showed on Saturday.