Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

KUALA LUMPUR, March 2 (NNN-Bernama) — Malaysia will support any effort to reconcile the differences among Myanmar’s leaders to avoid adverse consequences to the people and the state of Myanmar, said Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.

Hishammuddin said Malaysia also called for the prompt and unconditional release of detained political leaders in Myanmar, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, U Win Myint and their associates, and encouraged dialogue between parties concerned.

TOKYO (Reuters) - An American father and son accused of helping former Nissan Motor Co Ltd Chairman Carlos Ghosn flee Japan arrived in Tokyo on Tuesday to face questioning from prosecutors and the prospect of charges that could carry a three-year prison term.

The plane carrying U.S. Army Special Forces veteran Michael Taylor and his son Peter, who were extradited by U.S. authorities on Monday, landed at Tokyo’s Narita airport, and the two men were escorted on to waiting police buses, according to a Reuters witness.

TAIPEI (Reuters) - The de facto U.S. and Canadian embassies in Taiwan on Tuesday praised the quality of pineapples grown on the island, depicting photographs of their top diplomats in Taipei with the fruit after an import ban by China.

China last week stopped the import of Taiwanese pineapples, citing “harmful creatures” it said could come with the fruit.

Infuriated Taiwanese authorities called the ban a political move to further pressure the island, a charge that China denied.

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Police in Myanmar repeatedly used tear gas and rubber bullets Tuesday against crowds protesting last month’s coup, but the demonstrators regrouped after each volley and tried to defend themselves with barricades as standoffs between protesters and security forces intensified.

BEIJING, Mar 1 (APP): China on Monday said that situation in Afghanistan was still severe and complex and called upon the relevant sides and international community to deal with the peace process in Afghanistan in a responsible and constructive manner and work for political settlement for early peace and solidarity in that country.

PUTRAJAYA, March 1 (NNN-Bernama) — The Perikatan Nasional (PN) government had to take bold and proactive measures in order to protect lives and livelihoods the past one year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Muhyiddin Yassin.

The prime minister said while the government enforced the Movement Control Order (MCO) to curb the spread of the virus, it also implemented various economic stimulus packages worth RM305 billion to ease the people’s burden and ensure business continuity.

HANOI, Mar 1 (NNN-VNA) – Vietnam recorded export turnovers of nearly 48.6 billion U.S. dollars and import turnovers of roughly 47.3 billion U.S. dollars, in the first two months of this year, with a trade surplus of around 1.3 billion U.S. dollars, according to the General Statistics Office today.

The export and import revenues respectively rose 23.2 percent and 25.9 percent, year on year, said the office.

BEIJING (Reuters) - China’s aviation regulator said on Monday its major safety concerns with the Boeing Co 737 MAX had to be “properly addressed” before conducting flight tests but it was studying a plan with U.S. planemaker for clearing aircraft to fly.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) conducted comprehensive and in-depth technical scrutiny of the Boeing 737 MAX, the agency’s vice head Dong Zhiyi said, giving the regulator’s stance on the plane which China grounded in early 2019.

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares rose Monday on hopes for President Joe Biden’s stimulus package and bargain-hunting after sell offs last week.

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 surged 2.2% in morning trading to 29,587.82. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 jumped 1.5% to 6,774.00.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng advanced 0.9% to 29,253.72, while the Shanghai Composite rose 0.6% to 3,529.98 despite a survey showing slightly weaker manufacturing indicators for the month of February.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Monday that his government is eager for talks with Japan to improve relations following years of bitter feuding over historical grievances, adding that those unresolved issues should not stand in the way of developing “future-oriented” ties.