Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

TOKYO, Feb 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Japan has requested that airlines avoid using Boeing 777 planes with Pratt & Whitney 4000 engines for take-offs, landings and overflights in its territory until further notice, the Japan Aeronautical Information Service Center said.

The notice to airmen, issued on Sunday evening, came after a United Airlines 777 landed safely at Denver International Airport on Saturday after its right engine failed.

JAKARTA, Feb 22 (NNN-CNA) — The Indonesian capital of Jakarta could see more flooding and landslides this week as the meteorology agency predicted rains of moderate to heavy intensity to sweep through the city over the next few days.

The rains will primarily hit Jakarta in the evening and last well into the morning, Mdm Dwikorita Karnawati, chief of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) said in a statement.

BEIJING (Reuters) - “Loopholes” in Hong Kong’s laws must be closed to ensure the city is governed by “patriots”, a top Beijing official said on Monday, signalling changes to the Chinese-ruled city’s electoral system, potentially as early as next month.

Any changes could further limit who could run in a postponed legislative election and may lead to the disqualification of most lower-level district councillors - the majority of them being pro-democracy politicians, sources have told Reuters.

BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday called on U.S. policymakers to abandon biases, give up unwarranted suspicions, and move to bring the China policy back to reason to ensure a healthy and steady development of China-U.S. relations.

Wang made the remarks when delivering a speech at the opening of the Lanting Forum in Beijing, with the theme of "Promoting Dialogue and Cooperation and Managing Differences: Bringing China-U.S. Relations Back to the Right Track."

TOKYO (AP) — Global shares were mostly lower on Monday, with Japan’s benchmark rising but most others slipping despite hopes for a recovery from the coronavirus pandemic with the global rollout of vaccines.

France’s CAC 40 slipped 1.1% in early trading to 5,708.39, while Germany’s DAX dove 1.3% to 13,816.87. Britain’s FTSE 100 declined 1.1% to 6,554.12. U.S. shares were to open lower, with the future contract for the Dow industrials sliding 0.7% to 31,224. The S&P 500 future fell nearly 1% to 3,865.12.

BEIJING (AP) — China’s top diplomat called Monday for new U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration to lift restrictions on trade and people-to-people contacts while ceasing what Beijing considers unwarranted interference in the areas of Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s comments at a Foreign Ministry forum on U.S.-China relations come as Beijing presses the new administration in Washington to drop many of the confrontational measures adopted by former President Donald Trump.

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Protesters gathered in Myanmar’s biggest city Monday despite the ruling junta’s thinly veiled threat to use lethal force if people answered a call for a general strike opposing the military takeover three weeks ago.

Despite roadblocks around the U.S. Embassy in Yangon, more than a thousand protesters gathered there, while 20 military trucks with riot police had arrived nearby.

SEOUL, Feb. 21 (APP): South Korean Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Choi Jong Kun held a meeting with Pakistan Ambassador to Korea, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch and had a broad exchange of views on relations between South Korea and Pakistan and cooperation on multilateral issues.

The two sides agreed to work together to hold a bilateral policy consultation within this year, thereby creating an opportunity to explore ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries, official sources informed.

BEIJING, Feb 21 (APP): The massive human rights violations such as siege, communication blackout and false incrimination of the innocent civilians have raised eyebrows of the international community with human rights organizations questioning the aggression against the Kashmiri people fighting for their right for self-determination guaranteed under United Nations Security resolutions.

MANDALAY, Myanmar (AP) — Riot police in Myanmar shot dead two anti-coup protesters and injured several others on Saturday, as security forces increased pressure on popular revolt against the military takeover.

One of the victims was shot in the head and died immediately during the latest rally in the second-largest city of Mandalay, according to Frontier Myanmar, a news and business magazine. Another was shot in the chest and died en route to a hospital.