Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

MANILA, Jan 2 (Reuters) - The Philippines' main gateway scrambled to resume full services on Monday after a New Year power outage jolted its air traffic control and disrupted 300 flights, prompting calls from business leaders and a top senator for urgent action.

A failure of primary and secondary power supplies caused the outage at Ninoy Aquino airport, and it should take about 72 hours for airlines to normalise their operations, said Cesar Chiong, general manager of the Manila International Airport Authority.

BEIJING, Jan 2 (Reuters) - Some people in the Chinese cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Wuhan braved the cold and a rise in COVID-19 infections to return to regular activity on Monday, raising the prospect of a boost to the economy as more recover from infections.

Among those who gathered to sled or ice skate on a frozen lake in the capital's Shichahai Lake Park, some were upbeat about the opening-up after China dropped stringent "zero-COVID" measures on Dec. 7 to adopt a strategy of living with the virus.

Jan 2 (Reuters) - World stocks inched higher, European bond yields dropped and the dollar held firm in light trading on Monday following warnings from the International Monetary Fund's managing director that a third of the world will fall into recession in 2023.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) rose 0.04%, just short of an index of global shares, which climbed 0.18%.

SEOUL, Jan 2 (Reuters) - North Korea has sacked Pak Jong Chon, the second most powerful military official after leader Kim Jong Un, state media reported.

Pak, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers' Party and a secretary of the party's Central Committee, was replaced by Ri Yong Gil at the committee's annual meeting last week, the official KCNA news agency said on Sunday.

TOKYO, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Two people were confirmed dead Monday after their bodies were found at the site of a landslide in northeastern Japan, local officials said.

Officials of Tsuruoka city in Yamagata prefecture said rescuers have found two victims at the site of the landslide, measuring 20 to 30 meters in height and 100 meters in width, that occurred at a mountain here on Saturday.

A team of about 200 people from police, firefighters and the Ground Self-Defense Force conducted a round-the-clock search, according to the Tsuruoka city office.

JAKARTA, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement has taken effect for Indonesia on Tuesday, with the country putting new regulations in place for its trade with other members of the world's largest trade bloc in terms of population and the size of economy and trade.

MACAO (AP) — Only a few tourists crisscrossed the wavy black and white paving of Macao’s historic Senado Square on a recent weekday and many of the shops were shuttered.

The gaming hub on China’s south coast near Hong Kong has endured some of the world’s strictest anti-virus controls for nearly three years, and a loosening of border restrictions after China rolled back its “zero-COVID” strategy in early December is widely expected to boost its tourism-driven economy.

BANGKOK, Jan 1 (NNN-TNA) – Fireworks lighted up the sky of Bangkok shortly before midnight Saturday, as Thailand celebrated the arrival of the New Year 2023, with high hope for tourism recovery.

Countdown events held in downtown Bangkok, gathering local and foreign tourists before a dazzling fireworks display over the Chao Phraya River, which flows through the Thai capital.

YANGON, Jan 1 (NNN-MNA) – Myanmar’s Yangon Region government, organised a cattle exhibition and competition here yesterday, to boost its livestock production.

A total of 119 cows and 76 goats were competing in the two-day weekend event, in Yangon’s Mingaladon township, according to the Yangon Region Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department.

Livestock feeds, livestock medicines and livestock products were also showcased and sold at about 15 stalls and shops during the exhibition.

SHANGHAI, Jan 1 (Reuters) - A U.S. military plane involved in a confrontation with Chinese aircraft in disputed southern waters last week had violated international law and put the safety of Chinese pilots at risk, a defence ministry spokesman said.

The U.S. military said on Thursday that a Chinese Navy J-11 fighter jet had come within 10 feet (3 metres) of a U.S. air force RC-135 aircraft on Dec 21, forcing it to take evasive manoeuvres to avoid a collision.