Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Amid the COVID-19 outbreak, certain U.S. politician's practice of shifting blame to China is immoral and irresponsible, and will not help prevent and control the epidemic in the United States, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said Thursday.

"We urge the U.S. official to respect facts and the common understanding of the international community," Geng told a press briefing. "Every minute wasted on smearing and complaining would be better spent on enhancing domestic response and international cooperation."

TOKYO (AP) — President Donald Trump’s suggestion to postpone the Tokyo Olympics for a year because of the spreading coronavirus was immediately shot down by Japan’s Olympic minister.

“The IOC and the organizing committee are not considering cancellation or a postponement — absolutely not at all,” Seiko Hashimoto, an Olympic bronze medalist, told a news conference on Friday in Tokyo.

BANGKOK (AP) — Shares plunged in Asia on Friday, with benchmarks in Japan, Thailand and India sinking as much as 10% after Wall Street suffered its biggest drop since the Black Monday crash of 1987.

Markets worldwide have retreated as fears of economic fallout from the coronavirus crisis deepen and the meltdown in the U.S., the world’s biggest economy, batters confidence around the globe.

BEIJING, Mar 12 (APP): Asian Development Bank (ADB) will make available $200 million through its Supply Chain Finance Program for companies manufacturing and distributing medicines and other items needed to combat the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Companies manufacturing and distributing products, including medicines and personal protective equipment, are increasingly strained as production and distribution ramp up to address COVID-19, according to a news release issued here on Thursday.

Beijing, Mar 12 (PTI) The coronavirus cases continue to drop sharply in China which has reported 11 new fatalities, taking the death toll to 3,169, while in the worst-hit Wuhan, the confirmed cases for the first time dropped to single digit with eight new infections, amid a surge in "imported COVID-19 cases" in the country.

China's National Health Commission, (NHC) said on Thursday it received reports of 15 new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus and 11 deaths on the Chinese mainland on Wednesday.

KUALA LUMPUR, Mar 12 (NNN-BERNAMA) —  The global economy requires an economic stimulus package worth US$3.7 trillion in order to get back to the growth model as it navigates tempestuous times and uncertainty, says an analyst.

Juwai IQI Global chief economist Shan Saeed said at the start of the year, IQI shared with its clients that macroeconomic stability has come under increased scrutiny in many countries, especially in advanced economies. 

TOKYO (Reuters) - Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda said the central bank was ready to respond with further steps to support the economy, after a meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday.

Policymakers are working to bolster fragile growth after the coronavirus epidemic added to the country’s economic pain from trade tensions and slowing global demand.

ALMATY (Reuters) - Kazakhstan is suspending all public events and closing schools and colleges in response to the coronavirus outbreak, authorities said on Thursday.

The Central Asian country, which borders China, has so far reported no coronavirus cases, but Kazakh authorities have said the arrival of the disease appeared imminent.

The government will ensure a steady supply of food and other necessities, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev wrote on Twitter, urging officials to minimize the impact of the pandemic on small- and medium-sized businesses.

BEIJING (Reuters) - Auto sales in China plunged 79% in February, marking their biggest ever monthly decline, with demand pummeled by the coronavirus outbreak.

Sales in the world’s biggest auto market tumbled to 310,000 vehicles from the same month a year earlier, falling for a 20th straight month, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) said.

“China’s auto sales for February returned levels not seen since 2005,” said Chen Shihua, a senior association official.

NAYPYITAW, Myanmar (AP) — Myanmar’s parliament rejected on Wednesday a proposed constitutional amendment that would have allowed the country’s de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, to officially become president.

The rejection had been expected because the proposal was opposed by the military, which under the constitution adopted when it held power, holds enough parliamentary seats to block any constitutional change.