Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Uncertainty grew over the political fate of Malaysia’s 94-year-old Mahathir Mohamad on Friday after the royal palace rejected a plan for selecting a new prime minister announced by the man who has dominated the country for decades.

Mahathir’s party dropped him as its candidate for the premiership, and chose his next-in-line Muhyiddin Yassin, four days after the world’s oldest head of government plunged Malaysia into turmoil by resigning unexpectedly.

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 28 (Bernama) — For the first time in Malaysia’s history, Parliament will get to decide on who becomes prime minister.

This follows the announcement by Interim Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad Thursday that a special sitting of the Dewan Rakyat (lower house of Parliament) will be held on Monday (March 2) for MPs to elect the eighth prime minister to end the political crisis the country is mired in now.

BANGKOK, Feb 28 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Thailand Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-o-cha has seen off a bid to remove his government, winning a no-confidence vote by 272 to 49.

The other five cabinet members – Deputy Prime Ministers Prawit Wongsuwan and Wissanu Krea-ngam, Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda, Foreign Affairs Minister Don Pramudwinai and Deputy Agriculture Minister Thammanat Prompao also survived a no-confidence vote in parliament after a four-day censure debate.

For a censure motion, a resolution needs a majority of 245 votes.

JAKARTA, Feb 28 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Indonesia has temporarily shut down its mission in South Korea due to the coronavirus outbreak in the country, Anadolu Agency quoted local media as saying on Friday.

According to Indonesian daily Republika, Indonesian Ambassador in Seoul Umar Hadi said the embassy and Indonesia Investment Promotion Center are temporarily closed as of Friday, as a coronavirus case has been reported in the area.

Hadi said the embassy will be closed until further notice.

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 28 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Istana Negara will give a chance to political parties with representatives in the Dewan Rakyat to nominate candidates for the post of prime minister. 

A statement issued by the Comptroller of the Royal Household, Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin, said today.

“Istana Negara will contact the heads of political parties with representatives in the Dewan Rakyat to give them an opportunity to nominate names of Dewan Rakyat members for the post of prime minister,” it said.

(AP) --- Fear of the spreading coronavirus has led to a global run on sales of face masks despite medical experts’ advice that most people who aren’t sick don’t need to wear them.

Many businesses are sold out, while others are limiting how many a customer can buy. Amazon is policing its site, trying to make sure sellers don’t gouge panicked buyers.

In South Korea, hundreds lined up to buy masks from a discount store. Rumors that toilet paper and napkins could be used as masks have emptied store shelves in Asia of paper goods over the past few weeks.

TOKYO (AP) — A Japanese vice-minister for justice is heading to Lebanon for talks on the case of former Nissan Motor Co. executive Carlos Ghosn, who fled for his home country late last year while out on bail awaiting trial.

Justice Minister Masako Mori said Friday that she was dispatching the official to Beirut to explain the Japanese criminal justice system and improve cooperation.

TOKYO (AP) --- Asian stock markets fell further Friday on spreading virus fears, deepening a global rout after Wall Street endured its biggest one-day drop in nine years.

Tokyo’s benchmark fell by an unusually wide margin of 3.4% and Shanghai, Hong Kong and Seoul all dropped by more than 2%. Oil prices slumped further on expectations industrial activity and demand might decline.

BEIJING, Feb 27 (APP): The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a further $2 million to help developing countries in Asia and the Pacific contain the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and improve resilience to this and other communicable diseases.

DUSHANBE, February 27. /TASS/: The air regiment stationed in Kansk in the Krasnoyarsk Region will be rearmed with Kinzhal hypersonic cruise missiles by 2024, Central Military District Commander Colonel-General Alexander Lapin said on Thursday.

"In accordance with the plan, we are to rearm the Kansk regiment with Kinzhal hypersonic cruise missiles by 2024," the commander stated.