Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia’s king held unusual consultations with lawmakers for a second day Wednesday to resolve a political vacuum caused by the abrupt collapse of the ruling coalition and the resignation of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

The king’s role is largely ceremonial in Malaysia, but he appoints the person with majority support in Parliament as prime minister.

Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah met with 83 lawmakers on Tuesday and is meeting the remaining 139 now to determine who they support as prime minister and if they want fresh elections.

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares slid Wednesday following another sharp fall on Wall Street as fears spread that the growing virus outbreak will put the brakes on the global economy.

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 declined 1.1% to 22,357.39, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 dipped 2.1% to 6,720.70. South Korea’s Kospi lost 1.1% at 2,080.46. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng declined 0.6% to 26,722.29. The Shanghai Composite reversed early losses, gaining 0.3% to 3,022.21.

Shares fell in Taiwan and most of Southeast Asia but rose in Malaysia following recent losses due to political turmoil.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The number of new virus infections in South Korea jumped again Wednesday and the U.S. military reported its first case among its soldiers based in the Asian country, with his case and many others connected to a southeastern city with an illness cluster.

South Korea’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 134 of the 169 new cases were confirmed in Daegu, where the government has been mobilizing public health tools to contain the virus. Another 19 cases were in neighboring North Gyeongsang province towns.

BEIJING, Feb 25 (APP): The Asian Development Bank (ADB) Tuesday signed an agreement for a private sector loan of up to CNY130 million ($18.6 million) to Jointown Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd. (Jointown) in the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

The local currency loan will support Jointown’s efforts to ensure a continued supply of essential medicines and personal protective equipment such as protective clothing, gloves, goggles, face masks, and respirators, according to a press statement issued here.

25 February 2020; AFP: China has sentenced Swedish book publisher Gui Minhai to 10 years in prison on charges of illegally providing intelligence abroad and claimed him as a citizen, prompting Stockholm to call for his release in a case that has rattled diplomatic relations.

Gui, one of five Hong Kong-based booksellers known for publishing salacious titles about China's political leaders, was snatched by authorities while on a train to Beijing in February 2018, the second time he disappeared into mainland custody.

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 25 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Eight men including Gadek assemblyman G. Saminathan were today acquitted and discharged on charges related to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) terrorist group.

Four separate high courts here ordered the release after a deputy public prosecutor informed that the Attorney General had instructed to discontinue proceedings against all the accused, in accordance with Section 254 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 25 (NNN-BERNAMA) — In an unprecedented move, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah will conduct a one-to-one interview of all MPs today and tomorrow at Istana Negara, the palace announced today.

Comptroller of the Royal Household for Istana Negara Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin said His Majesty will interview each MP for two to three minutes. 

The palace announcement comes in the wake of political developments amid talk that there will be a realignment of the ruling coalition of parties.

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Torrential rain brought floods to Indonesia’s capital on Tuesday, paralyzing large parts of the city as rescue workers used boats to navigate streets turned into murky, brown waterways to get people to safety.

Indonesia’s weather agency linked the rains to tropical cyclones that brought bad weather to southern parts of the archipelago. It also warned of high waves in the seas south of Java island.

Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan said more than 200 neighborhoods were affected by the floods.

SEATTLE/TOKYO (Reuters) - ANA Holdings Inc (9202.T) said it will buy 15 more Boeing Co (BA.N) 787 Dreamliners worth $5 billion at list prices, the first commercial order announcement for the U.S. planemaker this year as it wrestles with the grounding of the smaller 737 MAX.

The deal, which sees Japan’s biggest carrier switch from Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC (RR.L) engines to ones supplied by General Electric (GE.N), is a boost for Boeing after it posted no January orders for the first time in decades.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia’s king on Monday accepted Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s shocking resignation but reappointed him as interim leader following the collapse of the ruling alliance in a major political upheaval less than two years after its historic election victory.

The stunning turn of events comes amid plans by Mahathir’s supporters in his Bersatu party to team up with opposition parties to form a new government and thwart the transition of power to his named successor, Anwar Ibrahim.