Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

Asian shares fall as Russian troops gain ground in Ukraine

BANGKOK (AP) — Asian shares slipped Friday and oil prices moderated as investors assessed the likely global impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Benchmarks fell more than 2% in Tokyo and Hong Kong and declined in most other Asian markets.

Russian forces gained ground, shelling Europe’s largest nuclear power plant and sparking a fire early Friday as they pressed their attack on a crucial energy-producing Ukrainian city.

Croatian, Malaysian Business Communities Urged To Boost Trade, Investment, Cooperation

KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 (NNN-Bernama) — Both Malaysian and Croatian business communities have been urged to increase trade, investments and cooperation as there is a huge potential in the field of tourism, Information Technolog (IT), innovation, agriculture and food processing, electrical and electronics sector and in the defence industry.

In making the call, Croatia’s Ambassador to Malaysia Dr Ivan Velimir Starčević said that they should not be deterred by the distance between the two countries or by some political, economic or other differences.

Lao Gov’t Launches Online Visa Application Portal

VIENTIANE, Mar 3 (NNN-KPL) – Laos launched an official online visa portal, allowing foreign residents and Lao nationals living overseas to apply for a visa online.

Government spokesperson and deputy head of the Prime Minister’s Office, Thipphakone Chanthavongsa, told a press conference here yesterday that, Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been authorised to issue visas for certain visitors on the website “Laogreenpass.go.la.”

Japan: Tokyo court gives ex-Nissan exec Kelly suspended sentence

TOKYO (AP) — A Tokyo court gave a suspended sentence to Greg Kelly, a former American executive at Nissan Motor charged with underreporting his boss Carlos Ghosn’s pay.

The verdict announced Thursday of a 6-month sentence suspended for three years will allow Kelly to return to the U.S. even if prosecutors appeal.

Kelly was arrested in November 2018 at the same time as Ghosn, a former Nissan chairman and head of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance. Both have insisted they are innocent, arguing that the money at the center of the charges was never paid or decided on.

China’s slowing economy in spotlight as legislature meets

BEIJING (AP) — China’s ruling Communist Party is temporarily turning away from its longer-term ambitions to focus on pulling the economy out of a slump as the country heads into the annual meeting of its ceremonial legislature.

The National People’s Congress, usually used to showcase big initiatives, is overshadowed this year by a “policy pivot” begun in December by President Xi Jinping’s government to revive anemic consumer spending and housing sales.

China denies asking Russia not to invade until post-Olympics

BEIJING (AP) — China on Thursday denounced a report that it asked Russia to delay invading Ukraine until after the Beijing Winter Olympics as “fake news” and a “very despicable” attempt to divert attention and shift blame over the conflict.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin also repeated China’s accusations that Washington provoked the war by not ruling out NATO membership for Ukraine.

Global stocks mixed after Fed chair backs smaller rate hike

BEIJING (AP) — Global stock markets were mixed Thursday and oil prices jumped another $5 as Russian forces whose attack on Ukraine has roiled financial markets bombarded the country’s second-largest city and besieged two ports.

The economic fallout from the Russian invasion expanded, with Fitch Ratings and Moody’s Ratings cutting Russia’s credit rating. They said the invasion and Western sanctions have hurt Moscow’s ability to repay debts and raised risks for the economy and stability.

UN: Climate change to uproot millions, especially in Asia

Jakarta, Mar 3 (AP) The walls of Saifullah's home in northern Jakarta are lined like tree rings, marking how high the floodwaters have reached each year some more than 4 feet from the damp dirt floor.

When the water gets too high, Saifullah, who like many Indonesians only uses one name, sends his family to stay with friends. He guards the house until the water can be drained using a makeshift pump. If the pump stops working, he uses a bucket or just waits until the water recedes.

It's a normal thing here, Saifullah, 73, said. But this is our home. Where should we go?"

Indonesia Pushes Use Of Electric Vehicles For Green Energy Transition

JAKARTA, Mar 2 (NNN-XINHUA) – Indonesia is pushing electric vehicles (EVs) adoption, as an effort to provide cleaner air and accelerate green energy transition, from imposing special import duty to building more charging stations.

The country’s Ministry of Finance decided yesterday, to set a special tariff of zero percent import duty, for four-wheeled EVs, as long as the vehicles are imported in incomplete conditions.

China's national legislature to hold press conference ahead of annual session

BEIJING, March 2 (Xinhua) -- The National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, will hold a press conference on Friday, one day before the opening of its annual session.

A spokesperson for the fifth session of the 13th NPC will take questions from media on the agenda of the session and the work of the people's congresses, according to the press center of the session.

The press conference will be held via video link due to COVID-19 prevention and control requirements. The event will be broadcast live by China Media Group and on China.org.cn. 

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