KINI ROUNDUP | Here are key headlines you may have missed yesterday, in brief.

1. AirAsia Group executive chairperson Kamarudin Meranun and CEO Tony Fernandes have temporarily relinquished their posts following corruption allegations that hit the company’s share value, but both personalities deny wrongdoing.

2. An AirAsia flight to evacuate Malaysians trapped in Wuhan, China, and deliver 500,000 medical gloves to the city has taken off from Kuala Lumpur.

3. Malaysia has received its best Democracy Index score yet, placing it 43rd out of 167 countries due to improved campaigning opportunities for all political parties, including the opposition.

4. In its first meeting, the Malaysian Media Council pro-tem committee agreed to expand its membership to ensure key stakeholders are involved in drafting the media council bill.

5. Rosmah Mansor failed to turn up on the first day of her corruption trial due to a “potentially life-threatening” illness.

6. Umno Supreme Council member Lokman Adam accused party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi of colluding with Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, but Umno information chief Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said Zahid had merely floated the idea to prompt a discussion.

7. A forthcoming national sports associations reform plan will address misconduct or corruption issues in such associations, said Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.

8. The widespread travel bans that “interfere with international travel and trade” are not necessary in attempting to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus strain that has killed 361 people, says World Health Organisation (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

9. Several groups have criticised the jailing of a disabled man for attempting suicide, including de facto Law Minister Liew Vui Keong, who said the government will see through its move to decriminalise suicide and treat cases of self-harm medically.

10. DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng foresees an uphill challenge for his party in the next Sarawak state election.