Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

SEOUL, June 3. /TASS/: The pandemic of the coronavirus-caused disease is already serving as a trigger of large-scale changes in all spheres of life the world over, Seoul’s mayor, Park Won-soon, told TASS in an interview.

"Because of COVID-19, the great transformation of civilization has become a reality. Now we have the ‘era before COVID-19’ and the ‘era after COVID-19.’ It is an unprecedented situation in which all the environments surrounding us are divided before and after COVID-19," Park said.

3 June 2020; AFP: China warned Britain on Wednesday that interfering in Hong Kong will backfire, after the former colonial power vowed to give sanctuary to locals who may flee the city if a controversial security law is passed.

The United States and Britain have enraged Beijing with their criticism of planned national security legislation that critics fear would destroy the semi-autonomous city's limited freedoms.

BANGKOK, June 3 (NNN-BERNAMA) – Thailand’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has expressed concerns over a stronger baht, saying that it could derail the kingdom’s economic recovery.

Assistant Governor of Bank of Thailand (BoT) and Secretary of MPC Titanun Mallikamas said the 2020 economic outlook was highly uncertain given the global economic and financial environments with the risks to the economic outlook tilting downward.

KUALA LUMPUR, June 3 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Malaysia is seen as gaining the upper hand in eliminating the COVID-19 pandemic as positive cases continue to decline, allowing the opening of more economic sectors for the benefit of all segments of society.

As the country enters the final six days of the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) scheduled to end on June 9, it has recorded COVID-19 cases in single figures for three consecutive days, demonstrating that the outbreak is under control.

BEIJING, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Washington's decision to sever ties with the World Health Organization (WHO), widely seen as irresponsible and immoral, has once again riled the world for the Trump administration's indulgence in scapegoating others, particularly China and the WHO, for its own malfeasance to handle the double crisis of the raging COVID-19 pandemic and rampant racial unrest across the country.

HONG KONG, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Chief Executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam said Tuesday that the decision by the national legislature to establish and improve the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR to safeguard national security demonstrates the commitment of the central authorities, while some foreign countries applied double standards on the matter.

WUHAN, June 2 (Xinhua) -- Wuhan, in central China's Hubei Province, tested nearly 10 million residents in a 19-day drive to screen for novel coronavirus infections, with officials hailing the effort as ending "psychological lockdown" for the virus-ravaged city.

The city tested 9,899,828 people between May 14 and June 1, according to a press conference on Tuesday afternoon.

No confirmed COVID-19 cases were found in the process, said Lu Zuxun, professor with Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, at the event.

HONG KONG (AP) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Wednesday that the United Kingdom stands ready to open the door to almost 3 million Hong Kong citizens as the city’s leader arrived in Beijing for meetings on a planned national security law that has many worried about their futures.

Johnson, in a column published online by a Hong Kong newspaper, said the security law would curtail freedoms in Hong Kong and conflict with China’s obligations under its agreement with the United Kingdom to take back the former British colony in 1997.

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares rose Wednesday after Wall Street extended its gains for the third straight day, driven by optimism over economies reopening from shutdowns to stem the coronavirus pandemic.

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 gained 1.1% to 22,581.19 in morning trading. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.8% to 5,882.60. South Korea’s Kospi surged 2.6% to 2,141.28.

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 gained 1% to 5,894.00. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was up 1.1% at 24,258.49, while the Shanghai Composite added 0.4% to 2,931.90.

Hong Kong, Jun 1 (AP) Hong Kong police rejected an application Monday for an annual candlelight vigil marking the anniversary this week of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, as residents rushed to apply for passports that could allow them to move to the United Kingdom.

Throngs of people lined up at DHL courier outlets across the city, many to send documents to the UK to apply for or renew what is known as a British National (Overseas) passport.