TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Thursday he will aim to pass a second supplementary budget at the current parliament session to fund steps for combating the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, Kyodo news agency reported.
Abe made the remark at a meeting with ruling party lawmakers, according to Kyodo.
SEOUL (Reuters) - Oil prices climbed on Thursday following an unexpected drop in U.S. crude stocks, but gains were capped by a bleak outlook for the world’s No. 1 economy as the coronavirus pandemic crushes fuel demand, and concern over a potential second wave of cases.
Brent crude futures were up 18 cents, or 0.6%, at $29.37 per barrel at 0621 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were up 23 cents, or 0.9%, at $25.52 a barrel.
SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China will allow imports of barley and blueberries from the United States, according to notices on its customs website.
Imports that meet the relevant requirements will be allowed effective Thursday, according to the notices.
The move comes after China agreed in January to boost its imports of U.S. agricultural products by an additional $32 billion over two years as part of a Phase 1 deal that marked an easing in trade tensions between the two countries.
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A strong typhoon roared toward the eastern Philippines on Thursday as authorities work to evacuate tens of thousands of people while avoiding overcrowding in shelters that could spread the coronavirus.
The first typhoon to hit the country this year is expected to slam ashore later Thursday, weather agency administrator Vicente Malano said.
(AP) --- Asian shares declined Thursday on pessimism about life getting back to normal soon amid the coronavirus pandemic, even as Japan prepared to let businesses reopen in some regions.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped nearly 0.8% in morning trading to 20,112.00. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 lost 0.9% to 5,370.80. South Korea’s Kospi dropped 1.1% to 1,919.48. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dipped 1.4% to 23,831.06, while the Shanghai Composite was down 0.7% at 2,877.53.
BEIJING, May 13 (APP): China State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday that adhering to multilateralism and improving global governance had become the strongest common voice of people of all countries.
He made these remarks while attending a video conference of foreign ministers of Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states in Beijing.
The foreign ministers exchanged views on cooperation on the COVID-19 pandemic, and the international and regional situation.
13 May 2020; AFP: Myanmar's military has conceded its troops abused prisoners in Rakhine State after a video of soldiers battering blindfolded detainees spread on social media -- a rare admission of wrongdoing by a force often accused of acting with impunity.
The video, which emerged on Sunday, shows plain-clothed men punching and kicking the heads of handcuffed and blindfolded detainees.
BEIJING/PARIS (Reuters) - France dismissed Chinese warnings on Wednesday about selling arms to self-ruled Taiwan, saying it was implementing existing deals and that Beijing should focus on battling the COVID-19 pandemic.
China’s foreign ministry warned Paris over a contract for Taiwan, which is planning to buy weapons from Paris as part of an upgrade to a French-made warship fleet bought 30 years ago.
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hundreds of protesters gathered in shopping malls across Hong Kong on Wednesday, flouting coronavirus-related social distancing rules to mock unpopular Chief Executive Carrie Lam on her birthday.
It was the latest sign social unrest was resurfacing in Hong Kong as the city has proven relatively successful at tackling the coronavirus, having recorded 1,051 cases and four deaths.
BANGKOK, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Thailand on Wednesday saw zero new COVID-19 case, the first time since Jan. 13 when the first case was recorded in the country, Dr. Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesman for the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), said Wednesday.
"This piece of news has delighted all of us for our joint efforts in the past days. This makes us proud that unity has made this figure a reality, thanks to all of us," said Taweesin.
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