Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

BEIJING, May 6 (APP): China firmly supports the international cooperation initiative launched by Director-General of World Health Organization (WHO) on accelerating the development, production and equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and drugs, and decided to participate in this initiative, Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Hua Chunying said on Wednesday.

“The virus knows no borders, and people of all countries have the right to equal access to vaccines and medicines,” she said during her regular briefing resumed here after May Day holidays.

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares were mixed Thursday after a decline on Wall Street after more depressing data rolled in on the devastation sweeping the global economy.

Comments by President Donald Trump on trade with China and casting blame on Beijing for the coronavirus pandemic have further dampened sentiment.

CAVITE, Philippines (AP) — A cruise ship being investigated in Australia for sparking coronavirus infections has sailed into Philippine waters to bring Filipino crew members home.

The Philippine coast guard said Thursday the Ruby Princess has arrived in Manila Bay, where at least 16 other cruise ships have converged while waiting for more than 5,000 Filipino crew members to be tested for the coronavirus before disembarking.

KUALA LUMPUR, May 6 (NNN-BERNAMA) — European citizens treated for COVID-19 in Malaysia have shared positive words about their experience, said Ambassador and Head of the Delegation of the EU to Malaysia, Maria Castillo Fernandez.

“We hear only good things from the European citizens who have been treated for COVID-19 in Malaysia,” she said.

Fernandez expressed her gratitude towards Malaysia’s Ministry of Health (MOH) and the hospital staffs here, and also appreciated the fact that the Ministry briefed embassies with timely information and maintained contact with them.

HONG KONG, May 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Hong Kong announced plans to ease major social distancing measures, including reopening schools, cinemas, bars and beauty parlours after the Chinese territory largely halted local transmission of the deadly Coronavirus.

The relaxation, which comes into effect Friday, will be a boost for a city mired in a deep recession following months of virus restrictions as well as anti-government protests that have battered the economy.

JAKARTA, May 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) —The Jakarta administration will revoke the business licenses of at least 200 companies that have flouted the implementation of large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) in the capital.

Jakarta Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) head Arifin said his agency was currently preparing the dossiers on the companies, which would be submitted to the city’s Capital Investment and One Stop Service (DPMPTSP) for the revocation of business licenses.

BEIJING, May 5 (APP): China’s Hubei province, hit-hardest by Covid-19 pandemic, has reported no newly confirmed case of the novel coronavirus for 31 consecutive days since April 4.

As of Monday, there were no existing confirmed Covid19 cases in the province, local media reported on Tuesday.

The Hubei province still had 650 asymptomatic cases under medical observation, after 12 such cases were added and 16 released from quarantine on Monday.

BEIJING (Reuters) - China’s Hong Kong affairs office on Wednesday condemned Hong Kong protesters as a “political virus” who seek independence, warning that the city will never be calm unless what it said were violent black-clad protesters were all removed.

The office warned that China’s central government will not sit idly by “with this recklessly demented force in place” and that China’s greatest responsibility is in maintaining order and safeguarding national security.

WENCHANG, Hainan, May 5 (Xinhua) -- China's new large carrier rocket Long March-5B made its maiden flight on Tuesday, sending the trial version of China's new-generation manned spaceship and a cargo return capsule for test into space.

The successful flight inaugurated the "third step" of China's manned space program, which is to construct a space station, said the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

The white large rocket blasted off from the Wenchang Space Launch Center on the coast of southern China's island province of Hainan at 6 p.m. (Beijing Time).

YANGON, May 5 (NNN-MNA) – Myanmar’s trade deficit recorded over 1.2 billion U.S. dollars, in the first seven months of present fiscal year (FY) 2019-2020, up from over 651 million U.S. dollars in the corresponding period of last FY, the Commerce Ministry said, Tuesday.

From Oct 1 to Apr 24 of this FY, the country earned over 10.4 billion U.S. dollars, while its import reached over 11.6 billion U.S. dollars.