Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

JAKARTA, Apr 23 (NNN-ANTARA) – The Indonesian capital, Jakarta, on Wednesday, decided to extend the partial lock-down in the city, as the COVID-19 virus continues spreading.

Jakarta’s Governor, Anies Baswedan announced that the partial lock-down, which was planned to end on Thursday (today), will be extended to May 22.

“We decide to extend the large-scale social restrictions until May 22,” the governor told a press conference.

The partial lock-down was imposed on Jakarta on Apr 10.

TOKYO, Apr 23 (NNN-NHK) – An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.5, on Thursday (today), struck Japan’s Nagano Prefecture, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).

The temblor occurred at 1:44 p.m. local time, with its epicentre at a latitude of 36.2 degrees north, and a longitude of 137.7 degrees east, and at a very shallow depth, said the JMA.

The quake logged 4, in some parts of Nagano Prefecture, on the Japanese seismic intensity scale which peaks at 7.

So far no tsunami warning has been issued.

BEIJING, April 23 (Xinhua) -- China has seen its current number of confirmed COVID-19 cases dropped to 959 on Wednesday, the first time for the number to fall below 1,000, the National Health Commission said at a press conference.

By the end of Wednesday, more than half of the imported cases in China have been discharged from hospitals after recovery, said Mi Feng, spokesperson for the commission, at the press conference on Thursday. 

BANGKOK (AP) — The world inched toward a new phase in the coronavirus crisis on Thursday, as some countries like Vietnam and New Zealand with few new cases moved toward ending their pandemic shutdowns while others like Singapore and Japan were doubling down on measures to prevent a surge in infections.

Like the U.S., many countries are moving from crisis mode to figuring out how to live with the virus by modifying pre-pandemic routines with precautions, more testing and containment of flare-ups, mindful of the potential for future waves of the virus.

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares rose moderately Thursday following a rally on Wall Street and even oil prices recovering from their recent plunge to zero.

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 added 1.2% to 19,370.42 in morning trading, while South Korea’s Kospi rose 06% to 1,907.92. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 also added 0.6% to 5,252.20. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng edged up 0.7% to 24,066.68, while the Shanghai Composite inched up 0.2% to 2,850.80.

Prakash Sakpal and Nicholas Mapa, economists at ING, said a rise in oil prices, which have been crashing, will help Asian shares somewhat.

Hong Kong, Apr 22 (AP) Hong Kong on Wednesday appointed five new principal officials in a Cabinet reshuffle, with new appointments for the ministers overseeing mainland affairs, civil service, financial services and home affairs, as well as innovation and technology.

The reshuffle, approved by the central Chinese government in Beijing and announced by China's State Council, came on recommendations by Hong Kong's leader, Carrie Lam.

Washington, Apr 22 (PTI) US President Donald Trump has threatened to terminate the trade deal with China if Beijing did not honour its provisions in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic that originated in the country.

While China has reported 82,788 novel coronavirus cases, including 4,632 fatalities, the US registered over 824,600 cases and more than 45,290 deaths -- the highest in the world.

KUALA LUMPUR, April 22 (NNN-BERNAMA) — All Malaysia Airlines passengers are now required to bring and wear their own protective masks effective April 23 (Thursday) at touch-points such as check-in, boarding in the aircraft cabin, disembarkation and collection of baggage on arrival to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean state media on Wednesday made no mention of leader Kim Jong Un’s health or whereabouts, a day after intense international speculation over his health was sparked by media reports he was gravely ill after a cardiovascular procedure.

North Korean media presented a business as usual image, carrying routine reporting of Kim’s achievements and publishing some of his older, or undated, comments on issues like the economy.

SINGAPORE, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Singapore will extend its COVID-19 "circuit breaker" period by four weeks to June 1 to stem the spread of the coronavirus, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Tuesday.

These circuit breaker measures, which involved home-based schooling and shutting most workplaces temporarily, were implemented two weeks ago and initially supposed to end on May 4.

In his address to the nation, Lee said that many will be disappointed by the extension of the circuit breaker, especially business and workers, who are hurting greatly.