Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

BANGKOK (AP) — U.S. futures dropped more than 4% and Australia’s share benchmark initially plunged 8.5% as work on more stimulus for the U.S. economy hit snags in the U.S. Senate.

Shares dropped more than 4% in Hong Kong and 5% in South Korea. The Shanghai Composite index lost 2.6%. However, Japan’s Nikkei 225 index held steady, gaining 0.5% in early trading Monday.

Top-level negotiations between U.S. Congress and the White House continued after the Senate voted against advancing the $2 trillion economic rescue package.

BEIJING (Reuters) - A Chinese central bank official called on Sunday for stepped up global policy coordination to manage the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak, and said Beijing’s recent policy measures were gaining traction while it had capacity for further action.

Chen Yulu, a deputy governor at the People’s Bank of China (PBOC), also told a news conference that PBOC Governor Yi Gang had exchanged views with U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, the International Monetary Fund and other agencies.

BEIJING, March 22 (Xinhua) -- The world is now in battle against the common threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, a disease caused by a previously unknown coronavirus that has spread to over 180 countries and regions around the world.

The following are the latest updates on the contagious illness.

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COLOMBO -- Over 300 people were arrested in Sri Lanka for violating a countrywide curfew which was imposed on Friday evening, the police said in a statement here Sunday.

Beijing, Mar 22 (PTI) China reported its first domestic coronavirus case after a gap of three days as the country saw a surge in imported infections with 45 new cases and initiated stricter measures to avert COVID-19 to resurface and create a second wave of infections, health officials said on Sunday.

China's National Health Commission (NHC) said that 46 new confirmed cases were reported on the mainland on Saturday, including one domestic infection transmitted by imported cases in Guangzhou.

Singapore, Mar 22 (PTI) Singapore has reported 47 new coronavirus cases, including 39 imported infections, taking the total number to 432 in the country, officials have said.

The city-state reported two deaths related to the COVID-19 infections on Saturday while 89 foreigners were banned for breaching safety measures.

PYONGYANG, Mar 22 (NNN-KCNA) – Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), observed the demonstration firing of tactical guided weapon, on Saturday.

The firing was aimed at re-confirming and showing Korean People’s Army commanding officers, the tactical characters and power of a new weapon system, to be delivered to the army units, the report said.

After Kim gave an order, the projectiles were fired “with roaring sound and dazzling flare to precisely hit a target islet,” the report said.

BEIJING, Mar 22 (NNN-XINHUA) – By shifting blame, bashing and smearing China, the U.S. government is setting a bad example, in the global fight against COVID-19, in an increasingly dangerous way.

It seems that the U.S. government is less concerned with focusing on domestic epidemic prevention and control, and more fond of criticising China for a variety of unfounded and absurd reasons, and trying to get a rise out of China by using racist and xenophobia words.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — President Donald Trump sent a personal letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, seeking to maintain good relations and offering cooperation in fighting the viral pandemic, Kim’s sister said Sunday.

The latest correspondence came as Kim observed the firing of tactical guided weapons over the weekend, drawing criticism from South Korea, as the nuclear talks remain deadlocked.

BEIJING, March 20 (APP): The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would go ahead despite impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, as two countries are committed to the scheduled construction plan, said Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

Talking to the Global Times in the Chinese capital, Qureshi said “I don’t think it’ll have an impact on the CPEC in the long run. But in the short run, yes, there could be a slight slowdown. As soon as we are over the hump of dealing with the coronavirus, I think we’ll be back on track.”

NEW YORK, Mar 21 (NNN-YONHAP) – The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea, from North Pyongan province, on Saturday local time (today), South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, were quoted as saying.

On Mar 9, the DPRK reportedly test-fired short-range projectiles into the East Sea.

On Mar 2, it fired two unidentified projectiles into the eastern waters.