Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

Activists slam China's use of bear bile in virus treatment

2 April 2020; AFP: China has approved the use of bear bile to treat coronavirus patients, angering activists and raising fears it could undermine efforts to stop the illegal animal trade which is blamed for the emergence of the new disease sweeping the globe.

The move comes just weeks after China banned the sale of wild animals for food, citing the risk of diseases spreading from animals to humans.

Oil rallies as Trump talks up truce hopes for Saudi-Russia price war

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Crude oil futures jumped 10% on Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump said he expected Saudi Arabia and Russia to reach a deal soon to end their oil price war and Russian President Vladimir Putin called for a solution to “challenging” oil markets.

Brent crude futures rose 11.36%, or $2.81, to $27.55 as of 0701 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures increased 10.0% or $2.03, at $22.34.

'Shoot them dead' - Philippine leader says won't tolerate lockdown violators

MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has warned violators of coronavirus lockdown measures they could be shot for causing trouble and said abuse of medical workers was a serious crime that would not be tolerated.

In a televised address, Duterte said it was vital everyone cooperates and follows home quarantine measures, as authorities try to slow the contagion and spare the country’s fragile health system from being overwhelmed.

Kyrgyz president appoints new vice PM, health minister

BISHKEK, April 2 (Xinhua) -- A new vice prime minister and a new health minister have been appointed in Kyrgyzstan, according to the decrees signed by President Sooronbai Jeenbekov on Wednesday.

Aida Ismailova will hold the post of vice prime minister for social affairs, and Sabirzhan Abdikarimov will serve as the health minister, the president's press service said.

Earlier, the Kyrgyz Parliament approved the two nominees recommended by Prime Minister Mukhammedkalyi Abylgaziev.

Asian stocks mixed as economic toll of virus worsens

BEIJING (AP) — Asian stocks were meandering Thursday after a White House warning that as many as 240,000 Americans might die of the coronavirus sent Wall Street tumbling and signs of the outbreak’s global economic cost increased.

Benchmarks in Tokyo and Hong Kong opened lower but were trading higher by midday, and losses in early trading were smaller than Wall Street’s 4.4% overnight fall. Shanghai opened down but gained 0.3% at mid-morning while Seoul advanced 1.9%.

U.S. futures were higher.

Malaysia rolls out economic help to people, businesses

KUALA LUMPUR,  April 1 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Beginning today, Malaysians from all walks of life will receive  the various assistance and initiatives under the Economic Stimulus Package announced by the government to ease the economic burden caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Apart from the RM20 billion Economic Stimulus Package announced on Feb 27, the people also get to benefit from the various assistance under the Prihatin Rakyat Economic Stimulus Package (PRIHATIN) announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin last Friday.

Thai PM Warns Emergency Decree To Extend, If COVID-19 Situation Does Not Ease

BANGKOK, Apr 1 (NNN-TNA) – Thai Prime Minister, Prayut Chan-o-cha, told media, after the Cabinet meeting, that, he may extend the state of emergency decree for another month or two, should Thailand’s COVID-19 situation does not ease.

“The government is constantly reviewing the situation,” said Prayut, “Looking at the present situation, the government is unlikely to lift the state of emergency soon.”

Prayut announced the state of emergency, which took effect from Mar 26 and goes on until Apr 30.

HONG KONG: Coronavirus most active at about 4 degrees Celsius, scientists say

HONG KONG /XIANGGANG/, March 30. /TASS/: The novel coronavirus is most active at temperatures around four degrees above zero Celsius and gets much weaker at high temperatures, Hong Kong University scientists have found.

The virus is very stable at four degrees, but is sensitive to heat, as follows from their report uploaded to the medical research portal medrxiv.org. At four degrees the infection lasts for more than two weeks, while at 70 degrees it dies within five minutes.

Beijing 2022 Olympics face 'special situation' after Tokyo delay

1 April 2020; AFP: Beijing 2022 organisers said they face "a special situation" after the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics means less than six months between the Summer and Winter Games.

The Tokyo Olympics are now scheduled to run from July 23 to August 8, 2021 after they were put back a year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

However, with the Beijing Winter Games beginning on February 4, 2022 there is the unusual challenge of almost back-to-back Olympics.

Taiwan to spend $35 billion fighting virus, to donate 10 million masks

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan dramatically upped its estimate for how much it would spend helping the economy deal with the impact of the coronavirus to $35 billion on Wednesday, and said it would donate 10 million face masks to the most needy countries.

Taiwan has reported 322 cases of the virus, including five deaths, winning plaudits for its early and so far effective measures to control the virus, especially compared to many of its neighbors. But, the export-reliant island’s economy has wilted in the face of the pandemic’s spread.

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