Asia

Monkeypox in Asia: Singapore and South Korea report first cases

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 22, 2022

Singapore and South Korea have just reported confirmed or suspected cases of monkeypox, according to the health authorities of the two countries, as the viral disease continues to spread across the world.

Travel disruption to spill into first quarter of 2023, head of IATA warns

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 20, 2022

A recent disruption in travel caused by a “disconnect” between supply and demand could spill into the first quarter of next year, the head of a global airline association has warned as the industry faces a labour shortage.

How much for gas? Around the world, pain is felt at the pump

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 20, 2022

At a gas station near the Cologne, Germany, airport, Bernd Mueller watches the digits quickly climb on the pump: 22 euros ($23), 23 euros, 24 euros. The numbers showing how much gasoline he’s getting rise, too. But much more slowly.…

Asian stocks follow Wall St lower on economy fears

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 17, 2022

Asian stock markets were mostly lower Friday after Wall Street fell on fears interest rate hikes will depress global economic activity.

Europe stocks up, Asia mixed ahead of Fed rate hike decision

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 15, 2022

Asian stock markets were mixed while Europe opened higher Wednesday ahead of a Federal Reserve decision on how sharply to raise interest rates to cool U.S. inflation.

Myanmar’s multi-pronged crises have ‘deepened, expanded dramatically’

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 14, 2022

political crisis unleashed in Myanmar following the February 1 military coup last year, has "opened new frontlines that had long been at peace," according to UN special envoy Noeleen Heyzer.

Asian benchmarks decline after bear market hits Wall Street

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 14, 2022

Asian shares fell across the board Tuesday after Wall Street tumbled into a bear market, indicating that major U.S. benchmarks and individual stocks have fallen 20% or more from a recent high for a sustained period of time.

India, China growing markets for shunned Russian oil

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 13, 2022

India and other Asian nations are becoming an increasingly vital source of oil revenues for Moscow despite strong pressure from the U.S. not to increase their purchases, as the European Union and other allies cut off energy imports from…

Pakistan pacer Hasnain cleared to bowl again

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 9, 2022

Pakistan paceman Mohammad Hasnain’s bowling action has been cleared and he can resume bowling in all forms of cricket.

Australia beats UAE 2-1, moves into World Cup playoff v Peru

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 8, 2022

A late deflected goal from Ajdin Hrustic secured Australia’s 2-1 win over United Arab Emirates in an Asian playoff Tuesday and set up an intercontinental showdown with Peru for a spot at the World Cup in Qatar.

Asian shares mixed after stocks retreat on Wall Street

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 1, 2022

Shares were mixed in Asia on Wednesday after a wobbly day on Wall Street closed out a month buffeted by worries about a possible recession, inflation and rising interest rates.

High prices, Asian markets could blunt EU ban on Russian oil

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 1, 2022

BRUSSELS The European Union’s groundbreaking decision to ban nearly all oil from Russia to punish the country for its invasion of Ukraine is a blow to Moscow’s economy, but its effects may be blunted by rising energy prices and other…

Asian stocks mixed, oil prices trade near $120 a barrel

THE ASIA LIVE May 31, 2022

Asian shares were mixed Tuesday after reports showed China’s manufacturing slowdown is moderating as anti-virus curbs on businesses in Shanghai and Beijing ease.

A not quite fine balance

THE ASIA LIVE May 20, 2022

Russia’s brutal invasion into Ukraine, which has led to the death and displacement of millions, has not come without a cost. As Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine border towns and Western powers began to apply economic sanctions in the hopes…

World shares sink after inflation driven retreat on Wall St

THE ASIA LIVE May 19, 2022

Shares declined in Europe and Asia on Thursday after a broad retreat on Wall Street triggered by worries over the impact of persistent high inflation on corporate profits and consumer spending.

Biden hosts ASEAN as he looks to show Pacific commitment

THE ASIA LIVE May 12, 2022

Joe Biden is hosting leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations as his administration makes an extended effort to demonstrate that the United States

Asian shares rise, eyeing Ukraine, inflation, energy costs

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 22, 2022

Asian shares were mostly higher Tuesday as investors eyed the war in Ukraine, inflationary risks and surging energy prices.

Asian stocks post strong gains at midweek close

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 16, 2022

Falling oil prices, prospects of diplomatic solution in Ukraine, China's pledge to support economy boost investor sentiment

Hong Kong, Shanghai shares sink as virus trumps strong data

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 15, 2022

Share prices tumbled in China on Tuesday, with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index down nearly 6% and the Shanghai Composite index sinking 5%

Turkmenistan leader’s son wins presidential election

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 15, 2022

Turkmenistan established a political dynasty Tuesday, as authorities said the son of the Central Asian country’s leader won

Asian spider could spread to much of East Coast

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 8, 2022

large spider native to East Asia that proliferated in Georgia last year could spread to much of the East Coast.

South Asia returns to normal as COVID cases decline

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 4, 2022

Traffic is jamming the roads. Migrant workers have returned to the cities. And young people are back at schools and universities

Asian shares slide as Russia shells Ukraine nuclear plant

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 4, 2022

Asian markets. U.S. futures were lower. The S&P 500 fell 0.5% Thursday and the Nasdaq fell 1.6% as technology companies led the way lower.

Asia shares rise after US rebound amid sanctions on Ukraine

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 25, 2022

Asian shares mostly rose on February 25 after U.S. stocks recovered toward the end of a wild trading day, as governments slapped sanctions

Malaysia scores highest among Asean peers in democracy index report

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 10, 2022

KUALA LUMPUR A democracy index report by London-based financial journal The Economist has revealed Malaysia as recording the highest score among Asean countries. Despite being grouped in “flawed democracy” among other countries like…

Asian shares slide after more losses on Wall Street

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 21, 2022

BANGKOK Shares were lower in Asia on Friday after a late afternoon sell-off wiped out gains for stocks on Wall Street. Tokyo fell 0.9% after Toyota Motor Corp. announced production cuts due to parts shortages. Other major regional…

Asian markets bounce back from omicron sell-offs

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 21, 2021

BANGKOK Asian shares were mostly higher on Tuesday after a worldwide slump for financial markets spurred by worries about how badly the omicron variant, inflation and other forces will hit the world economy. Tokyo gained nearly 2% and…

Asian stocks fall on concern about virus, tighter Fed policy

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 20, 2021

BEIJING Asian stock markets followed Wall Street lower on Monday amid concern about the coronavirus’s latest variant and tighter Federal Reserve policy. Shanghai, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Sydney retreated at the start of a trading week…

Alibaba to grow Southeast Asia e-commerce arm to $100b

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 18, 2021

HONG KONG Alibaba this week revealed an ambitious vision to grow its Southeast Asian e-commerce business to $100 billion in transacted sales as well as a pledge to reach carbon neutrality in its operations by 2030. China’s largest…

Asian shares fall after latest tech-led retreat on Wall St

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 17, 2021

BANGKOK Shares fell in Asia on Friday after technology companies led Wall Street benchmarks lower as investors weighed the implications of higher interest rates, surging coronavirus cases and tensions between Beijing and Washington.…

Asian markets close day in positive territory

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 16, 2021

Following positive figures from Asian countries, such as Chinese industrial production and Japan’s additional budget developments, Asian stock markets closed Thursday positive. The Asia Dow, which includes blue-chip companies in the…

Blinken says US weighing new sanctions on Myanmar

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 15, 2021

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the Biden administration is weighing tough new sanctions on Myanmar to pressure the country’s military leaders to restore a democratic path interrupted by a February…

Myanmar’s Suu Kyi convicted in further blow to democracy

THE ASIA LIVE Dec 6, 2021

Aung San Suu Kyi, the civilian leader of Myanmar who was ousted in a de facto coup this year, was convicted of incitement and another charge Monday and sentenced to four years in prison — in a trial widely criticized as a further effort by…

How China flights near Taiwan inflame tensions

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 9, 2021

A recent spate of Chinese military flights off southwestern Taiwan has prompted alarm from the island, which Beijing claims as its own, and is increasing tensions in a region already on edge. The flights are one piece of a complex puzzle…

Nikkei extends losing streak to 8 days

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 6, 2021

Japan's Nikkei stock benchmark ended lower Wednesday, extending its dropping streak to eight days for the first time because July 2009, as sentiment used to be hurt by deepening uncertainty over the international economic recovery amid…

Global shares fallen, China Evergrande’s shares suspended from trading

THE ASIA LIVE Oct 4, 2021

Global shares have fallen, with Hong Kong’s benchmark down more than 2% after stricken property developer China Evergrande’s shares have been suspended from trading. Shares opened lower in Paris, Frankfurt, and Tokyo. U.S. futures also…

Global shares mixed after broad slide on Wall Street

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 29, 2021

Shares rose Wednesday in Europe after sharp declines in Asia that tracked a broad slide on Wall Street on jitters over the economic process and surging U.S. government bond yields. A swift rise in Treasury yields is forcing investors to…

Asian shares mostly lower after mixed trading on Wall Street

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 22, 2021

Asian shares were mostly lower on Wednesday after major indexes ended mixed on Wall Street. Benchmarks fell in Tokyo, Shanghai, and Taiwan but rose in Sydney. Markets in South Korea and Hong Kong were closed for holidays. The Bank of…

The complexities of 5G development in Asia

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 13, 2021

If robotics and cellular communications seem, strange bedfellows, it’s because the fifth generation of wireless, 5G development in Asia, is that the first to wirelessly address the necessity of such applications instead of just increasing…

Vietnam to reopen resort island to foreign tourists to spice up economy

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 12, 2021

HANOI Vietnam plans to reopen the beach-fringed island of Phu Quoc to foreign tourists from next month, authorities said, because the country looks at ways to revive an economy affected by extended lockdowns thanks to the coronavirus…

Vaccine deliveries rising as delta virus variant slams Asia

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 15, 2021

DAVID RISING and VICTORIA MILKO | JAKARTA, Indonesia As many Asian countries battle their worst surge of COVID-19 infections, the slow-flow of vaccine doses from around the world is finally picking up speed, giving hope that low…

Asian shares track Wall St decline; bitcoin sinks

THE ASIA LIVE May 19, 2021

TOKYO Asian shares fell Wednesday, tracking a decline on Wall Street that was led by big technology stocks. The price of bitcoin plunged again after the China Banking Association warned of risks associated with digital currencies.…

Global shares gain despite pandemic, inflation fears

THE ASIA LIVE May 18, 2021

TOKYO Global shares advanced Tuesday as investors snapped up bargains after recent sell-offs spurred by a worsening of the pandemic in some countries. France’s CAC 40 gained 0.4% in early trading to 6,390.95, while Germany’s DAX…

Honda returns to quarterly profit despite pandemic damage

THE ASIA LIVE May 14, 2021

TOKYO Honda swung into the black in January-March, recording a 213 billion yen ($2 billion) profit despite the lingering impact of the pandemic. The results, released Friday, marked a reversal from 29.5 billion yen in red ink Honda…

Asian stocks climb after Wall Street rebound led by Big Tech

THE ASIA LIVE May 14, 2021

BANGKOK Asian shares were mostly higher on Friday after Wall Street put the brakes on a three-day losing streak with a broad stock market rally powered by Big Tech companies and banks. Shares in big semiconductor manufacturers led the…

Global stock markets sink as inflation worries mount

THE ASIA LIVE May 13, 2021

BEIJING Stock markets in London and Tokyo tumbled 2.5% on Thursday and U.S. futures were lower after a jump in American consumer prices fueled worries inflation might drag on an economic recovery. Shanghai, Frankfurt and Hong Kong…

Asian stocks mixed after Wall St falls on inflation fears

THE ASIA LIVE May 12, 2021

BEIJING Asian stock markets retreated Wednesday as investors looked ahead to U.S. data they worry will show inflation is picking up. Shanghai, Tokyo and Southeast Asian markets declined. Hong Kong advanced. Overnight, Wall Street’s…

Asian shares slide after tech sell-off on Wall Street

THE ASIA LIVE May 11, 2021

BANGKOK Shares dropped Tuesday in Asia after selling of several Big Tech companies pulled U.S. benchmarks lower. Japan’s Nikkei 225 sank 2.8% and Hong Kong lost 2.4% early Tuesday. Despite reassurances from the Federal Reserve and…

Asian shares rise on US rally, jobs data signaling low rates

THE ASIA LIVE May 10, 2021

TOKYO Asian shares rose Monday, cheered by a rally on Wall Street as a grim jobs report signaled to investors that interest rates will likely stay low. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 1.0% in morning trading to 29,644.96. Australia’s…

COVID-19 infections surge past 1 million in the Philippines

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 26, 2021

MANILA, Philippines Confirmed coronavirus infections in the Philippines surged past 1 million on Monday in the country’s latest grim milestone, as officials assess whether to extend a monthlong lockdown in the Manila region amid a deadly…

Myanmar refugee crisis brewing as turmoil hits economy

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 21, 2021

BANGKOK Aid workers and activists are warning Myanmar’s political upheavals risk causing a regional refugee crisis as the strife following a February coup displaces growing numbers of people who have lost their livelihoods. Tom…

UN forum calls for strong regional cooperation to ensure sustainable and resilient recovery from…

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 23, 2021

Jose Kalathil NEW DELHI : The 8th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) hosted by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) opened in Bangkok today with a resounding call for…

Asia mostly higher despite Wall Street slump, virus fears

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 18, 2020

TOKYO Asian shares were mostly higher Friday despite some investor attention shifting again to the uncertainties in global economies amid the coronavirus pandemic, as reflected in the overnight fall on Wall Street. Japan’s benchmark…

Are Asian hornet dangerous?

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 18, 2020

A venomous Asian hornet has been spotted in Hampshire just month after experts predicted a plague of the pests. The hornet, also referred to as yellow-legged owing to legs that transition from brown to yellow at the ends, are capable of…

Best Places to Visit in Asia

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 17, 2020

Looking to live like a king or queen on your global adventures? Head to Asia for some top-class budget travels! Asia is the world’s largest continent, home to 48 countries. While some of Asia’s nations, including Japan and Singapore, are…

Stocks push higher in Europe, US trading closed for holiday

THE ASIA LIVE Sep 7, 2020

BEIJING European stocks rose on Monday after a mixed close in Asia, while Wall Street was set to remain closed for Labor Day after turning in its biggest weekly decline in more than two months. Investors have been encouraged by hopes…

Asian shares mixed amid dismal earnings, Wall Street slump

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 29, 2020

TOKYO Asian shares were mixed Wednesday as reports of dismal company earnings add to pessimism over the widespread economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index lost 1.2% to 22,397.11 after Fitch Ratings…

Asian shares advance after Wall St rally; gold extends gains

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 28, 2020

MITO, Japan Shares advanced in Asia on Tuesday after U.S. stocks resumed their upward march on Wall Street, while the price of gold pushed to nearly $1,970 per ounce. Benchmarks climbed in Hong Kong, Tokyo and Shanghai after the S&P…

Asian shares advance following upbeat US jobs report

THE ASIA LIVE Jul 3, 2020

Markets advanced in Asia on Friday following a Wall Street rally driven by strong jobs data. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index picked up 0.3% to 22,220.33, while the Shanghai Composite index jumped 1.3% to 3,130.62. In South Korea, the Kospi gained…

Ex-UN human rights chief calls for Hong Kong special envoy

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 26, 2020

LONDON The United Nations’ former human rights chief and eight former U.N. special envoys urged the body’s secretary-general Thursday to appoint a special envoy on Hong Kong, saying they are deeply concerned about a potential “humanitarian…

Asian stocks follow Wall Street higher on bank news

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 26, 2020

BEIJING Asian stock markets followed Wall Street higher on Friday after U.S. regulators removed some limits on banks’ ability to make investments. Benchmarks in Tokyo, Sydney and Southeast Asia advanced while Hong Kong declined. Chinese…

Asian stocks skid as new coronavirus cases rattle markets

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 25, 2020

BANGKOK Shares skidded in Asia on Thursday after a sharp retreat overnight on Wall Street as new coronavirus cases in the U.S. climbed to their highest level in two months, dimming investors’ hopes for a relatively quick economic…

Asian shares advance, tracking Wall Street tech rally

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 23, 2020

TOKYO Asian shares were mostly higher on Tuesday, recovering from some early losses as regional markets tracked a late rally on Wall Street led by technology shares. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 surged 0.8% to 22,621.84. Hong Kong’s Hang…

Coronavirus lockdowns increase poaching in Asia, Africa

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 22, 2020

NEW DELHI A camera trap photo of an injured tigress and a forensic examination of its carcass revealed why the creature died: a poacher’s wire snare punctured its windpipe and sapped its strength as the wound festered for days. Snares…

Asian shares fall on fears virus outbreaks are rebounding

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 15, 2020

TOKYO Shares were mostly lower in Asia on Monday on concern over a resurgence of coronavirus cases and pessimism after Wall Street posted its worst week in nearly three months. Benchmarks in Tokyo, Sydney and Shanghai fell after China…

Asia shares drop after Wall Street rout as virus cases rise

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 12, 2020

Asian shares were moderately lower Friday after an overnight rout on Wall Street as investors were spooked by reports of rising coronavirus cases in the U.S. Fear that a so-called “second wave,” is already coming has punctured bubbling…

World shares mixed on uncertainty over stimulus, pandemic

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 9, 2020

TOKYO Shares opened lower in Europe on Tuesday after a day of gains for most Asian markets. Benchmarks fell in Paris, London and Tokyo on Tuesday and U.S. futures also declined. Germany reported its exports fell by a quarter in April as…

Virus forces cancellation of Asian peace prize

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 9, 2020

BANGKOK A Philippine peace award has been canceled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, marking only the third disruption in six decades for the annual prize regarded as an Asian Nobel. The Manila-based foundation that hands out the…

Virus cases hit seven million as Latin America crisis deepens

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 8, 2020

Santiago, Chile The number of coronavirus infections globally topped seven million on Monday as deaths mounted in Latin America, but New Zealand's declaration of victory against the pandemic offered some hope for the rest of the world.…

World shares mixed following Wall St rally, OPEC-plus deal

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 8, 2020

BANGKOK Shares opened lower in Asia on Monday after a broad advance in Asia following news that the U.S. economy added more jobs than expected in May. Germany’s DAX shed 0.6% to 12,770.66 as the government reported that industrial…

Protests support Floyd, Black Lives Matter on 3 continents

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 6, 2020

BERLIN Tens of thousands of people gathered Saturday in cities far from the United States to express their anger over the death of George Floyd, a sign that the Black Lives Matter movement against police brutality is resonating with wider…

Asian shares rise as Wall Street gains for 3rd straight day

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 3, 2020

TOKYO Asian shares rose Wednesday after Wall Street extended its gains for a third straight day, driven by optimism over economies reopening from shutdowns to stem the coronavirus pandemic. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 gained 1.3% to…

Asian stocks rebound after Trump avoids reigniting trade war

THE ASIA LIVE Jun 1, 2020

BEIJING Asian stock markets rebounded Monday after President Donald Trump avoided reigniting a trade war with China amid tension over Hong Kong and the coronavirus pandemic. Hong Kong’s benchmark gained more than 3% and Shanghai and Tokyo…

Cathay says Hong Kong airport transit from June 1 excludes mainland flights

THE ASIA LIVE May 31, 2020

Hong Kong Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd said on Saturday that the reopening of transit services for passengers at Hong Kong International Airport from June 1 will not include those traveling to and from mainland China. Hong Kong Chief…

China says US action on Hong Kong ‘doomed to fail’

THE ASIA LIVE May 31, 2020

BEIJING The mouthpiece newspaper of China’s ruling Communist Party said that the U.S. decision to end some trading privileges for Hong Kong “grossly interferes” in China’s internal affairs and is “doomed to fail.” The Hong Kong government…

Asia shares fall as US-China tensions douse rally on Wall St

THE ASIA LIVE May 29, 2020

BANGKOK Shares fell Friday in Asia as investors awaited a news conference about China by President Donald Trump later in the day. Benchmarks declined in Hong Kong, Tokyo and Sydney but rose in Shanghai. U.S. and Chinese officials have…

Asian shares mixed after Wall Street rally; Hong Kong lower

THE ASIA LIVE May 28, 2020

BANGKOK Asian stocks were mixed after an upbeat open on Thursday, as investors pinned their hopes on an economic rebound from the coronavirus crisis. Shares rose in Tokyo, Sydney and Mumbai but dropped in Hong Kong, where tensions are…

Asia stocks mixed on uncertainty over Hong Kong security law

THE ASIA LIVE May 27, 2020

Major Asian stock markets were mixed Wednesday as U.S.-Chinese tension over Hong Kong competed with optimism about recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. Benchmarks in Shanghai and Hong Kong retreated after the White House said a proposed…

Asian shares up as recovery hopes overshadow virus worries

THE ASIA LIVE May 26, 2020

TOKYO Shares rose in Asia on Tuesday as some regions in Japan resumed close-to-normal business activity, with hopes for economic recovery overshadowing worries over the coronavirus pandemic. The market focus is shifting to how various…

Soaring infections dampen Eid festivities in Indonesia

THE ASIA LIVE May 24, 2020

JAKARTA, Indonesia Millions of Muslims in Indonesia are marking a muted and gloomy holiday of Eid al-Fitr, the end of the fasting month of Ramadan — a usually joyous three-day celebration that has been significantly toned down as…

Asian shares fall on US friction with China, Hong Kong fears

THE ASIA LIVE May 22, 2020

BANGKOK Shares slipped in Asia on Friday as tensions flared between the U.S. and China and as more job losses compounded the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. Hong Kong’s benchmark led regional losses, dropping 3.9% to…

Asian stocks up on hopes for vaccine and economies reopening

THE ASIA LIVE May 19, 2020

TOKYO Asian shares rose Tuesday on optimism about a potential vaccine for the coronavirus after hopes for a U.S. economic recovery in the second half of the year sent Wall Street into a rebound. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 added 1.5% to…

European airlines hope to resume flights but outlook is dim

THE ASIA LIVE May 18, 2020

COPENHAGEN, Denmark European airlines are planning for a return to the skies this summer after being grounded almost completely for weeks over the coronavirus pandemic. The outlook, however, remains uncertain, with companies forecasting a…

Wall Street erases most of a morning loss in choppy trading

THE ASIA LIVE May 14, 2020

Wall Street erased most of a big morning loss on Thursday, the latest erratic moves in its wobbly week. The S&P 500 was down 0.7% after erasing much of an early loss of 1.9%. Markets in Asia and Europe fell to sharper drops, while…

Asian shares fall as hopes fade for quick economic rebound

THE ASIA LIVE May 14, 2020

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…

Japan may ease emergency,South Korea sees more cases

THE ASIA LIVE May 14, 2020

BANGKOK Japan’s government is holding a coronavirus task force meeting Thursday to get experts’ approval on a plan to lift a state of emergency in most areas except Tokyo and other high-risk areas ahead of schedule. Prime Minister Shinzo…

Trump’s surprising target in war on media: Voice of America

THE ASIA LIVE May 14, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump’ has had many targets in his war against the media, but perhaps none is more surprising than the Voice of America, the venerable U.S.-funded institution created during World War II to broadcast independent…

Asian shares track Wall Street retreat on virus rebound fear

THE ASIA LIVE May 13, 2020

Shares fell in Asia on Wednesday after Wall Street logged its biggest loss since the start of the month on worries about the downside of reopening the economy too soon. Benchmarks slid in Tokyo, Shanghai and Hong Kong but rose in Taiwan.…

Toyota expects annual operating profit to drop 80% as virus saps car sales

THE ASIA LIVE May 12, 2020

TOKYO Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) said on Tuesday it expects to post its lowest annual operating profit in nine years as the automaker grapples with the impact of the novel coronavirus, which has sapped global demand for cars. Japan’s…

Asian stocks stumble on fears of second coronavirus wave, oil up

THE ASIA LIVE May 12, 2020

Asian shares skidded on Tuesday on growing worries about a second wave of coronavirus infections after the Chinese city where the pandemic originated reported its first new cases since its lockdown was lifted. The central Chinese city of…

As lockdown eases in Europe, spike in Asia coronavirus cases warns of second wave

THE ASIA LIVE May 11, 2020

PARIS A resurgence of new cases in China's ground zero Wuhan has warned the world of a sceond wave of new cases, causing worries for many as many European countries start easing the restrictions on the coroanvirus led lockdowns on Monday,…

‘Tale of 2 outbreaks’: Singapore tackles a costly setback

THE ASIA LIVE May 11, 2020

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia Weeks after two of his roommates were diagnosed with COVID-19, Mohamad Arif Hassan says he’s still waiting to be tested for the coronavirus. Quarantined in his room in a sprawling foreign workers’ dormitory that has…

China cases rise, students back, Disney reopens

THE ASIA LIVE May 11, 2020

BANGKOK China reported another rise in coronavirus cases on Monday, as the government reminded people to step up personal protection against the virus. The warning from Mi Feng, spokesperson for the National Health Commission, came as 17…

Asian stocks follow Wall Street higher on recovery hopes

THE ASIA LIVE May 11, 2020

BEIJING Asian stock markets rose Monday after Wall Street advanced as investors looked past dismal U.S. jobs and other data toward hopes for a global recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. Benchmarks in Shanghai, Tokyo, Hong Kong and…

South Korean leader urges no panic as cases rise

THE ASIA LIVE May 10, 2020

SEOUL, South Korea South Korea on Sunday reported 34 additional cases of the coronavirus amid a spate of infections linked to club goers, as President Moon Jae-in urged calm, saying that “there’s no reason to stand still out of fear.”…

Asian shares mixed after Wall St dips on pandemic worries

THE ASIA LIVE May 7, 2020

TOKYO 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…

PHOTOS: Animals at closed zoo depend on helping hands

THE ASIA LIVE May 7, 2020

MEDAN, Indonesia The sound of the sea eagle breaks the silence between the iron cages at Medan Zoo in Indonesia’s North Sumatra province. It has been more than a month since the zoo closed and restricted visitors as part of efforts to stop…

Stock markets, oil price rebound as countries ease lockdowns

THE ASIA LIVE May 5, 2020

BANGKOK World stock markets and the price of oil rose on Tuesday as more countries eased restrictions on business and public life, raising hopes for a recovery from a historic economic plunge. Shares advanced in Paris, London and Hong…

Asian shares rise on hopes for drug to treat coronavirus

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 30, 2020

TOKYO Asian shares advanced on Thursday, riding a wave of optimism about a possible treatment for the coronavirus that set off a rally on Wall Street powerful enough to override data showing the U.S. economy had logged its worst quarterly…

Amid health worries, Kim Jong Un’s role looms large

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 29, 2020

TOKYO New rumors about Kim Jong Un pour in daily. The North Korean leader is dead. Or he’s very ill. Or maybe he’s just recuperating in his luxury compound. As speculation about his health builds, an underlying question looms for…

A look at past disappearances of NKorean leaders, officials

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 28, 2020

SEOUL, South Korea While Kim Jong Un’s two-week absence has inspired speculation and rumors that he is gravely ill, he is not the first member of North Korean’s ruling elite to disappear from public view. Some absences were caused by real…

Questions over Kim’s health highlight intelligence limits

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 27, 2020

SEOUL, South Korea North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s prolonged public absence has led to rumors of ill health and worries about how it could influence the future of what one analyst calls Northeast Asia’s “Achilles’ heel,” a reference to…

Mosque’s makeshift morgue shows virus toll on UK minorities

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 27, 2020

BIRMINGHAM, England The holy month of Ramadan is underway, and the Central Jamia Mosque Ghamkol Sharif in Birmingham should be full of worshippers. But this year, the main arrivals are the dead. While the mosque in the central England…

Hong Kong bookstore under attack in China reopens in Taiwan

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 25, 2020

TAIPEI, Taiwan The part-owner of a Hong Kong bookstore specializing in texts critical of China’s leaders reopened his shop in Taiwan on Saturday after fleeing Hong Kong due to legal troubles, saying he was grateful for the chance to make…

US states begin easing lockdowns as virus weakens in Asia

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 25, 2020

SAVANNAH, Ga. The U.S. states of Georgia, Oklahoma and Alaska began loosening lockdown orders on their pandemic-wounded businesses, even as the confirmed U.S. death toll from the coronavirus soared past 50,000 and despite warnings from…

Sri Lanka reimposes curfew; 12 cases in China

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 25, 2020

BANGKOK Sri Lanka has reimposed a countrywide 24-hour curfew after a surge in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases, most of them navy sailors who were hunting those evading quarantine. The 46 new infections on Friday were the highest…

Global markets struggle as hopes for quick rebound fade

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 24, 2020

TOKYO Global stock markets mostly fell on Friday as hopes faded for a quick recovery from the global coronavirus pandemic. Investors looked past new economic relief measures in the United States and Europe to focus on the likelihood that…

Hope dashed: Asian shares fall after Wall Street loses rally

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 24, 2020

TOKYO Asian shares are lower Friday after an early rally on Wall Street suddenly vanished, the latest example of how fragile the hopes underpinning the stock market’s monthlong recovery are. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 slipped 0.8% in…

After denial, Indonesia sees mounting coronavirus deaths

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 21, 2020

JAKARTA, Indonesia While Indonesia’s neighbors scrambled early this year to try to contain the spread of the coronavirus, the government of the world’s fourth most populous nation insisted that everything was fine. In speeches,…

Southeast Asian nations struggling against coronavirus

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 21, 2020

Few Southeast Asian nations enacted serious measures to contain the coronavirus until their own number of cases starting climbing sharply. Indonesia, as the most populous country in the region, is the major concern, but all face challenges.…

Oil price goes negative as demand collapses; stocks dip

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 21, 2020

BANGKOK Asian shares skidded on Tuesday after U.S. oil futures plunged below zero as storage for crude runs close to full amid a worldwide glut as demand collapses due to the pandemic. Shares fell in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Shanghai but New…

Tokyo’s homeless seek Olympic Athletes Village as shelter

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 18, 2020

TOKYO A group representing the homeless is asking to use the Athletes Village for next year’s Tokyo Olympics as a shelter during the coronavirus pandemic. An online petition addressed to Tokyo Olympic organizers and the city government…

With price high, Thais with dwindling incomes sell off gold

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 16, 2020

Bangkok With gold prices rising to a seven-year high, many Thais have been flocking to gold shops to trade in their necklaces, bracelets, rings and gold bars for cash, eager to reap profits during an economic downturn. In Thailand, where…

Coronavirus could erode global fight against other diseases

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 16, 2020

NEW DELHI Lavina D’Souza hasn’t been able to collect her government-supplied anti-HIV medication since the abrupt lockdown of India’s 1.3 billion people last month during the coronavirus outbreak. Marooned in a small city away from her…

South Korean ruling party wins vote held amid virus fears

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 16, 2020

SEOUL, South Korea The ruling liberal party secured a resounding victory in South Korea’s parliamentary elections, which had the highest turnout in nearly three decades despite the coronavirus sickening thousands and forcing social…

Fading Vision Fund to tip SoftBank into first loss in 15 years

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 13, 2020

TOKYO SoftBank expects its $100 billion Vision Fund to book a loss of 1.8 trillion yen ($16.5 billion) due to the worsening performance of its tech bets, which will tip the group as a whole into its first loss for 15 years. A third…

Asian shares fall, Europe, Hong Kong closed after Easter

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 13, 2020

TOKYO Shares were mostly lower Monday in Asia while crude prices lost earlier gains that had come after OPEC and other oil producing nations agreed to cut output to reflect the collapse of demand due to the pandemic. Trading was muted…

South Korea continues down trend in new cases

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 12, 2020

SEOUL, South Korea South Korea reported 32 additional cases of the coronavirus over the past 24 hours, a continued downward trend in new infections in the country. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement…

China’s virus pandemic epicenter Wuhan ends 76-day lockdown

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 8, 2020

WUHAN, China After 11 weeks of lockdown, the first train departed Wednesday morning from a re-opened Wuhan, the origin point for the coronavirus pandemic, as residents once again were allowed to travel in and out of the sprawling central…

Hong Kong to remain closed to foreigners

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 7, 2020

Hong Kong Hong Kong will continue to be closed to foreigners, extending the initial two-week entry restrictions on non-residents indefinitely. Non-residents coming from overseas to Hong Kong by plane will be denied entry, and those coming…

Yen falls on concerns Japan close to declaring state of emergency; sterling steadies

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 6, 2020

TOKYO The yen fell on Monday after Japanese media said Prime Minister Shinzo Abe may declare a state of emergency as early as Tuesday to curb an alarming spike in coronavirus infections. The pound trimmed losses against the dollar and…

Singapore quarantines almost 20K foreign workers

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 6, 2020

SINGAPORE Singapore has placed nearly 20,000 foreign workers under quarantine in their dormitories after an increasing number in the community were found to be infected with COVID-19. The country has gazetted two foreign dormitories as…

China honors virus victims with 3 minutes of reflection

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 4, 2020

WUHAN, China With air raid sirens wailing and flags at half-mast, China on Saturday held a three-minute nationwide moment of reflection to honor those who have died in the coronavirus outbreak, especially “martyrs” who fell while fighting…

US urges masks as dramatic steps to combat virus roll out

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 4, 2020

NEW YORK The Trump administration urged Americans to cover their faces in public and limited exports of medical supplies Friday as New York’s governor took his own dramatic step to fight the coronavirus — vowing to seize unused ventilators…

Trump’s contradictory views on China shift as crisis grows

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 2, 2020

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump has held an unequivocal position about China and the coronavirus — several of them. Trump initially praised China, then excoriated Beijing after it made unsubstantiated claims that the virus originated in…

Asian stocks mixed as economic toll of virus worsens

THE ASIA LIVE Apr 2, 2020

BEIJING Asian stocks were mixed 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…

World Bank sees outbreak taking a big toll on Asia’s economy

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 31, 2020

The World Bank is estimating that the cornavirus outbreak will cause economic growth to slow significantly this year in China and other East Asian-Pacific countries, throwing millions into poverty. Under a worse-case scenario, the region…

China state media reports 19 people killed in forest fire

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 31, 2020

BEIJING China’s state media say 19 people died while fighting a raging forest fire in the southwestern province of Sichuan. The Xinhua News Agency reported the deaths on Tuesday but did not say when they occurred. A city information…

Asia shares suffer virus chills, central banks offer what they can

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 30, 2020

Asian shares slid on Monday and oil prices took another tumble as fears mounted that the global shutdown for the coronavirus could last for months, doing untold harm to economies despite central banks’ best efforts. “We continue to mark…

China reports 5 deaths, 45 new coronavirus cases

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 29, 2020

The Latest on the coronavirus pandemic. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. BEIJING…

Tourists stranded in Asia by canceled flights, shut borders

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 28, 2020

Kathmandu,Nepal Spring is the tourist season for Nepal when thousands of visitors come to hike the mountain trails. At the Lukla Airport, the only gateway to the Mount Everest region, there were more than 200 trekkers stranded, according…

Half-million infected worldwide as economic toll rises

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 27, 2020

The human and economic toll of the lockdowns against the coronavirus mounted Thursday as India struggled to feed the multitudes, Italy shut down most of its industry, and a record-shattering 3.3 million Americans applied for unemployment…

US deaths top 1,000 as $2.2 trillion in virus aid approved

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 26, 2020

NEW YORK U.S. deaths from the coronavirus pandemic topped 1,000 in another grim milestone for a global outbreak that is taking lives and wreaking havoc on economies and the established routines of ordinary life. In a recognition of the…

Spain’s coronavirus deaths leap; Prince Charles now infected

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 25, 2020

MADRID The death toll in Spain from the coronavirus shot up by more than 700 on Wednesday, surpassing China and is now second only to Italy as the pandemic spread rapidly in Europe, with even Britain’s Prince Charles testing positive for…

Philippine rebels declare ceasefire to heed UN chief’s call

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 25, 2020

MANILA, Philippines Communist guerrillas in the Philippines said Wednesday they would observe a ceasefire in compliance with the U.N. chief’s call for a global halt in armed clashes during the coronavirus pandemic. New People’s Army…

Asian shares jump after Dow sees biggest gain since 1933

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 25, 2020

Shares opened sharply higher in Asia on Wednesday after the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged to its best day since 1933 with Congress and the White House nearing a deal on injecting nearly $2 trillion of aid into an economy ravaged by…

US newspapers urge China not to expel their journalists

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 24, 2020

BEIJING The publishers of three major American newspapers have written an open letter asking China to reverse its recent decision to expel many of their correspondents working in the country. The letter posted online Tuesday referred to…

PHOTOS: Oh, deer! Treasured animals wander Nara streets

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 24, 2020

NARA, Japan Tours are canceled. Restaurants are empty. And centuries-old temples are quieter than usual in the ancient capital city of Japan, hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. All of Nara is suffering with its UNESCO World Heritage…

Hong Kong postpones university entrance exams, schools to remain closed

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 21, 2020

HONG KONG Hong Kong said on Saturday it would postpone university entrance exams until April 24 as the city tries to contain a surge in coronavirus cases as people return from overseas infected with the disease. The government said it…

North Korea test fires missiles; Seoul slams it as inappropriate

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 21, 2020

SEOUL, South Korea North Korea on Saturday fired two presumed short-range ballistic missiles into the sea, South Korea’s military said, as it continues to expand military capabilities amid deadlocked nuclear negotiations with the Trump…

Russia deports Chinese for violating self-quarantine rules

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 20, 2020

MOSCOW Authorities in Moscow are detaining and deporting Chinese nationals for violating quarantine procedures the city government mandated in response to the coronavirus, according to court filings and a lawyer working on at least 15…

Europe’s south strains under pandemic; 10,000 die globally

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 20, 2020

PARIS Southern Europe buckled under the strain of the coronavirus pandemic on Friday, with gasping patients filling the wards of hospitals in Spain and Italy as the global death toll surpassed 10,000 people worldwide. In the U.S.,…

Sri Lankan government imposes 2 1/2 day curfew

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 20, 2020

The Latest on the coronavirus pandemic, which has infected more than 244,000 people and killed more than 10,000. The COVID-19 illness causes mild or moderate symptoms in most people, but severe symptoms are more likely in the elderly or…

Chinese robot maker sees demand surge amid virus

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 20, 2020

BEIJING While other industries struggle, Liu Zhiyong says China’s virus outbreak is boosting demand for his knee-high, bright yellow robots to deliver groceries and patrol malls looking for shoppers who fail to wear masks. Liu, CEO of…

China exonerates doctor reprimanded for warning of virus

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 20, 2020

BEIJING China has taken the highly unusual move of exonerating a doctor who was reprimanded for warning about the coronavirus outbreak and later died of the disease. The official China News Service late Tuesday said police in the…

Italian virus death toll nears China’s as outbreak spreads

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 19, 2020

ROME The Chinese city where the coronavirus first emerged reported no new homegrown cases Thursday, while the death toll in Italy was poised to overtake China’s in a stark illustration of how the outbreak has pivoted toward Europe and the…

Oil pares gains as investors wait to see if coronavirus stimulus works

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 19, 2020

TOKYO Oil prices rose on Thursday but pared early gains as investors tried to assess how effective massive stimulus by central banks will be in shoring up the global economy as the shock from the coronavirus pandemic deepens. Bucking…

Wuhan reports no new cases of virus infection

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 19, 2020

The Latest on the coronavirus pandemic, which has infected more than 215,000 people and killed more than 8,700. The COVID-19 illness causes mild or moderate symptoms in most people, but severe symptoms are more likely in the elderly or…

Indonesia rations purchases of staples, eyes fuel price cuts

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 18, 2020

JAKARTA Indonesian police have ordered retailers to ration purchases of staple foods to contain panic buying amid a spike in coronavirus cases in the Southeast Asian country, while the president weighed up a cut in fuel prices to reflect…

Governments grapple with virus border closures, lockdowns

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 18, 2020

BERLIN Governments around the globe grappled Wednesday with how to implement border closures, travel restrictions and lockdowns that have unleashed transportation chaos and imperiled economies, but which authorities say are needed to slow…

With borders and businesses closing, world hunkers down

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 17, 2020

BANGKOK With borders slamming shut, schools and businesses closing and and increasingly drastic restrictions on movement, tens of millions of people were hunkered down Tuesday, heeding government calls to isolate themselves and slow the…

Pakistan PM warns new virus may devastate developing nations

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 17, 2020

ISLAMABAD Pakistan’s prime minister said Monday he fears the new coronavirus will devastate the economies of developing nations, and warned richer economies to prepare to write off the debts of the world’s poorer countries.  Imran Khan…

Asian stocks fall in volatile session after historic Wall St. plunge

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 17, 2020

TOKYO Asian shares fell on Tuesday in a topsy-turvy session following one of Wall Street’s biggest one-day routs in history as headlines about the coronavirus outbreak and its global economic impact whiplashed investor sentiment.…

Asia urges vigilance to maintain hard-won infection drops

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 16, 2020

TOKYO Millions of people began holing up at home, stocking up on supplies and keeping a wary eye on how close they get to friends and neighbors as fear of the coronavirus spread to more places around the world Monday. Resorts closed on…

Daily life near a standstill as nations try to halt pandemic

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 16, 2020

ROME Meeting with friends, dining out, worshiping and other daily routines have nearly halted as nations take drastic steps to try to stop the coronavirus pandemic. Religious leaders gave sermons to empty pews or to the faithful watching…

Asian stock markets, US futures sink after Fed’s rate cut

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 16, 2020

BEIJING Asian stock markets and U.S. futures fell Monday after the Federal Reserve slashed its key interest rate to shore up economic growth in the face of mounting global anti-virus controls that are shutting down business and travel.…

Spain to follow Italy into lockdown as virus cases soar

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 14, 2020

BARCELONA, Spain Spain was set to follow Italy on Saturday in declaring a nationwide lockdown as European countries took ever more sweeping measures to reduce contact among people and slow the accelerating spread of the coronavirus.…

Virus cases balloon around the world as China recovers

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 14, 2020

BEIJING As the rest of the world mobilized to fight the widening coronavirus pandemic on Saturday, China continued to ease up lockdown measures in its hardest-hit region, where the number of new cases has dwindled. The virus that first…

Asian shares plunge after Wall Street’s worst day since ’87

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 13, 2020

NEW YORK Shares have plunged in Asia, with Japan’s benchmark sinking 10% after Wall Street suffered its biggest drop since the Black Monday crash of 1987. Markets worldwide have retreated as fears of economic fallout from the coronavirus…

Will heat stop the spread of new virus? No one really knows

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 12, 2020

JAKARTA, Indonesia As outbreaks of the new coronavirus that first emerged in China continue to spread in more than 100 countries — particularly those experiencing winter — one of the biggest unanswered questions is how it will behave in…

WHO declares virus crisis a pandemic, U.S. stocks plunge

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 12, 2020

GENEVA The World Health Organization declared Wednesday that the global coronavirus crisis is now a pandemic as U.S. stocks plunged into bear market territory and several American cities joined European counterparts in banning large…

Beijing quarantine, Merkel issues warning

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 11, 2020

New clusters of the novel coronavirus are expanding in the United States and Europe as Italy replaces China as the new epicenter of a worldwide outbreak. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as…

Italy passes 10,000 infections as clusters spur worry in US

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 11, 2020

ROME Expanding clusters of the new coronavirus were eyed warily Wednesday as the outbreak upended daily life and reshaped everything from the United States presidential race to Pope Francis’ travel. In the U.S., the caseload passed 1,000,…

In Malaysia’s Silicon Valley, fortunes flip as virus wrecks trade war gains

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 10, 2020

PENANG, Malaysia Tech firms at Malaysia’s one-time Silicon Valley of the East, swimming in orders from customers fleeing trade war-hit China, have seen fortunes turn again in the space of just a year as the coronavirus outbreak cuts them…

Virus outbreak hits weakened Italian economy where it hurts

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 7, 2020

MILAN The focal point of the coronavirus emergency in Europe, Italy, is also the region’s weakest economy and is taking an almighty hit as foreigners stop visiting its cultural treasures or buying its prized artisanal products, from…

China’s crisis wanes as epidemic takes hold in US, elsewhere

THE ASIA LIVE Mar 3, 2020

BEIJING China’s coronavirus caseload continued to wane Tuesday even as the epidemic took a firmer hold beyond Asia, with three countries now exceeding 1,000 cases and the U.S. reporting its sixth death. The health ministry announced just…

Taiwan passes $2 billion package to soften coronavirus hit to economy

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 25, 2020

TAIPEI Taiwan’s parliament approved a T$60 billion ($2 billion) package on Tuesday to help cushion the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on its export-reliant economy. The package includes loans for small businesses, subsidies for…

Deere taps tractor-hailing tech in bid to break ground in Africa

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 25, 2020

NANYUKI, Kenya/JOHANNESBURG It’s ride-hailing, farm style. Deere & Co. (DE.N) is teaming up with the “Uber of tractors” in Africa and betting on a future where farmers summon machines with the touch of a button. The world’s leading…

Virus pushes beyond Asia, taking aim at Europe, Mideast

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 24, 2020

SEOUL, South Korea The new virus took aim at a broadening swath of the globe Monday, with officials in Europe and the Middle East scrambling to limit the spread of an outbreak that showed signs of stabilizing at its Chinese epicenter but…

New Army training team heads to Africa

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 24, 2020

WASHINGTON The Army, for the first time, will send soldiers from one of its new training brigades to Africa in the coming weeks, expanding the use of the new specialized units as the Pentagon looks at possible troop cuts on the continent.…

Asian shares mostly rise while virus fears continue

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 19, 2020

TOKYO Asian shares mostly rose Wednesday, despite overnight losses on Wall Street and continuing fears about an outbreak of a new virus that began in China. The Nikkei 225 rose 1.0% in afternoon trading to 23,415.30.Australia’s…

Shares fall in Asia as virus outbreak hits profits, events

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 18, 2020

BANGKOK Shares slipped in Asia on Tuesday as the impact from the virus outbreak that began in China deepened, with Apple saying it would fail to meet its profit target and China moving to postpone or cancel major events including the…

Asian markets mixed: Japan skids; China helped by rate cut

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 17, 2020

BANGKOK Markets were mixed in Asia on Monday, with Japan’s benchmark slipping 0.7% after the government reported the economy contracted 6.3% in annual terms in the last quarter. China’s shares got a boost after the central bank stepped in…

Americans who left cruise trade one quarantine for another

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 17, 2020

TOKYO Americans Cheryl and Paul Molesky decided to trade one coronavirus quarantine for another. The couple from Syracuse, New York, cut short a 14-day quarantine on the Diamond Princess cruise ship in the port of Yokohama, near Tokyo, to…

France announces 1st coronavirus death outside Asia

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 15, 2020

An 80-year-old Chinese tourist has died from the new coronavirus in France, the first death confirmed outside of Asia, French Health Minister Agnes Buzyn said on Saturday. Buzyn said she had been told about the death of the patient - in…

Asian shares mostly lower as new China virus cases spike

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 13, 2020

Bangkok Asian shares were mostly lower Thursday as reported cases of the new virus jumped in China. The Shanghai Composite declined 0.7% to 2,906.07 in afternoon trading. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng slipped 0.3% to 27,730.00. Japan’s Nikkei 225…

Asian carp roundup in Kentucky opens new front in battle

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 12, 2020

GOLDEN POND, Ky. Like a slow-motion, underwater cattle drive, wildlife officials in a half-dozen aluminum boats used pulses of electricity and sound on a recent gray morning to herd schools of Asian carp toward 1,000-foot-long (305 meters)…

Coronavirus fears continue to pressure global stock exchanges

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 11, 2020

NEW YORK Major US stock indices finished at fresh records Monday, shrugging off worries about the coronavirus that pressured other equity markets and drove oil prices lower. As the outbreak continued, Chinese President Xi Jinping donned a…

‘In 2018 and 2019, one extreme weather event happened almost every month in India’

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 10, 2020

Jose Kalathil NEW DELHI The continuity and intensity of extreme weather events in India in the 2018-19 period has taken even climate scientists and meteorologists by complete surprise, says the latest State of India’s Environment Annual,…

Asian shares up on China efforts despite virus worries

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 5, 2020

TOKYO Asian shares rose Wednesday on optimism that China’s latest actions may help curtail some of the expected economic damage from the virus outbreak. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 gained 1.1% to 23,342.60 in afternoon trading.…

Asia shares gain, Shanghai up slightly after Wall St rebound

THE ASIA LIVE Feb 4, 2020

BANGKOK Shares advanced in Asia on Tuesday, with the Shanghai Composite up 0.2% after a rebound on Wall Street overnight. Markets were still far from giving the all-clear on the virus outbreak that has spread to more than 20 countries and…

Amnesty Int’l: Asia seeing growing repression, resistance

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 30, 2020

BANGKOK Authoritarian governments in Asia are undermining human rights and demonizing their critics, but they face a rising tide of protest from young people who defy grave risks to protest such repression, Amnesty International said in…

Asian markets tumble as fears over virus outbreak spread

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 30, 2020

Shares tumbled in Asia on Thursday as concern over the impact of the virus outbreak in China deepened. Taiwan’s benchmark dived 5.8% as its market reopened after the Lunar New Year. Japan’s Nikkei 225 index sank 1.7% to 22,977.75, while…

Asian stocks tumble as China virus worries deepen

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 28, 2020

TOKYO Asian shares skidded again Tuesday on deepening worries over the expanding outbreak of a new virus in China. Markets in Hong Kong, Taiwan and mainland China were closed Tuesday for Lunar New Year holidays, while South Korea’s…

Asian stocks tumble on growing concern about China virus

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 21, 2020

BEIJING Asian stock markets tumbled Tuesday as concern about the economic impact of a Chinese disease outbreak rose. Japan’s central bank left its key interest rate unchanged and revised up its economic growth outlook. Market indexes in…

Malaysia sends back trash, says won’t be world’s waste bin

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 20, 2020

PENANG, Malaysia Malaysia has sent back 150 containers of plastic waste to 13 mainly rich countries since the third quarter last year, with the environment minster warning on Monday that those who want to make the country a rubbish bin of…

China reports 17 new cases in viral pneumonia outbreak

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 19, 2020

BEIJING Seventeen more people in central China have been diagnosed with a new form of viral pneumonia that has killed two patients and placed other countries on alert as millions of Chinese travel for Lunar New Year holidays. In total, 62…

Protests take toll on Hong Kong tourism

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 15, 2020

HONG KONG Visitor numbers to Hong Kong fell by nearly 40% in the second half of last year amid clashes between police and anti-government protesters. The Hong Kong Tourism Board said Wednesday that the numbers of those visiting the Asian…

PDVSA’s partners act as traders of Venezuelan oil amid sanctions – documents

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 13, 2020

CARACAS/PUNTO FIJO, Venezuela Venezuela, its oil exports decimated by U.S. sanctions, is testing a new method of getting its crude to market: allocating cargoes to joint-venture partners including Chevron Corp (CVX.N), which in turn market…

Asian stocks rise ahead of US-China trade pact

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 13, 2020

BEIJING Asian stock markets rose Monday ahead of the signing of a U.S.-Chinese trade pact as investors shrugged off weaker-than-expected American jobs data. Benchmarks in Shanghai, Hong Kong and South Korea advanced. Japanese markets were…

Asian shares rise after US stocks set records as fears fade

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 10, 2020

TOKYO Asian shares rose Friday as worries receded the United States and Iran might be stepping closer to the edge of war, and U.S. indexes hit records. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 edged up 0.2% in morning trading to 23,776.09.…

Filipino Catholics pray for Mideast peace in huge gathering

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 9, 2020

MANILA, Philippines A mammoth crowd of mostly barefoot Filipino Catholics prayed for peace in the Middle East on Thursday at the start of an annual procession of a centuries-old black statue of Jesus Christ in one of Asia’s biggest…

Asian stocks, oil prices rebound as Iran anxiety eases

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 9, 2020

BEIJING Asian stock markets rebounded Thursday as anxiety over potential U.S.-Iranian conflict eased. Tokyo’s benchmark gained more than 2%. Shanghai, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia markets also advanced. Markets sank after Tehran…

Oil up, stocks down after Iran missile attack on US troops

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 8, 2020

BEIJING Oil prices rose and Asian stock markets fell Wednesday after Iran fired missiles at U.S. bases in Iraq in retaliation for the killing of an Iranian general. Brent crude futures, the benchmark for international oils, spiked more…

Asian markets slide on alarm over Mideast tensions

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 6, 2020

BANGKOK: Shares skidded in Asia on Monday, with Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index down 2% on concern over escalating tensions in the Middle East following the killing by a U.S. air strike of an Iranian general. Shares also fell in most other Asian…

Asian markets mostly higher on optimism about US-China deal

THE ASIA LIVE Jan 2, 2020

TOKYO Asian shares were mostly higher on optimism about a U.S.-China trade deal as regional markets opened the new year’s first day of trading Thursday. Australia’s S&P ASX 200 gained 0.3% in morning trading to 6,704.00, while South…