Philippines records seven novel coronavirus deaths, 205 more cases
The Philippines’ health ministry on Monday reported seven new coronavirus deaths and 205 additional infections.
Indonesians act to feed poor as lockdown hits daily wage earners
Alarmed by how the coronavirus pandemic has left many Indonesians destitute, a group of volunteers are providing free meals to vulnerable daily wage earners in their neighbourhoods, ranging from rickshaw drivers to trash collectors.
India evacuates thousands threatened by cyclone amid coronavirus pandemic
India began evacuating thousands of villagers and halted port operations ahead of a cyclone expected to hit its east coast this week, officials said on Monday, piling pressure on emergency services grappling with the coronavirus pandemic.
Australians urged to avoid rush hour crush in return to work
Australians in the country’s most populated state began their first full week of loosened coronavirus lockdown measures on Monday, with officials urging commuters returning to offices to avoid catching peak hour trains and buses.
Exclusive: Huge fentanyl haul seized in Asia’s biggest-ever drugs bust
(This May 18 story corrects to show Zaw Lin could not confirm which country the methylfentanyl came from, not declined to identify it, paragraph 25.)
Climbing season at Mount Fuji cancelled due to coronavirus
The climbing season for Mount Fuji, Japan’s highest peak, is cancelled for this year, after local officials announced on Monday that the mountain trails leading up to the summit will stay closed throughout the summer due to the novel coronavirus.
China says premature to immediately begin a COVID-19 investigation
China’s foreign ministry said on Monday it was premature to immediately launch an investigation into the origins and spread of the coronavirus that has killed more than 300,000 people globally.
Russia’s new coronavirus cases below 10,000 for third day in a row
Russia on Monday reported 8,926 new cases of the novel coronavirus in the last 24 hours, pushing its nationwide case tally to 290,678.
Taiwan says did not receive WHO meeting invite, issue off the table for now
Despite strong efforts Taiwan did not get invited to this week’s meeting of a key World Health Organization (WHO) body due to Chinese pressure, its foreign minister said on Monday, adding they had agreed to put the issue off until later this year.
China’s defence budget likely to grow despite economic cost of coronavirus
China, facing what it sees as increasing military pressure from the United States, is likely to shrug off the pall hanging over its economy from the novel coronavirus and increase its defence budget again this year.
