Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares declined Monday after U.S. stocks ended last week on a tumble as global markets’ expectations for higher interest rates continued to set the tone.

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 lost 1.9% in morning trading to 26,583.70. South Korea’s Kospi slipped 1.6% to 2,661.94. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dropped 2.8% to 20,064.32, while the Shanghai Composite shed 2.4% to 3,012.93. Trading was closed in Australia for Anzac Day, a national holiday.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea began a much-anticipated military parade in its capital on Monday to mark the 90th anniversary of its army’s founding, with outside experts saying it was likely to display powerful missiles and other weapons capable of targeting the United States and its allies.

South Korea’s military said the march began late Monday evening in Pyongyang after a pre-parade ceremony. It didn’t immediately provide other details, such as whether North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was present.

BEIJING (AP) — China’s capital, Beijing, began mass testing of more than 3 million people on Monday and restricted residents in one part of the city to their compounds, sparking worries of a wider Shanghai-style lockdown.

While only 70 cases have been found so far in the city of more than 21 million since a new outbreak surfaced Friday, authorities have rolled out strict measures under China’s “zero-COVID” approach to try to prevent a further spread of the virus.

TOKYO, April 24 (Reuters) - An experimental treatment from Shionogi & Co Ltd (4507.T) has shown rapid clearance of the virus that causes COVID-19, according to new data, the Japanese drug maker said on Sunday.

The pill, S-217622, "demonstrated rapid clearance of the infectious SARS-CoV-2 virus", Shionogi said in a statement, citing Phase-2b results from the Phase II/III clinical trial of the drug.

The company has global aspirations for the antiviral pill, which is now being evaluated by Japanese regulators.

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Volunteers and low-level government workers in Shanghai have erected metal barriers in multiple districts to block off small streets and entrances to apartment complexes, as China hardens its strict “zero-COVID” approach in the metropolis.

TOKYO (AP) — Rescuers said that 10 people who were retrieved Sunday from the frigid sea and the rocky coast of a northern Japanese national park had died, a day after a tour boat with 26 aboard apparently sank in rough waters, triggering questions why it was allowed to sail.

The search for the others is still ongoing after the boat sent a distress call on Saturday afternoon saying it was sinking. The location, near the Kashuni Waterfall, is known as a difficult place to maneuver boats because of its rocky coastline and strong tide.

BEIJING, Apr 23 (APP): Pakistan Ambassador to China, Moin ul Haque has appreciated Punjab Board of Investment and Trade (PBIT) for its efforts in facilitating the Chinese investors.

In a virtual meeting with Ahmer Malik, CEO, and other senior members of PBIT, the Ambassador assured them of the Embassy’s full supported.

TOKYO (AP) — A tour boat with 26 people aboard was missing in rough and cold waters off northern Japan on Saturday after issuing a distress call and reporting to be sinking, the coast guard said.

No survivors have been found after more than seven hours of an intense search involving six patrol boats and four aircraft.

The 19-ton Kazu 1 made an emergency call in early afternoon, saying the ship’s bow had flooded and was beginning to sink and tilt while it was traveling off the western coast of Shiretoko Peninsula in the northern island of Hokkaido, the coast guard said.

BEIJING, April 22 (APP): Pakistan Ambassador to China Moin ul Haque on Friday said China and Pakistan were committed to acting together to address the challenges faced by the planet Earth.

The ambassador, in a video message to China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) on the Earth Day, said, “Our bilateral development agenda, especially the current phase of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, aligns with the vision of Green Silk Road, focuses on high quality development and pays close attention to environmental protection.”

SEOUL, Apr 22 (NNN-YONHAP) – South Korea recorded 81,058 new COVID-19 cases as of midnight compared to 24 hours ago, raising the total number of infections to 16,755,055, the health authorities said today.

The daily caseload was down from 90,867 recorded in the previous day, and far lower than 125,827 confirmed a week earlier, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).

The health authorities believed the daily caseload is on the decline. Among the new cases, 15 were imported, lifting the total to 31,681.