Italy has logged a shocking spike in its already staggering coronavirus death toll, with officials warning the peak of the crisis was still days away, as the global infection rate surges relentlessly upwards.With more than 300,000 people infected in Europe alone, the disease shows few signs of slowing, and has already cast the world into a recession, economists say.In the United States (US), which now has more than 104,000 COVID-19 patients, President Donald Trump invoked wartime powers Frida

Here are the latest developments from Asia related to the novel coronavirus pandemic:Wuhan eases travel rulesWuhan, the central Chinese city where the coronavirus first emerged last year, partly reopened on Saturday after more than two months of near total isolation for its population of 11 million.People are now allowed to enter the city but not leave.

"Test, test, test". The World Health Organisation's (WHO) prescription for success in wrestling the new coronavirus pandemic under control may seem simple.

Indonesia's coronavirus crisis is far worse than being officially reported and the government's response is "in tatters", the country's doctors association warned Friday as the death toll climbed to 87.The world's fourth-most populous country only reported its first confirmed infection this month but the number had ballooned to over 1,000 by Friday.Indonesia's 87 confirmed coronavirus deaths are the highest toll in Southeast Asia, with public health and dipl

While the origins of the novel coronavirus, now better known as COVID-19 have not been identified, it is safe to assume that China's wildlife market in Wuhan played a central role in the early spread of the deadly virus. According to the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNDOC), the global wildlife trafficking industry is worth between US$7 billion and US$23 billion, annually.

Here are the latest developments from Asia related to the novel coronavirus pandemic: Thai state of emergency beginsA state of emergency came into force in Thailand aimed at halting the spread of the virus.Entry into the kingdom has been barred except for diplomats and returning Thais, a hammer blow for the lucrative tourism industry, while all gatherings have been outlawed.Traffic was light in the capital Bangkok Thursday, a city usually notorious for its congestion, with virtually

Strict measures are being taken by countries around the world to contain the deadly COVID-19 virus. As of 25 March, over 400,000 people have been infected with more than 20,000 deaths recorded worldwide. Officials in China have told the media that the country’s central Hubei province, where the novel coronavirus first emerged late last year, is to lift curbs after two months under lockdown.

Here are the latest developments in Asia related to the novel coronavirus pandemic:Olympics delayAfter days of mounting pressure, Tokyo 2020 organisers bowed to the inevitable and postponed the Games to next year due to the rapidly-spreading outbreak.Now Japan faces the unenviable task of re-organising the event - with every aspect thrown into chaos, from venues to security and accommodation.Tokyo's governor also urged residents to stay home this weekend, warning of a "critical stag

Thailand barred entry into the kingdom late on Wednesday, enacting sweeping emergency powers in a bid to stem the local spread of the coronavirus outbreak. The measures, which stopped short of a full lockdown after days of vacillation by the government, are a hammer blow to the country's vital tourism sector.Tens of thousands of travellers remain in the kingdom, facing uncertainty with airlines in chaos and restrictions on return to their countries. Bangkok, a city of 1

Tens of thousands of migrant labourers from Lao and Myanmar flooded bus stations and border crossings in Thailand on Monday (23 March), defying requests to stay put to prevent exporting infections of the deadly coronavirus. Lao and Myanmar, as of 23 March - two of Southeast Asia's least developed countries - both claim they have no cases of COVID-19, which has killed more than 15,000 people globally. The number of confirmed infections in Thailand, which employs millions