Hong kong seoul

SINGAPORE: Singapore's stock market rebounded along with its peers in Asia on Tuesday (Mar 24) as a pledge by the US Federal Reserve to spend whatever it takes to stabilise the financial system lifted sentiment amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Policymakers across the globe are looking to stave off a deep economic freeze from lockdowns and travel bans through a slew of monetary and fiscal policy measures. Traders gave a massive thumbs up to the US central bank's pledge to essentially print cash in a move not seen since the global financial crisis more than a decade ago. The Fed, which has already slashed interest rates to record lows, said it will buy unlimited amounts of Treasury debt and take steps to lend directly to small- and medium-sized firms hammered by restrictions across the country. The plan failed to inspire US traders, with all three main indexes on Wall Street sliding, but equities in Asia rallied. READ: Singapore scientists study genes to fast-track coronavirus … [Read more...] about Singapore stock market bounces on Fed’s bumper boost

BANGKOK: Travellers from China, including Macau and Hong Kong, Iran, Italy and South Korea are now required to present a medical certificate proving they are not infected with COVID-19 before boarding their flight to Thailand, according to the Thai Civil Aviation Authority (CAAT). “If any passenger is unable to present such certificate, boarding shall be denied and the boarding pass shall not be issued,” CAAT said in its announcement on Sunday (Mar 8). READ: COVID-19: Malaysia bars travellers from South Korea, confirms 2 new cases The Medical Certificate for General Passenger is available on the Department of Disease Control's website. In the form, a certified medical doctor has to declare the passenger free from COVID-19 over the period of 14 days before departure and supply evidence of negative testing for the disease within 48 hours before the flight. The new requirement has affected several passengers including Matt Meehan from the United States. He was supposed to … [Read more...] about COVID-19 outbreak: Travellers from 4 countries must show medical certificate before boarding flights to Thailand

Hainan, a tropical island 450km south-west of Hong Kong, used to be a sleepy backwater populated by budget resorts catering to Chinese tourists unable to afford a trip to Hawaii. Today it draws travellers with considerably fatter wallets. Buying a Gucci gown or a Tiffany trinket in one of Hainan’s giant, posh malls feels no different from shopping on Fifth Avenue in New York or Avenue Montaigne in Paris – until the tills are rung. Instead of walking out with their bling, visitors from mainland China pick up their items at the airport on their way home, or get them dispatched there directly. Under rules devised a decade ago, which mean that for duty purposes Hainan is treated as a separate zone from mainland China, they are exempt from a variety of taxes and duties. Savings can reach 30 per cent as a result. Duty-free shopping conjures up images of crowded airport terminals. As the Covid-19 pandemic has emptied these of passengers, the shops inside have suffered commensurately. … [Read more...] about Duty-free retail is finding new ways to grow

HONG KONG: Former Bolton Wanderers and Crystal Palace winger Lee Chung-yong has signed up for South Korean side Ulsan Hyundai, the K-League club announced on Wednesday. Lee, who spent six seasons with Bolton before a three-year stint at Selhurst Park, is moving from German side Vfl Bochumhas to Ulsan, last year's runners-up in the South Korean league. The 31-year-old returns to Korea after starting his professional career with FC Seoul and joins an Ulsan side led by former South Korea international Kim Do-hoon. Ulsan lost out to Jeonbuk Motors in the fight for the league title last year by the smallest of margins and are among the favourites for the 2020 title when the K-League kicks off. The start to the 2020 K-League season has been postponed indefinitely due to the coronavirus outbreak. (Reporting by Michael Church, Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman) … [Read more...] about Former Premier League winger Lee signs up for South Korea’s Ulsan

SEOUL: Two AFC Champions League matches in South Korea next week will take place behind closed doors because of the deadly coronavirus outbreak, the clubs announced Tuesday (Feb 25). No fans will be allowed when FC Seoul play Thailand's Chiangrai United next Tuesday or the following day as Ulsan face Australia's Perth Glory in Asia's Premier club competition, the clubs said in separate statements. South Korea has reported nearly 900 confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infections, with nine deaths. The two teams said the decision was made "at the request of the Korea Professional Football League" to curb the spread of the infections. Two other South Korean teams involved in the competition, Jeonbuk and Suwon Bluewings, do not have their next home games until April. The announcements come 24 hours after South Korea's K-league postponed the start of the new football season following a spike in COVID-19 cases over the weekend. "The K-league has decided to temporarily … [Read more...] about Football: No fans for South Korea AFC Champions League games because of virus