World / Asia

Myanmar pardons prisoners, unclear if activists among them 17 Apr 2021 - 11:22 am

YANGON, Myanmar: Myanmar's junta on Saturday announced it pardoned and released more than 23,000 prisoners to mark the new year holiday, but it...

Music and massage: Malaysian farmers attempt to grow prized Japanese muskmelons 16 Apr 2021 - 06:43 pm

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia: After more than a decade of experimenting, a trio of Malaysian farmers say they have found the right concoction of nutrients...

Australia reports first blood clot death 'likely' linked to AstraZeneca vaccine 16 Apr 2021 - 04:10 pm

SYDNEY: Australia on Friday reported its first fatality from blood clots in a recipient of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 shot, and its regulator said there...

Japan to widen coronavirus curbs, casting fresh doubt on Olympics 16 Apr 2021 - 03:59 pm

TOKYO: Japan is set to expand quasi-emergency measures to 10 regions on Friday as a fourth wave of COVID-19 cases spreads, casting more...

Thailand uses hotels for COVID patients as cases surge 16 Apr 2021 - 02:23 pm

BANGKOK: Thailand reported on Friday its fifth record daily tally of coronavirus cases this week, as authorities set up thousands of field hospitals...

Pakistan blocks social media apps temporarily on security grounds - officials 16 Apr 2021 - 01:27 pm

Pakistan temporarily blocked Facebook, Twitter and several other social media apps on security grounds on Friday amid a crackdown against a violent Islamist...

Second South Korean deal to produce Russia's Sputnik V 16 Apr 2021 - 01:20 pm

SEOUL - South Korea's Huons Global Co Ltd will lead a consortium to produce 100 million doses of Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine...

India's vaccinations fall from peak, raw-material shortage hits output targets 16 Apr 2021 - 01:10 pm

NEW DELHI - India's daily COVID-19 vaccinations have slowed from their peak early this month while new infections have set a record, government...

Thailand reports fourth record daily rise in coronavirus cases this week 15 Apr 2021 - 04:49 pm

BANGKOK: Thailand reported 1,543 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, the sharpest increase since the start of the pandemic and the fourth record rise...

Sydney man finds snake in lettuce bought at supermarket 15 Apr 2021 - 01:41 pm

Canberra: Alex White thought he was watching a huge worm writhing in a plastic-wrapped lettuce he’d just brought home from a Sydney supermarket...

E-commerce platform connects young Afghan female entrepreneurs with the world 15 Apr 2021 - 01:05 pm

A locally grown e-commerce platform in Afghanistan is connecting vendors with customers around the world, providing an important opportunity for the war-torn economy...

Beijing skies turn yellow as sand, dust engulf Chinese capital 15 Apr 2021 - 01:00 pm

Beijing: The skies above Beijing turned yellow and air pollution soared to severe levels as a giant cloud of sand and dust particles...

Singapore orders corrections to Facebook posts on vaccine risks 15 Apr 2021 - 12:38 pm

Singapore’s Ministry of Health has issued orders requiring correction to several Facebook posts and an article over what the government says are false...

Hong Kong widens COVID-19 vaccine scheme to under 30s 15 Apr 2021 - 12:28 pm

HONG KONG - Hong Kong authorities said on Thursday that the city's vaccine scheme would be widened to include those aged between 16...

Hospitals run short of beds as Asia's Covid-19 cases surge 15 Apr 2021 - 12:23 pm

New Delhi: India and Thailand reported record daily coronavirus cases on Thursday, as a new wave of infections, combined with a shortage of...

Indian hospitals battle 'chaotic' surge as daily virus infections cross 200,000 15 Apr 2021 - 12:22 pm

NEW DELHI/BENGALURU - Many Indians scrambled on Thursday to secure beds in hospitals for relatives stricken with coronavirus as infections surged to a...

South Korea aims to fight Japan's Fukushima decision at world tribunal 14 Apr 2021 - 01:46 pm

SEOUL- South Korea's president ordered officials on Wednesday to explore petitioning an international court over Japan's decision to release contaminated water from its...

Australia flags mass inoculation amid COVID-19 vaccine turmoil 14 Apr 2021 - 01:30 pm

SYDNEY - Australia's national cabinet will begin meeting twice a week from Monday to help mobilise the country's battle against COVID-19 as authorities...