World / Asia

Hong Kong activists get up to 14 months in prison for banned Tiananmen vigil 13 Dec 2021 - 12:28 pm

Hong Kong: EightHong Kongpro-democracy activists were sentenced to up to 14 months in prison on Monday for organising, taking part in and inciting...

Pakistan confirms first case of Omicron variant 13 Dec 2021 - 12:21 pm

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has confirmed its first case of the Omicron COVID-19 variant, in the country's most populous city of Karachi, the country's National...

Indonesia to start vaccinating children aged 6-11 against COVID-19 13 Dec 2021 - 12:10 pm

JAKARTA: Indonesia will start administering COVID-19 vaccinations for children aged between 6-11 on Tuesday, a health ministry official said, as the Southeast Asian...

Antibody response from China Zhifei's COVID shot weaker against Omicron 13 Dec 2021 - 11:58 am

BEIJING: China's Anhui Zhifei Longcom Biopharmaceutical said on Monday a small laboratory test showed its COVID-19 vaccine could trigger antibodies against the Omicron...

Thailand to expedite COVID-19 boosters in anticipation of Omicron 13 Dec 2021 - 11:25 am

BANGKOK: Thailand will halve to three months the time between administering a second COVID-19 vaccine shot and a booster, a health official said...

Starbucks shuts two China outlets after reports they used expired ingredients 13 Dec 2021 - 11:18 am

BEIJING: U.S. coffee chain Starbucks said on Monday it had shut two outlets in China and was conducting an investigation after a state-backed...

Blinken in Indonesia as US seeks to shore-up Southeast Asia ties 13 Dec 2021 - 10:56 am

Jakarta: USSecretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Indonesia on Monday, kicking off a visit to Southeast Asia aimed at strengthening ties in...

More border rules ease in Australia ahead of Christmas holidays 13 Dec 2021 - 10:36 am

SYDNEY: Coronavirus-free Queensland state opened its domestic borders to all vaccinated people on Monday for the first time in nearly five months, as...

S.Korea to test AI-powered facial recognition to track COVID-19 cases 13 Dec 2021 - 10:23 am

Seoul: South Korea will soon roll out a pilot project to use artificial intelligence, facial recognition and thousands of CCTV cameras to track...

Sri Lanka shows off giant natural blue sapphire 12 Dec 2021 - 03:03 pm

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan authorities on Sunday put on show what they said was the world's largest natural corundum blue sapphire, weighing 310 kilograms,...

Philippine central bank probes online-fraud complaints at banks 12 Dec 2021 - 12:23 pm

The Philippine central bank is looking into complaints that some clients of BDO Unibank Inc., the country’s largest lender by assets, lost money...

Australia shortens wait time for COVID-19 booster doses as Omicron cases rise 12 Dec 2021 - 11:09 am

CANBERRA: Australia said on Sunday it will shorten the wait time for people to receive a COVID-19 booster following a rise in cases...

Indian farmers end yearlong protests and return home 11 Dec 2021 - 03:05 pm

NEW DELHI:Tens of thousands of jubilant Indian farmers on Saturday cleared protest sites on the capital’s outskirts and began returning home, marking an...

Taiwan records first omicron case in traveler from Africa 11 Dec 2021 - 01:55 pm

TAIPEI, Taiwan- Taiwan has recorded its first case of the omicron variant in a passenger who recently traveled to the southern African country...

Australia treasurer calls for easing Covid curbs despite rising cases 11 Dec 2021 - 01:50 pm

CANBERRA- Australia must loosen COVID-19 restrictions to bolster its economic recovery, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said on Saturday, even as daily infections rose to...