World / Asia

Australia delays border reopening as Omicron cases rise 29 Nov 2021 - 02:57 pm

SYDNEY: Australia said on Monday it would delay the reopening of its international border by two weeks after reporting its first cases of...

Japan bans entry of foreign visitors as omicron spreads 29 Nov 2021 - 07:44 am

Tokyo: Japan announced Monday it will suspend entry of all foreign visitors from around the world as a new coronavirus variant spreads. Prime...

Philippines launches campaign to vaccinate 9 million people in three days 29 Nov 2021 - 07:35 am

Manila: The Philippines launched on Monday an ambitious drive to vaccinate nine million people against COVID-19 over three days, deploying security forces and...

Philippines tightens border controls to keep out Omicron variant 28 Nov 2021 - 07:52 pm

MANILA- The Philippines on Sunday further tightened border controls to keep out the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus, adding seven European countries...

New Zealand politician cycles to hospital in labour, gives birth 28 Nov 2021 - 12:39 pm

MELBOURNE: New Zealand Member of Parliament Julie Anne Genter got on her bicycle early on Sunday and headed to the hospital. She was...

Australia police to charge woman with arson for quarantine hotel fire 28 Nov 2021 - 12:24 pm

SYDNEY: Australian police said on Sunday they expect to charge a 31-year-old woman with arson after she allegedly set fire to the COVID-19...

Philippines to buy extra 20 mln doses of Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine 28 Nov 2021 - 11:35 am

Manila: The Philippines will buy an additional 20 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE, seeking to...

Australian state confirms two cases of Omicron coronavirus variant 28 Nov 2021 - 10:40 am

MELBOURNE: Health officials in Australia's most populous state confirmed on Sunday that two arrivals from southern Africa over the weekend had tested positive...

Maldives bans travellers from 7 African nations due to Omicron COVID variant 28 Nov 2021 - 10:25 am

COLOMBO: Maldives said it was barring travellers from seven African countries from Sunday over concerns about the new Omicron variant of COVID-19. Travellers...

China study warns of 'colossal' COVID outbreak if it opens up like US, France 28 Nov 2021 - 09:53 am

BEIJING: China could face more than 630,000 COVID-19 infections a day if it dropped its zero-tolerance policies by lifting travel curbs, according to...

Frenchman known for mocking government denied entry in Thailand 27 Nov 2021 - 03:57 pm

Bangkok: A French national who is known for mocking the Thai government was denied reentry to Thailand on Saturday for being "a danger...

Australia sets out curbs for travellers from virus-hit southern Africa 27 Nov 2021 - 11:30 am

Melbourne: Australia imposed new restrictions on Saturday on people who have been to nine southern African countries, as the new Omicron variantof COVID-19...

Shanghai curbs tourism over new COVID-19 cases 26 Nov 2021 - 06:59 pm

Shanghai: A handful of local COVID-19 cases in eastern parts of China have prompted Shanghai city to limit tourism activities and a nearby...

Philippines to reopen to some foreign tourists from next week 26 Nov 2021 - 06:52 pm

MANILA: The Philippines will reopen its borders to tourists from some countries on a trial basis from Dec. 1, its government said on...

Thailand doubles 2021 visitor numbers after easing quarantine rules 26 Nov 2021 - 05:46 pm

BANGKOK: Thailand has received more than 100,000 visitors after launching a scheme earlier this month that allowed vaccinated tourists to skip quarantine, an...

India set to resume overseas flights, tightens screening for new COVID-19 variant 26 Nov 2021 - 05:33 pm

NEW DELHI: India said on Friday it will resume international passenger flights from mid-December with COVID-19 linked curbs for "at risk" countries, and...

Philippines suspends South African flights over coronavirus variant 26 Nov 2021 - 04:10 pm

MANILA: The Philippines suspended inbound international flights on Friday from South Africa and other countries with cases or the likelihood of cases of...

India's Serum Institute resumes vaccine exports under COVAX facility 26 Nov 2021 - 03:38 pm

BENGALURU: Serum Institute of India (SII), the world's biggest vaccine maker, said on Friday it shipped the first batch of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine,...