World / Asia

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,...

Pakistan petrol retailers start nationwide strike as profit margins drop 25 Nov 2021 - 10:15 pm

ISLAMABAD- Pakistan's petrol retailers began a nationwide strike on Thursday as the main industry body flagged low profit margins, exacerbated by the government's...

Afghan girl from famous cover portrait is evacuated to Italy 25 Nov 2021 - 06:57 pm

ROME: National Geographic magazine’s famed green-eyed "Afghan Girl” has arrived in Italy as part of the evacuation of Afghans following the Taliban takeover...

Shanghai sees new flareup just as China Covid outbreak tapers 25 Nov 2021 - 02:41 pm

China’s financial hub Shanghai reported three Covid-19 local infections, just after the country had managed to quell the widest outbreak of the virus...

Delhi's schools, colleges to reopen next week but air quality still very poor 25 Nov 2021 - 12:52 pm

NEW DELHI: Schools and colleges in India's capital will reopen on Monday after closing for nearly 15 days due to a spike in...

A month after reopening, Thailand sees gradual tourism recovery 25 Nov 2021 - 10:54 am

BANGKOK: Thailand was among the first countries in Asia to reopen for foreign arrivals, and it is seeing a slow recovery, including new...

World’s biggest IKEA opens in Philippines as part of global push 25 Nov 2021 - 09:50 am

IKEA opened its biggest store in the world in the Philippines, with the new 730,000 square foot facility in Manila a cornerstone of...

The Base, Hezbollah get terrorist designation in Australia 24 Nov 2021 - 03:44 pm

CANBERRA, Australia: Australia on Wednesday said it intends to add far-right extremist group The Base and the entirety of the Lebanese group Hezbollah...

South Korea sets pandemic high with 4,000 new virus cases 24 Nov 2021 - 02:58 pm

Seoul, South Korea: New coronavirus infections in South Korea exceeded 4,000 in a day for the first time since the start of the...

New Zealand sets date for reopening to tourists after nearly two years 24 Nov 2021 - 11:10 am

WELLINGTON: New Zealand will keep its borders closed to most international travellers for a further five months, the government said on Wednesday, outlining...

Bharat's COVID-19 shot 50% effective at height of India infections - small study 24 Nov 2021 - 11:03 am

BENGALURU: Bharat Biotech's vaccine was only 50% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 in a high-risk population during a devastating second wave of infections...

World's oldest person dies at 124 24 Nov 2021 - 10:52 am

Manila: Francisca Susano, the oldest person in the world, died at the age of 124 in Kabankalan city in the Philippines. According to...

Fall in COVID-19 testing worries Indian authorities 24 Nov 2021 - 10:28 am

NEW DELHI: An alarming fall in testing for COVID-19 threatens to undermine India's efforts to contain the pandemic, the federal health ministry said...

Pakistan's Lahore becomes world's 3rd most polluted city 23 Nov 2021 - 07:35 pm

LAHORE, Pakistan- Lahore on Tuesday became the world’s third most polluted city as increasing smog has engulfed Pakistan's cultural capital, an air quality...