World / Asia

China's Xi calls for mutual recognition of COVID-19 vaccines 30 Oct 2021 - 04:59 pm

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday called for equal treatment and mutual recognition of COVID-19 vaccines based on the World Health Organization's...

Pumice pileup from undersea volcano causing damage in Japan 29 Oct 2021 - 09:54 pm

TOKYO: Massive amounts of volcanic pumice pebbles spewed from an undersea volcano in the Pacific Ocean have been piling up on southern Japanese...

Tonga reports its first COVID-19 case from plane traveler 29 Oct 2021 - 09:33 pm

WELLINGTON, New Zealand: The island nation of Tonga on Friday reported its first-ever case of COVID-19 after a traveler from New Zealand tested...

Australia's COVID-19 vaccination drive reaches Antarctica's frozen shores 29 Oct 2021 - 09:20 pm

SYDNEY: COVID-19 vaccines have arrived at Australia's Casey research station in Antarctica, authorities said on Friday, allowing expeditioners to be inoculated before they...

China proposes guidelines on internet platform responsibilities 29 Oct 2021 - 05:44 pm

SHANGHAI: China's market regulator on Friday proposed a long list of responsibilities it said it wanted the country's internet platforms to uphold, in...

Malaysia to buy Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11 29 Oct 2021 - 05:17 pm

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia said on Friday it would proceed with the procurement of the Pfizer Inc and BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children, following...

China urges stable output, supply of vegetables as winter nears 29 Oct 2021 - 04:36 pm

BEIJING: China’s agriculture ministry urged local authorities on Friday to ensure stable production and supplies of vegetables during winter after a surge in...

S.Korea loosens restrictions in first step toward 'living with COVID-19' 29 Oct 2021 - 03:24 pm

SEOUL- South Korea said on Friday it will drop all operating-hour curbs on restaurants and cafes and implement its first vaccine passport for...

Airlines to cut int'l passenger flights to and from China for new season 29 Oct 2021 - 03:17 pm

BEIJING - China will allow 408 scheduled international passenger flights to and from the country per week in the winter season ending in...

Rare plea for help as China's zero tolerance for Covid hits border town 28 Oct 2021 - 03:16 pm

Beijing: A former vice mayor of a Chinese town on the border with Myanmar lamented local lockdowns and disruptions caused by repeated Covid-19...

Singapore probes unusual surge in COVID-19 cases after record 28 Oct 2021 - 02:09 pm

Singapore: Singapore is looking into an "unusual surge" of 5,324 new infections of COVID-19, the city-state's health ministry said, its highest such figure...

S.Korean bakes 'Squid Game'-themed Halloween dog treats 27 Oct 2021 - 04:08 pm

Seoul: A South Korean pet cooking studio owner has started a baking class through which fans of Netflix's "Squid Game" TV show can...

Several Pakistani police killed by gunfire at rally of banned Islamist group: Police 27 Oct 2021 - 03:08 pm

Lahore: Thousands of demonstrators from a banned Pakistani Islamist group clashed with police on Wednesday, killing and wounding several people from both sides,...

Philippines to receive 300,000 courses of Merck's COVID-19 pill 27 Oct 2021 - 01:40 pm

MANILA: The Philippines will receive 300,000 courses of Merck & Co's COVID-19 antiviral drug next month, licensed importers and distributors said on Wednesday,...

China's growing COVID-19 outbreak tests vulnerable border towns 27 Oct 2021 - 12:08 pm

BEIJING: China has reported nearly 250 locally transmitted cases of COVID-19 since the start of the current outbreak 10 days ago, with many...

'Red Light, Green Light': 'Squid Game' doll at Seoul park draws fans 26 Oct 2021 - 07:40 pm

SEOUL: An imitation of a giant doll featuring in South Korean survival drama 'Squid Game' was launched this week at a Seoul park,...

China's Zhejiang province seeks to vaccinate young kids by December 26 Oct 2021 - 07:32 pm

BEIJING: China's eastern province of Zhejiang aims to finish vaccinating children between the ages of three and 11 against COVID-19 as of December,...

S.Korea's GL Rapha certified to produce Sputnik COVID-19 vaccines 26 Oct 2021 - 07:22 pm

MOSCOW: South Korean biotech firm GL Rapha has secured regulatory approval from Russia to produce and market the Sputnik family of coronavirus vaccines,...