World / Asia

Manila orders anyone below 18 to stay indoors as virus cases surge 16 Mar 2021 - 11:47 am

MANILA: The Philippine capital Manila will widen a ban on minors leaving their residences to include youths of up to 18 years old...

Biden's top diplomat calls for deeper Japan ties, as China, N.Korea cast shadow 16 Mar 2021 - 11:06 am

Tokyo: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday called for deeper economic and security ties with Japan, as he and Defence Secretary...

Concerns mount that new Hong Kong law on patriotic oaths could trap judges 16 Mar 2021 - 09:43 am

Hong Kong: A proposed new law that tightens patriotic loyalty tests for Hong Kong politicians could also ensnare the city's judges, further threatening...

Thailand to administer AstraZeneca vaccine after delay over safety 15 Mar 2021 - 01:10 pm

BANGKOK: Thailand will start using the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday after a brief delay due to concerns over its safety, officials said,...

Drenched in purple, South Korean islands draw tourists 15 Mar 2021 - 01:00 pm

SHINAN, South Korea: Dressed all in purple, bent-over women held long rakes aloft as they walked in a line to a lavender field...

Hong Kong's tough COVID-19 rules see babies isolated, families cramped in tiny spaces 15 Mar 2021 - 12:54 pm

Hong Kong: Families in Asia's financial hub of Hong Kong are suffering isolation and trauma after strict coronavirus rules have led to babies...

S.Korea to expand COVID-19 vaccine drive, aims to inoculate a quarter of population by June 15 Mar 2021 - 10:55 am

SEOUL: South Korea unveiled on Monday plans to expand its immunisation campaign in the second quarter to include more senior citizens, health workers...

Philippine president's spokesman tests positive for COVID-19 15 Mar 2021 - 10:42 am

MANILA: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's spokesman Harry Roque confirmed on Monday he had tested positive for COVID-19, but said he had not been...

Beijing choked in duststorm stirred by heavy northwest winds 15 Mar 2021 - 10:26 am

BEIJING: The Chinese capital Beijing was shrouded in thick brown dust on Monday due to strong winds blowing in from the Gobi desert...

Indonesia orders 20 mln COVID-19 vaccine doses for private inoculations 15 Mar 2021 - 10:08 am

JAKARTA: Indonesia expects to receive 20.2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines developed by Moderna Inc and China's Sinopharm from the second quarter to...

Chinese 'polar bear hotel' opens to full bookings, criticism 14 Mar 2021 - 09:07 pm

SHANGHAI - A hotel that bills itself as the world's first "polar bear hotel" has opened in China's far northeastern Heilongjiang province, drawing...

Pakistan imposes partial lockdown in some areas 14 Mar 2021 - 08:20 pm

ISLAMABAD - Amid a third wave of the coronavirus that is gripping Pakistan's largest province, Punjab, and the northern part of the country,...

Japan to limit size of foreign delegations at Games - report 14 Mar 2021 - 03:47 pm

Japan is considering limiting the number of people who will be allowed to accompany foreign ministers and leaders for the delayed Tokyo Olympics...

Philippines says Covid-19 vaccination drive on track as cases surge 14 Mar 2021 - 01:47 pm

Manila: The Philippines is on track with its COVID-19 inoculation drive, the head of the government's vaccine strategy said on Sunday, addressing criticisms...

India activist breaks silence on sedition arrest, says she felt 'violated' 14 Mar 2021 - 01:04 pm

New Delhi: An Indian climate activist linked to Greta Thunberg said on Saturday she felt "violated" by her arrest last month on sedition...

Japan mulls 50% cap on Olympics spectators - media 14 Mar 2021 - 10:25 am

TOKYO: Japan is considering limiting spectators for the delayed Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics to 50% of venue capacity due to risks posed by...

Thousands to rally outside Australian parliament as pressure grows on PM 14 Mar 2021 - 10:04 am

Canberra: Thousands of protesters are expected to descend on Australia's capital on Monday when the country's parliament resumes as part of nationwide demonstrations,...