HANOI: Coal-fired power plants in Vietnam are facing a shortage of coal supplies after COVID-19 infections disrupted the operations of local miners and due to the high global cost of importing the fuel, the government said on Thursday.

Police impounded assets and arrested six people during raids in Bangkok and Pathum Thani aimed at suppressing online sales of illegal drugs on Thursday morning.

The Energy Regulatory Commission has decided to raise the fuel tariff (FT) included in electricity charges for three months, from May to August.

HONG KONG: Hong Kong's leader said Thursday she was mulling easing some of the city's coronavirus restrictions due to waning public tolerance, but could not provide a roadmap out of the current Omicron-fuelled crisis.

Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang, who was appointed, has made it clear for the first time that he will contest the city elections in May in a bid to retain his job, as an independent candidate.

A Cambodian court on Thursday sentenced exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy to 10 years in prison over an alleged plot to topple strongman ruler Hun Sen.

NAKHON RATCHASIMA: Seven senior university students charged with causing the death of a 19-year-old freshman during a violent hazing ritual may also face charges of assaulting and causing indignity to other junior students also forced to attend.

PATTANI: Two men are being held in military custody on suspicion of involvement in Wednesday’s bomb blast in Mayo district that killed one ranger and injured three others.

SEOUL: South Korea reported a record of more than 600,000 coronavirus cases Thursday, with authorities saying the country was near the peak of an Omicron-fuelled infection wave.

PHNOM PENH: Cambodia on Thursday dispensed with a requirement for visitors from overseas to take Covid-19 tests, as the country moved ahead of most neighbours by relaxing most restrictions to spur more investment and tourism, officials said.