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Tue, 02 Mar 2021 17:36:33 +0800
COVID-19: Curbs eased in Malaysia as Selangor, KL, Johor and Penang return to CMCO
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia announced that it will ease COVID-19 restrictions and reinstate the conditional movement control order (CMCO) for Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Johor and Penang.  Making the announcement during a press conference on Tuesday (Mar 2...

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 17:19:39 +0800
Indonesia identifies two cases of British COVID-19 variant
JAKARTA: Indonesia has detected two cases of the more infectious COVID-19 variant first discovered in Britain, officials said on Tuesday (Mar 2), marking a potential new complication for the country as it tries to contain one of the worst coronavirus...

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 17:10:37 +0800
Myanmar military's use of lethal force 'disastrous', but sense can still prevail: PM Lee
SINGAPORE: The Myanmar military's use of lethal force in ongoing demonstrations is a "disastrous" move, said Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. At least 18 people died on Sunday, said the United Nations human rights office, as Myanmar author...

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 16:53:54 +0800
Thai PM orders study on COVID-19 'vaccine passports' to boost tourism
BANGKOK: Thailand's prime minister said on Tuesday (Mar 2) he has commissioned a study to look into issuing COVID-19 vaccination certificates for international travellers, as the country seeks to revive a tourism industry battered by coronavirus curb...

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 16:32:43 +0800
US men accused of helping Ghosn escape arrive in Japan
TOKYO: A US father-son pair accused of helping former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn in his audacious escape from Japan arrived in Tokyo on Tuesday (Mar 2) after losing their battle against extradition, local media said. Former US special forces member Mi...

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 17:28:29 +0800
South Korea allows more doses to be extracted from COVID-19 vaccine vials
A decision by South Korean health authorities to allow more doses to be extracted from coronavirus vaccine vials sparked controversy on Tuesday as the country ramped up its vaccinations of healthcare workers and the elderly.

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 15:55:56 +0800
Football power by 2050? China dream totters on shaky foundations
SHANGHAI: Five years ago, China under President Xi Jinping pledged to become a football power by 2050. But the financial collapse of the newly crowned Chinese champions raises fresh questions over that lofty goal. Jiangsu FC on Sunday (Feb 28) said ...

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 15:40:37 +0800
Sunseap, Tenaga forming venture to trial Singapore electricity imports from Malaysia
SINGAPORE: Malaysia's largest electricity utility, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), and Singapore-based solar firm Sunseap Group announced on Tuesday (Mar 2) they are forming a joint venture to trial clean electricity imports into Singapore from Malaysi...

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 15:29:02 +0800
Philippines fires diplomat whose maid attacks were caught on film
MANILA: The Philippines has sacked its former ambassador to Brazil, after she was caught on camera attacking a domestic worker at her official residence in Brasilia. Marichu Mauro was recalled to Manila late last year after Brazil's GloboNews channe...

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 15:24:56 +0800
Taiwan opposition chief in no rush for China meeting
The leader of Taiwan's main opposition party the Kuomintang (KMT) said on Tuesday he is in no rush to travel to China to meet President Xi Jinping, and that Beijing's proposals to get Taiwan to accept Communist rule had "no market" on the island.

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 13:22:42 +0800
Indonesia's Mount Sinabung volcano spews ash into sky
Indonesia's Mount Sinabung volcano sent a cloud of hot ash as high as 3km on Tuesday, in its first big eruption since August last year.

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 11:57:24 +0800
Freezer firm to launch probe after Japan COVID-19 vaccines spoiled
TOKYO: Japan said on Tuesday (Mar 2) an investigation would be launched after more than 1,000 coronavirus vaccine doses had to be thrown out when a freezer storing them malfunctioned. A medical institution reported that 172 vials of the Pfizer-BioNT...

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 16:09:54 +0800
Myanmar police fire stun grenades as Southeast Asian ministers aim for talks
Foreign ministers of Southeast Asian countries prepared for a special meeting with Myanmar's ruling military on Tuesday in an effort to quell deadly violence and open a channel to tackle its escalating political crisis.

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 13:13:26 +0800
Myanmar journalist arrested after overnight attack: Employer
A Myanmar reporter was attacked in his home and detained by the military, his employer said Tuesday, after days of crackdowns by the junta on anti-coup protesters.

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 11:53:24 +0800
South Korea unveils US$13 billion extra budget to aid small businesses, protect jobs
SEOUL: South Korea is drafting an extra budget of 15 trillion won (US$13.38 billion), it said on Tuesday (Mar 2), to boost support for small businesses and safeguard jobs as the resurgent coronavirus forces the government to retain social distancing ...

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 13:16:21 +0800
Philippines reports first cases of COVID-19 South African variant
MANILA: The Philippines has documented six cases of the South African coronavirus variant, its health ministry said on Tuesday (Mar 2), raising concern among its experts that the current vaccines might be less effective. The Philippines started its ...

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 10:42:52 +0800
Hong Kong dissidents back in court for marathon bail hearing
HONG KONG: Dozens of Hong Kong activists charged with subversion are back in court on Tuesday (Mar 2) to complete a marathon bail hearing that was adjourned overnight when four defendants were rushed to hospital after hours of legal wrangling. Polic...

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 09:30:37 +0800
As economy rebounds, China parliament to address long-term pitfalls
BEIJING: China's annual session of parliament will chart a course for economic recovery and unveil a five-year plan to fend off stagnation, as strategic rivalry with the United States spurs a shift to reliance on consumption and home-grown technology...

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 08:40:37 +0800
China reports 11 new COVID-19 cases
SHANGHAI: China reported 11 new COVID-19 cases on Mar 1, down from 19 cases a day earlier, the country's national health authority said on Tuesday (Mar 2). The National Health Commission, in a statement, said all of the new cases were imported infec...

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 08:18:23 +0800
Commentary: COVID-19 vaccines - geopolitical rivalry and more could complicate roll-out
COVID-19 vaccines offer welcome hope. But translating this into effective action will require policymakers to be resourceful in mitigating delays, inequality, and geopolitical risk, says Khor Swee Kheng.

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 06:10:37 +0800
Commentary: Mixed messaging, misinformation in Malaysia are complicating compliance with COVID-19 rules
Misinformation and the incessant jockeying for political power are complicating Malaysia’s battle against the coronavirus, says ISEAS-Yusof Ishak’s Serina Rahman.

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 01:25:45 +0800
Prince Harry tells Oprah he worried history would repeat itself
Prince Harry, who shocked Britain last year when he and his wife Meghan stepped back from royal duties, told U.S. interviewer Oprah Winfrey that he had worried about history repeating itself, according to excerpts released on Sunday.

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 09:23:53 +0800
2 Americans handed to Japan over Ghosn's escape
WASHINGTON: An American father and son were handed to Japanese officials on Monday (Mar 1), their lawyer said, after losing an extradition battle over accusations they helped former Renault-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn to flee Japan. Michael Taylor and...

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 00:30:50 +0800
Mumbai power outage could have been cyber sabotage, says minister
A power failure that crippled India's financial capital of Mumbai in western Maharashtra state last year could have been a case of cyber sabotage, a local minister said on Monday, as China denied a report that it was behind the outage.

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 23:47:30 +0800
Girl dies after being caned during 'exorcism' in Sri Lanka
Police in Sri Lanka said on Monday (Mar 1) they have arrested two people in connection with the death of a nine-year-old girl who was repeatedly beaten during a ritual they believed would drive away an evil spirit.

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 22:22:36 +0800
Cambodian opposition figure Sam Rainsy slapped with 25-year jail sentence
Cambodia's exiled opposition figurehead Sam Rainsy was sentenced in absentia to 25 years in jail Monday over an alleged plot to overthrow strongman Hun Sen's government, a court official said.

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 22:16:24 +0800
COVID-19 vaccine worth 1,032 shots wasted in Japan due to freezer malfunction
More than 1,000 shots of coronavirus vaccine went to waste in Japan after storage temperatures deviated from a required range due to a freezer malfunction, the health ministry said on Monday, the country's first such case of wasted vaccines.

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 22:04:14 +0800
China bans harsh punishments in schools
BEIJING: China has banned school teachers from meting out any punishment that can cause physical or mental trauma, after a string of student deaths linked to harsh discipline in recent years. New rules issued by the Ministry of Education that take e...

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 21:03:19 +0800
New Bangladesh protests as UN calls for overhaul of security law
Hundreds of Bangladeshi activists staged a fourth day of protests Monday over the death of a writer in detention as the UN rights chief called for a review of a digital security law used against opposition figures.

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 20:14:31 +0800
Malaysian news site editor questioned for sedition
The chief editor of an independent Malaysian news outlet was questioned by police Monday on suspicion of sedition after he criticised the conviction of his website for contempt.

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 19:43:24 +0800
Chinese hackers target Indian vaccine makers SII, Bharat Biotech: Security firm
A Chinese state-backed hacking group has in recent weeks targeted the IT systems of two Indian vaccine makers whose coronavirus shots are being used in the country's immunisation campaign, cyber intelligence firm Cyfirma told Reuters.

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 19:42:03 +0800
Tokyo asks China to stop anal swab tests for COVID-19 on Japanese citizens
TOKYO: Tokyo has requested Beijing to stop taking anal swab tests for COVID-19 on Japanese citizens as the procedure causes psychological pain, a government spokesman said on Monday (Mar 1). Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said the government...

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 18:19:55 +0800
Bali kicks off drive-thru COVID-19 jabs for hospitality workers
JAKARTA: Indonesian resort island Bali has launched a drive-thru vaccination campaign targeting thousands of hospitality workers, as the popular tourist destination eyes reopening to foreign visitors. Billed as the first such campaign in Southeast A...

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 17:43:24 +0800
Japan debates fresh cash payouts to help the poor cope with COVID-19 pandemic: Sources
Japanese government and ruling party officials are discussing possible additional cash payouts to low-income households to help them cope with the coronavirus pandemic, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Monday.

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 22:23:35 +0800
Singapore's Foreign Minister calls on Myanmar's military to stop using lethal force against civilians
SINGAPORE: Singapore's Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan on Monday (Mar 1) called on Myanmar's military to stop the use of lethal force on civilians and the immediate release of State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and other political d...

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 17:30:38 +0800
Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi seen in court for the first time since coup
YANGON: Ousted Myanmar civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi faced court on Monday (Mar 1) via video link, being seen by her lawyer for the first time since a military coup one month ago triggered relentless and massive protests. Aung San Suu Kyi's appe...

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 17:12:53 +0800
Malaysia to cull 3,000 pigs after African swine fever discovery
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia plans to cull 3,000 wild and domestic pigs after an outbreak of African swine fever in wild boar and backyard pigs in the state of Sabah on Borneo island in mid-February. The disease was detected in at least 300 pigs in three ...

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 17:10:38 +0800
COVID-19: Johor hopes talks on reopening Malaysia-Singapore borders will resume
JOHOR BAHRU: With Malaysia's COVID-19 immunisation programme under way, Johor's chief minister hopes negotiations on travel arrangements between the country and Singapore will resume. "Opening of borders, the green travel bubble, all other arrang...

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 16:26:25 +0800
'Grandma Wong' leads brief reminder of Hong Kong's protest past
Alexandra Wong disappeared for more than a year into mainland China's opaque judicial system because she joined Hong Kong's democracy rallies.

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 14:45:12 +0800
Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou's extradition fight enters final round in Canada
The high-stakes battle by Chinese Huawei Technologies executive Meng Wanzhou against extradition to the United States enters its final stage in a Canadian court on Monday, after more than two years of legal skirmishes and diplomatic barbs.

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 14:43:12 +0800
Modi takes homegrown COVID-19 vaccine as India widens immunisation drive
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was inoculated with the first dose of a home-grown coronavirus vaccine on Monday, kicking off an expansion of the country's immunisation campaign that began in mid-January with healthcare workers.

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 14:26:19 +0800
Ardern tells New Zealanders to rebuke COVID-19 rule-breakers
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern urged New Zealanders to "call out" Covid-19 rule-breakers Monday, as public anger built over a series of infringements that forced the country's largest city back into lockdown.

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 21:07:30 +0800
Myanmar protesters march again after bloodiest post-coup unrest
YANGON: Protesters marched in Myanmar on Monday (Mar 1) in defiance of a deadly crackdown by security forces a day earlier, as calls grow for a more united international response after the worst violence since a coup began one month ago. Police fir...

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 12:00:38 +0800
Johor to build largest solar power plant in Southeast Asia: Sultan Ibrahim
JOHOR BAHRU: Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar has outlined plans for the state to build the largest solar power plant in Southeast Asia.  In a press statement on Sunday (Feb 28), Johor's Royal Press Office said that the plant will be built...

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 11:21:19 +0800
Philippines launches COVID-19 vaccinations amid supply problems
MANILA: The Philippines launched a vaccination campaign on Monday (Mar 1) to contain one of Southeast Asia’s worst COVID-19 outbreaks but faces supply problems and public resistance, which it hopes to ease by inoculating top officials. Cabinet off...

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 12:54:23 +0800
Malaysia PM Muhyiddin reiterates that he will advise king to dissolve parliament once pandemic is over
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin reiterated on Monday (Mar 1) that he will dissolve parliament once the COVID-19 pandemic is over. In a speech taking stock of his one year in office, he said: “The main focus of this governme...

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 12:10:39 +0800
Security tight as crowds gather outside Hong Kong court for subversion hearing
Hundreds of people gathered outside a Hong Kong court on Monday ahead of the hearing of 47 democracy activists charged with conspiracy to commit subversion, as authorities intensify a crackdown under the city's national security law.

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 10:12:15 +0800
US doubles down on protecting university research from China
WASHINGTON: A US national security commission is recommending that American universities take steps to prevent sensitive technology from being stolen by the Chinese military, a sign of growing concerns over the security of academic research. The Nat...

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 10:57:18 +0800
South Korea's Moon says Olympics may be chance for North Korea, US talks
SEOUL: South Korea's President Moon Jae-in said on Monday (Mar 1) that the Tokyo Olympics could provide a chance to reopen talks between North Korea and the United States, North Korea and Japan, and the two Koreas. Speaking at a ceremony marking the...

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 09:44:04 +0800
Spokeswoman for Japan PM Suga resigns over expensive dinners with his son
TOKYO: Makiko Yamada, a key spokeswoman for Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, will resign after she and other senior bureaucrats were reprimanded for attending expensive dinners hosted by Suga's son, the government said. Yamada will tender her...

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 08:40:37 +0800
China reports 19 new COVID-19 cases
SHANGHAI: China reported 19 new COVID-19 cases on Feb 28, up from six cases a day earlier, the country's national health authority said on Monday (Mar 1). The National Health Commission, in a statement, said all of the new cases were imported infect...

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 08:30:37 +0800
US warns of 'additional actions' over Myanmar coup, violent crackdown
WASHINGTON: The US government is preparing "additional actions" in coming days against those responsible for the violent crackdown and military coup in Myanmar, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Sunday (Feb 28).  "We will contin...

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 08:13:24 +0800
'A lost generation': COVID-19 takes emotional toll on Indonesia’s young
JAKARTA: It was the sudden loud cry of 10-year-old Indonesian Aisyah that caught her neighbours' attention in South Tangerang, Banten province, one day in January.  They quickly rushed to her house, but since they knew Aisyah’s mother had contra...

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 03:38:20 +0800
Republican calls grow for US to boycott 2022 Winter Olympics in China
The US should boycott the 2022 Winter Olympics in China, former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley said Sunday, becoming the latest Republican to join a growing furor over the Games and Beijing's rights record.

Sun, 28 Feb 2021 22:02:21 +0800
Water cannon, tear gas used as protesters and police clash outside barracks containing Thai PM's residence
BANGKOK: Police used water cannon and tear gas against protesters in Bangkok on Sunday (Feb 28), outside a military barracks containing the Thai prime minister's residence. A youth-led protest movement calling for the resignation of Prayut Chan-o-ch...

Sun, 28 Feb 2021 18:01:17 +0800
Philippines receives Sinovac's COVID-19 vaccine after delays
MANILA: The Philippines received its first batch of COVID-19 vaccine on Sunday (Feb 28), among the last in Southeast Asia to secure the critical doses despite having the second-highest number of infections and deaths in the region. A Chinese milita...

Sun, 28 Feb 2021 17:40:37 +0800
China's factory activity expands at a slower pace in February, misses expectations
BEIJING: China's factory activity expanded in February at a slower pace than a month earlier, hitting the lowest level since last May and missing market expectations after brief COVID-19-related disruptions earlier in the year. The official manufact...

Sun, 28 Feb 2021 16:22:35 +0800
Hong Kong police say 47 activists charged with security crime
HONG KONG: Forty-seven Hong Kong democrats and activists were charged on Sunday (Feb 28) with conspiracy to commit subversion, in the largest single crackdown on the democratic opposition under a national security law. Sam Cheung, a young activist ...

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 04:50:08 +0800
At least 18 dead, says UN human rights office, as Myanmar police crack down on protests for the second day
Myanmar police shot and killed two protesters on Sunday and wounded several as they cracked down in a bid to end weeks of demonstrations against a Feb. 1 military coup, a doctor and a politician said.

Sun, 28 Feb 2021 11:10:16 +0800
China reports 6 new COVID-19 cases
China reported six new COVID-19 cases on Feb 27, down from 10 cases a day earlier, the national health authority said on Sunday.

Sun, 28 Feb 2021 11:02:49 +0800
Thailand starts COVID-19 vaccination campaign
Thailand kicked off its COVID-19 inoculation campaign on Sunday, with cabinet ministers, health officials and medical professionals among the first in the queue to receive vaccinations.

Sun, 28 Feb 2021 09:15:41 +0800
More protests against coup planned in Myanmar after hundreds arrested
Opponents of military rule in Myanmar planned protests on Sunday (Feb 28) a day after the security forces launched their biggest crackdown, arresting hundreds of people and shooting and wounding at least one. Myanmar has been in turmoil since the ar...

Sun, 28 Feb 2021 08:24:09 +0800
Dozens of Hong Kong democrats brace for national security charges to be laid
Several dozen Hong Kong democrats are due to report to local police stations across the city on Sunday, with some expecting to be charged with breaches of national security as a crackdown on the democratic opposition intensifies.

Sun, 28 Feb 2021 07:39:07 +0800
Hong Kong gets Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines as 2nd option
HONG KONG: More than 500,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine arrived in Hong Kong on Saturday (Feb 27) following a two-day delay due to export procedures, offering a second inoculation option for the city. The Pfizer-BioNTech shots will be off...

Sun, 28 Feb 2021 07:22:53 +0800
Family of UK man held in India appeal to PM Johnson for help
The son of a British man held in India -- in a case linked with a Dubai princess who claims she was kidnapped -- has appealed to Prime Minister Boris Johnson for help.

Sun, 28 Feb 2021 08:04:01 +0800
Myanmar's UN ambassador vows to continue fighting after junta fires him
Myanmar's United Nations envoy in New York vowed to fight on Saturday after the junta fired him for urging countries to use "any means necessary" to reverse a Feb. 1 coup that ousted the nation's elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Sun, 28 Feb 2021 06:00:38 +0800
Indonesia is poised for EV riches as Tesla circles, but a nickel rush could hurt the environment 
BANGKOK: As American electric vehicle maker Tesla eyes up a hefty investment in Indonesia, concerns are growing over the potential environmental consequences of a nickel mining rush. Tesla has reportedly tabled a proposal to establish a battery pro...

Sun, 28 Feb 2021 03:00:37 +0800
New protests over writer's death in Bangladesh jail
DHAKA: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday (Feb 27) shrugged off criticism of her government's rights record as hundreds marched in a second day of protests over the death of a prominent writer in prison. Demonstrators marched at Dh...

Sun, 28 Feb 2021 01:02:28 +0800
SoftBank reaches deal with WeWork
Internet investor SoftBank Group said Saturday it reached a settlement with WeWork co-founder Adam Neumann and other investors in the office sharing giant, amid reports that the deal would give the ex-CEO an extra $50 million.

Sat, 27 Feb 2021 21:27:55 +0800
Rooster kills owner with cockfight blade in India
A rooster fitted with a knife for an illegal cockfight in southern India has killed its owner, sparking a manhunt for the organisers of the event, police said Saturday.

Sun, 28 Feb 2021 06:46:53 +0800
Veteran Hong Kong actor Wu Mengda dies age 70
SINGAPORE: Veteran Hong Kong actor Wu Mengda died on Saturday (Feb 27) at the age of 70. Wu, also known as Ng Man-tat, died in hospital surrounded by his family, reported Hong Kong English daily The Standard. A close friend of the actor said Wu was...

Sat, 27 Feb 2021 17:39:03 +0800
Tokyo Olympics should have fans in stands: Tokyo 2020 president
The Tokyo Olympics should take place before a live audience, Japan's new Olympics chief has said, despite concerns about hosting the Games during a global pandemic.

Sat, 27 Feb 2021 16:51:05 +0800
South Korea allows health workers to squeeze extra doses from vials of COVID-19 vaccines
Asia Today: S. Korea allows workers to squeeze extra doses

Sat, 27 Feb 2021 15:47:20 +0800
Bangladesh under 'no obligation' to accept stranded Rohingya refugees: Minister
Bangladesh is under "no obligation" to shelter 81 Rohingya Muslim refugees adrift for almost two weeks on the Andaman Sea and being assisted by neighbouring India, said Bangladesh foreign minister A.K. Abdul Momen.

Sat, 27 Feb 2021 15:45:50 +0800
Philippines extends partial COVID-19 curbs in capital until end-March
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has extended partial coronavirus curbs in the capital until the end of March, as the country awaits the arrival of vaccines.

Sun, 28 Feb 2021 09:07:19 +0800
Myanmar police fire rubber bullets, crank up pressure on protests as UN envoy breaks ranks
YANGON: Police in Myanmar on Saturday (Feb 27) escalated their crackdown on demonstrators against this month’s military takeover, deploying early and in force as protesters sought to assemble in the country's two biggest cities. Myanmar police als...

Sat, 27 Feb 2021 09:25:50 +0800
Spider-Man star Tom Holland gets caught in Indian Twitter storm mix-up
Spider-Man star Tom Holland was grappling with an angry Twitter storm in India on Friday in a case of mistaken cyber identity.

Sat, 27 Feb 2021 06:10:39 +0800
Commentary: China is in no position to take Taiwan by force
Unlike his predecessors, Chinese President Xi Jinping has demonstrated greater intensity in the desire for reunification, says Cui Lei from the China Institute of International Studies.

Sat, 27 Feb 2021 01:00:38 +0800
IN FOCUS: After grappling with COVID-19 for more than a year, is Malaysia finally turning the corner?
Malaysia is waging a fierce battle against a third wave of COVID-19 cases. CNA examines the ups and downs of mitigating the pandemic.

Sat, 27 Feb 2021 03:19:24 +0800
AstraZeneca vaccine made in India to arrive in Canada on Wednesday
A shipment of 500,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University and made by the Serum Institute of India is set to arrive in Canada on Wednesday, the chief executive of local partner Verity Pharmaceuticals said on F...

Sat, 27 Feb 2021 02:30:53 +0800
Clashes in Bangladesh capital after writer dies in jail
Students clashed with police in Bangladesh's capital on Friday as anger mounted at the death of a writer and government critic in a high-security jail.

Sat, 27 Feb 2021 09:59:41 +0800
Myanmar's UN ambassador appeals to world body for action to end military coup
NEW YORK: Myanmar's UN Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun, speaking for the country's elected civilian government ousted in a military coup on Feb 1, appealed to the United Nations on Friday (Feb 26) "to use any means necessary to take action against the Myan...

Sat, 27 Feb 2021 00:04:11 +0800
Philippines' Duterte signs indemnity Bill for COVID-19 vaccine roll-out
MANILA: Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday (Feb 26) signed into law a Bill that gives indemnity to vaccine-makers if their COVID-19 shots cause adverse side effects, days before the country starts its lagging inoculation programme. Desp...

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 23:53:09 +0800
Japan cautious on global economy, urges support for poor nations
The global economy warrants caution due to uncertainty over coronavirus vaccinations and variants, though Japan's economy shows signs of recovery with low infections, Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso said on Friday.

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 22:33:57 +0800
India exits recession with 0.4% quarterly growth
NEW DELHI: India's economy grew 0.4 per cent year-on-year in the final quarter of 2020, official data showed on Friday (Feb 26), ending its first recession since independence as easing COVID-19 restrictions sparked a modest recovery. The country has...

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 23:47:54 +0800
Malaysia's AMMB Holdings to pay US$700m to government in 1MDB-linked settlement
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian banking group AMMB Holdings Berhad (AmBank) said on Friday (Feb 26) it will pay RM2.83 billion (US$699 million) to settle claims linked to a massive financial scandal at state fund 1MDB, a hefty payment that is expected to h...

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 19:07:00 +0800
China pineapple ban sparks sour rebuke from Taiwan
TAIPEI: Taipei slammed a sudden Chinese ban on Taiwanese pineapples, describing the move on Friday (Feb 26) as "economic intimidation" and likening it to recent tariffs Beijing slapped on Australian wine. The trade to China - which views the island ...

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 18:23:10 +0800
Hong Kong university scraps World Press Photo exhibit over 'safety' fears
HONG KONG: A Hong Kong university has scrapped an exhibition of World Press Photo winners just days ahead of its opening, citing "safety and security" fears. The decision by Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) comes as Beijing and local authorities...

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 18:23:33 +0800
COVID-19 vaccines that are made in Taiwan could be ready in July, says minister
TAIPEI: Taiwan could begin administering its homemade COVID-19 vaccines as early as July, the health minister said on Friday (Feb 26), with the island still awaiting the arrival of imported vaccines to begin its immunisation campaign. Taiwan has kep...

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 17:22:01 +0800
India plans 2-day halt in COVID-19 vaccinations for software upgrade to widen campaign
NEW DELHI: India will halt coronavirus vaccinations this weekend to upgrade software used to coordinate its campaign, the health ministry said on Friday (Feb 26), preparing to expand the programme after infections surged in some states. With the wor...

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 17:07:04 +0800
Sri Lanka ends forced cremations of COVID-19 fatalities
Sri Lanka on Friday ended forced cremations of people who have died of coronavirus, after visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan urged Colombo to respect the funeral rites of the island's minority Muslims.

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 16:50:38 +0800
Forest fire alert raised for 6 regencies in Indonesia's Riau province
JAKARTA: Several regencies in the Indonesian province of Riau have raised their alert status for land and forest fires as a number of hotspots have been detected since the beginning of the year. Riau's deputy governor Edy Natar Nasution said in a s...

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 21:03:55 +0800
Myanmar protesters injured as police escalate use of force
YANGON: Myanmar security forces cracked down on anti-coup protesters in the country's second-largest city on Friday (Feb 26), injuring at least three people, two of whom were shot in the chest by rubber bullets and another who suffered a wound on his...

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 16:30:38 +0800
Thai court grants bail to 3 convicted ministers ousted from Cabinet
BANGKOK: A Thai court granted bail on Friday (Feb 26) to three ministers stripped this week of Cabinet posts after convictions for insurrection over anti-government protests that culminated in a 2014 military coup, their lawyer said. The three, and ...

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 19:32:10 +0800
Myanmar police free Japanese journalist after brief detention: Media
TOKYO: Myanmar police released a Japanese freelance journalist on Friday (Feb 26) after briefly detaining him during a protest in the commercial capital of Yangon, Radio Free Asia showed in a livestream on Facebook. The arrest of Yuki Kitazumi, who ...

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 16:26:30 +0800
India, China foreign ministers to set up hotline as border crisis eases
NEW DELHI: India and China have agreed to set up a hotline between their foreign ministers as the two nuclear-armed neighbours look to reduce tensions along a disputed Himalayan border where their troops have been locked in confrontation since last s...

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 15:53:00 +0800
From the hinterland to Hollywood: How Indian farmers galvanised a protest movement
NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is struggling to beat back his biggest political challenge in years from a protest movement which began with disgruntled farmers travelling to New Delhi on tractors and is now gaining wider support at ho...

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 13:37:14 +0800
I choose you! Pokemon turns 25
TOKYO: Twenty-five years after Pokemon first began delighting children and adults alike, the phenomenon is still capturing hearts, with smartphone craze Pokemon Go enjoying record success in coronavirus-hit 2020. The augmented-reality game raked in ...

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 12:26:30 +0800
Top Hong Kong university cuts ties with student union over national security concerns
HONG KONG: The Chinese University of Hong Kong has withdrawn recognition of its student union, saying criticism of the city's national security law by newly elected union leaders may have been illegal. The move, accusing the union of having "exploit...

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 12:26:56 +0800
Japan's android pets ease COVID-19 isolation
TOKYO: Nami Hamaura says she feels less lonely working from home thanks to her singing companion Charlie, one of a new generation of cute and clever Japanese robots whose sales are booming amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Smart home assistants such as Am...



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