Authorities in India's western state of Maharashtra imposed night curfews on Sunday to tackle a record surge in COVID-19 cases with the financial capital Mumbai reporting 6,123 new cases, the highest single-day spike since March last year.

KUALA LUMPUR: United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the party will not work with opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, Democratic Action Party or Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) in the next general election....

The Chinese capital Beijing woke on Sunday morning shrouded in thick dust carrying extremely high levels of hazardous particles, as a second sandstorm in two weeks hit the city due to winds from drought-hit Mongolia and northwestern China.

MANILA: The Philippine military is sending light fighter aircraft to fly over hundreds of Chinese vessels in disputed waters in the South China Sea, its defence minister said, as he repeated his demand the flotilla be withdrawn immediately. Internat...

JAKARTA: Two suspected suicide bombers blew themselves up outside a Catholic church in the Indonesian city of Makassar on Sunday (Mar 28), wounding 14 people on the first day of the Easter Holy Week, police and witnesses said. National police spoke...

Across Myanmar, opponents of the ruling junta on Sunday (Mar 28) mourned the killings of at least 114 people by security forces in the bloodiest day since the military coup on Feb 1, but vowed to keep protesting to end army rule. Children were amon...

WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Saturday (Mar 27) that China's tit-for-tat sanctions against two Americans in the growing dispute over Beijing's treatment of Uighurs were "baseless" and would only shine a harsh spotlight on th...

BEIJING: China reported 8 new COVID-19 cases on Mar 27, compared with 12 new infections the previous day, the country's national health authority said on Sunday (Mar 28). The National Health Commission said in a statement that all of the new cases ...

Hong Kong's government said an initial investigation by Germany's BioNTech and Fosun Industrial into its coronavirus vaccine did not show any "obvious systemic factors" during packaging after use of the vaccine was suspended in the city and neighbour...

India's Modi ends Bangladesh visit that sparked violence

The proliferation of drones China produces for commercial use and military operations could alter the geostrategic balance, says Defense News’ Mike Yeo.

China’s fertility rate is on a downward slide, falling from 1.49 in 2018 to 1.47 in 2019 and may soon return to the low levels of the 1990s, says economist Zhang Jun.

KUALA LUMPUR: Seated at her home studio, Syarifah Nadhirah Syed Abdul Rahman carefully applied different shades of green watercolour for a daun semomok painting. Harvested from the forests, the plant's leaves are used by the local Orang Asli trib...

A World Health Organization (WHO)-backed programme to supply coronavirus vaccines to poorer countries expects that the Serum Institute of India (SII) will resume full deliveries of the AstraZeneca shot to it in May, UNICEF said on Saturday.

India gave 1.2 million free doses of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine to Bangladesh on Saturday, its foreign minister said, as Dhaka urged New Delhi to maintain a regular supply of shots to battle the pandemic.

Cities around the world were turning off their lights Saturday for Earth Hour, with this year's event highlighting the link between the destruction of nature and increasing outbreaks of diseases like Covid-19.

Indonesia expects a slowdown in COVID-19 inoculations next month as India delays shipments of AstraZeneca vaccines, its health minister said on Saturday.

China on Saturday announced sanctions on individuals and entities in the United States and Canada, in response to sanctions imposed on Chinese citizens and groups over Xinjiang.

YANGON: The US embassy in Myanmar condemned the junta for "murdering" civilians on Saturday (Mar 27) as the military celebrates its Armed Forces Day. "Security forces are murdering unarmed civilians, including children, the very people they swore t...

Voting began in Assam and West Bengal on Saturday in state elections that will show how support for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is holding up following a coronavirus-stricken year, and months of protests by farmers against his agricultural re...

The launch in India of a new COVID-19 vaccine developed jointly by the Serum Institute of India and U.S.-based biotech firm Novavax is likely to be delayed to September, the Indian company's boss said on Saturday.

The Philippines will reimpose stricter quarantine measures in the capital Manila and nearby provinces, a senior official said on Saturday, as the country battles to contain a surge in COVID-19 cases that put a bigger strain on hospitals.

Indonesia’s most volatile volcano was erupting again on Saturday (Mar 27), releasing plumes of ash high into the air and sending streams of lava and debris down its slopes. 

Bangladesh has deployed border guards to help maintain order, a senior officer said Saturday after deadly protests by hardline Islamists against a visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi rocked the Muslim majority nation.

COX'S BAZAR: Social network Facebook and its messaging app have been down in Bangladesh since Friday, the US tech giant said on Saturday (Mar 27), as protesters oppose Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day visit to the country. Four people w...

CHIANG MAI: Myanmar's ethnic armed factions will not stand by and do nothing if the military junta's forces continue to kill protesters, the leader of one of the main armed groups said on Saturday (Mar 27). At least 16 protesters were killed by sec...

MUMBAI: India cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar said on Saturday (Mar 27) he has contracted the novel coronavirus and has mild symptoms as infections continued to surge in the world's second-most populated country. Tendulkar, who will turn 48 next mont...

KATHMANDU: Thousands of Bhutanese travelled to schools and public buildings for vaccination on Saturday (Mar 27) as the Himalayan kingdom launched its biggest inoculation drive against COVID-19 with the AstraZeneca shots provided by neighbouring Indi...

SYDNEY: Australia's trade minister threatened to take China to the World Trade Organization on Saturday (Mar 27) over its "unjustifiable" decision to hike duties on Australian wine imports for up to five years. In the latest salvo between Beijing an...

Myanmar's military will Saturday put on a major show of strength for the annual Armed Forces Day, as it struggles to quell widespread protests against its rule weeks after seizing power.

SEOUL: North Korea said on Saturday (Mar 27) that the administration of US President Joe Biden had taken a wrong first step and revealed "deep-seated hostility" by criticising its self-defensive missile test. North Korea on Friday claimed it had la...

JAKARTA: “Daasshh!” teriak Zakaria, pesilat Indonesia berusia 90 tahun sambil menendang kaki kanannya tinggi-tinggi ke udara, memamerkan keterampilan seni bela dirinya. Zakaria adalah pesilat tertua di Nusantara dan telah mendapatkan penghargaan...

JAKARTA: “Daasshh!” Mr Zakaria, a 90-year-old Indonesian pencak silat master exclaimed as he kicked his right leg high into the air, showing off his martial art skills.  Mr Zakaria, who goes by one name, is the oldest pencak silat fighter in ...

WASHINGTON: The United States on Friday (Mar 26) condemned what it called a "state-led" social media campaign in China against US and other international companies for deciding not to use cotton from China's Xinjiang region over forced labour concer...

China outlines COVID-origin findings, ahead of WHO report

The former director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believes the coronavirus escaped from a laboratory in China, according to an interview that aired Friday.

YANGON: Myanmar's military junta warned protesters were at risk of being shot in the head, state television said, as anti-coup activists called for a huge show of defiance on the country's Armed Forces Day on Saturday (Mar 26). A broadcast on the M...

Four supporters of a hardline Islamist group were shot dead in Bangladesh on Friday in violent demonstrations over Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tour to Dhaka, officials said.

MOSCOW: Russia wants to strengthen military ties with Myanmar, its state media reported on Friday (Mar 26), after a meeting between top defence officials and a junta condemned by Western countries for killing hundreds of civilian protesters. Russi...

JAKARTA: Muslim majority Indonesia on Friday (Mar 26) banned an annual exodus that sees millions travel across the vast nation to mark the end of Ramadan over fears of a surge in COVID-19 infections. Travellers pack into airports, train stations and...

The Philippines reported 9,838 coronavirus cases on Friday, marking the highest daily jump since the pandemic began.

The Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister also said he was "pessimistic" about developments in Myanmar, an issue he discussed with Indonesian leaders.

BEIJING: China said on Friday (Mar 26) it would hike duties on Australian wine imports for up to five years, as relations sour between Beijing and Canberra. The levies range from 116.2 per cent to 218.4 per cent, China's commerce ministry said in a...

FUKUSHIMA, Japan: When Olympic torch runners came to Fukushima city on Friday (Mar 26), Masahiro Abiko went out to cheer them with his employees, hoping the Games will reinvigorate his coronavirus-battered business making flags and festival attire. ...

Myanmar activists have called for major anti-coup protests this weekend as the junta marks Armed Forces Day, after a firebomb attack on deposed civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party headquarters.

BANGKOK: Thailand on Friday (Mar 26) announced plans for an experimental quarantine-free model in ultra-popular beach destination Phuket, as the kingdom attempts to resuscitate its pandemic-battered economy. Thailand has imposed massive restrictions...

JAKARTA: Indonesian fans have apologised for deluging British actor-comedian Stephen Fry's Instagram with angry messages after mistaking him for a badminton judge. The Indonesians turned their ire on Fry, 63, after their team was withdrawn from last...

TOKYO: People in Tokyo flocked to admire cherry blossoms in full bloom at parks, shrines and rivers on Friday (Mar 26), despite COVID-19 warnings against holding traditional parties under the delicate flowers. Annual festivals have been cancelled, f...

TOKYO: Japan's cabinet on Friday (Mar 26) approved a Bill that will tighten oversight of land deals and land use near military facilities and border islands, reflecting Tokyo's concern about overseas security risks. The government plans to submit a ...

Nepal has eased quarantine rules for visitors in an effort to attract more climbers to Mount Everest, officials said Friday, after the pandemic wiped out last year's season and devastated the tourism industry.

Dozens of farmers squatted on railway tracks in northern India on Friday, disrupting traffic to mark four months of a campaign against the opening up of agriculture produce markets to private players.

BANGKOK: Thai health officials rushed to calm public fears on Friday after confirming a man had died 10 days after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine earlier this month. The cause of death was from an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and rupture, senior he...

At least six people died in a fire that engulfed a mall housing a hospital that treated coronavirus patients in Mumbai, authorities said on Friday.

Britain told Hong Kong on Friday (Mar 26) that it had "no right" to order other countries not to accept a United Kingdom travel document for a popular youth working scheme after the city confirmed it had made the request to several other nations.

A village watchman trains his binoculars on a suspicious fishing boat -- the first line of defence as Thailand braces for a fresh methamphetamine influx after a coup in neighbouring Myanmar.

More than 300 people have been killed in Myanmar's protests, with nearly 90 per cent of the victims shot dead, according to data from an advocacy group and local media.

From a converted storeroom on the roof of his mother's Seoul apartment, Kim Min-kyo plays video games for up to 15 hours a day -- and makes a fortune from the thousands of fans watching him.

A fire from a hurled Molotov cocktail broke out early on Friday (Mar 26) at the party headquarters of deposed civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar's largest city, a party official said.

YANGON: Myanmar’s economy is expected to contract by 10 per cent this year, World Bank forecasts released on Friday (Mar 26) showed, as the country is convulsed by nationwide protests, strikes and sanctions following a military coup on Feb 1. T...

TAIPEI: Taiwan and the United States have signed their first agreement under the Biden administration, the establishment of a Coast Guard Working Group to coordinate policy at a time when China's maritime actions have caused growing regional concern....

SHANGHAI: China reported 11 new COVID-19 cases on Mar 25, same number of infections as the previous day, the country's national health authority said on Friday (Mar 26). The National Health Commission, in a statement, said all of the new cases were...

BEIJING: China sanctioned organisations and individuals in the United Kingdom on Friday (Mar 26) over what it called "lies and disinformation" about Xinjiang, days after Britain imposed sanctions for human rights abuses in the western Chinese region...

North Korea launched a "newly developed new-type tactical guided projectile" on Thursday (Mar 25), state news agency KCNA reported on Friday, as the United States condemned the launches and warned of a threat to international peace and security.

With COVID-19 cases rising, the Duterte administration keeps doing the same thing but somehow expects a different result, says a freelance journalist.

WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden on Thursday (Mar 25) said he would prevent China from passing the United States to become the most powerful country in the world, vowing to invest heavily to ensure America prevails in the rivalry between the world...

WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden warned North Korea on Thursday (Mar 25) that the United States will "respond accordingly" if it escalates its weapons testing, after Pyongyang fired two suspected ballistic missiles into the sea in its first substantiv...

NEW DELHI: India's technology minister on Thursday (Mar 25) said video streaming services have to be "responsible and accountable" for their shows and movies, defending rules introduced last month that regulate such content. India tightened its grip...

Nearly 1,000 Uyghurs rallied in Istanbul on Thursday as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met his Turkish counterpart for talks expected to focus on coronavirus vaccines and the countries' extradition treaty.

WASHINGTON: The United States and Britain imposed sanctions on conglomerates controlled by Myanmar's military on Thursday (Mar 25), following the generals' Feb 1 coup and deadly crackdown, with Washington calling it a response to "abhorrent violence...

JAKARTA: The leaders of Singapore and Indonesia will meet in person during a retreat to be held later this year, said the foreign ministers of both countries on Thursday (Mar 25). In a joint press conference, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan said: "I think in...

MANILA: The Philippine military ordered the deployment of more navy ships to the South China Sea on Thursday (Mar 25) amid a growing diplomatic row over a fleet of Chinese boats parked near a disputed reef. China claims almost the entirety of the re...

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's new badminton star Lee Zii Jia has distanced himself from being labelled as a successor to legend shuttler Lee Chong Wei following his triumphant All England Open victory last Sunday.  Speaking to journalists in a group i...

Thailand has granted emergency authorisation to Janssen, the single-dose coronavirus vaccine of Johnson & Johnson, the country's health minister said on Thursday, the third vaccine to be cleared for local use.

NASA engineers plan to send a miniature helicopter whirring just above the surface of Mars next month in an interplanetary aviation experiment that, if successful, would mark the first powered, controlled flight by an aircraft on another celestial bo...

Security forces opened fire Thursday on anti-coup protesters in Myanmar's eastern Karen state, as demonstrators took to the streets in nationwide dawn rallies to demand a return to democracy.

ISLAMABAD: A British-born militant sentenced to death for the murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl was ordered to be let out of prison on Thursday (Mar 25) by Pakistan's Supreme Court in the latest twist to a legal saga spanning nearly two deca...

COX'S BAZAR, Bangladesh: Thousands of Rohingya refugees began rebuilding their makeshift homes on Thursday (Mar 25), after a fire ripped though a Bangladeshi refugee camp where they were living earlier this week, killing at least 11. Monday's blaze ...

Shoubhik Dolai was riddled with bullets in West Bengal, the killing fields of Indian politics where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is pushing hard to win power for the first time in elections starting Saturday.

AIZAWL, India: Strung across remote mountain settlements, a secret network of activists and volunteers is helping spirit hundreds of defecting Myanmar policemen away from the military’s brutal crackdown on dissent and into relative safety in a smal...

HONG KONG: The Hong Kong government on Thursday (Mar 26) confirmed a Reuters report that it had told 14 countries to stop accepting a British travel document that many of its young people use to apply for working holiday visas in Europe, North Ameri...

HONG KONG: Hong Kong's sudden suspension of a COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech is another blow to a vaccination programme already struggling against a wall of public distrust. Hong Kong on Wednesday suspended use of the Pfizer-BioNT...

Taiwan has begun the mass production of a long-range missile and is developing three other models, a senior official said on Thursday (Mar 25), in a rare admission of efforts to develop strike capacity amid growing Chinese pressure.

India added 53,476 COVID-19 infections overnight, the highest daily rise since Oct. 23, the health ministry data showed on Thursday.

YANGON: Thousands of anti-coup activists took to the streets in Myanmar on Thursday (Mar 25), a day after a nationwide silent strike saw businesses shut and people stay at home in protest against the military coup in the country. Street protests ...

BEIJING: Anger with Nike Inc erupted on Chinese social media late on Wednesday (Mar 24) after China's netizens spotted a statement from the sporting goods giant saying it was "concerned" about reports of forced labour in Xinjiang and that it does not...

NEW DELHI: India will likely delay deliveries of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine doses to the COVAX facility backed by GAVI and the World Health Organization (WHO) for March and April, the programme's procurement and distributing partner UNICEF told Reu...

SEOUL: North Korea fired two projectiles into the sea early on Thursday (Mar 25), South Korea's military said, in what could be its first ballistic missile test during the administration of US President Joe Biden. The nuclear-armed North has a long...

KUALA LUMPUR: As the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) holds its general assembly this weekend, political watchers are looking out for indications of the dynamics within the party, and how it would position itself ahead of the next general...

Pyongyang is sending a message in typically overbearing style. But the target is as much the US as it is Malaysia, says Asia expert, James Chin.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics torch relay set off from Fukushima on Thursday (Mar 25), beginning a four-month countdown to the Summer Games, delayed from 2020 and the first ever organised during a global pandemic.

At least one Chinese online retailer appeared to drop H&M's products amid social media attacks on the Swedish company for saying it was "deeply concerned" about reports of forced labour in the farwestern region of Xinjiang.

More than a thousand Thai protesters took over a major Bangkok intersection on Wednesday, defying authorities in the first major rally since police used rubber bullets against demonstrators over the weekend.

HANOI: Vietnam on Wednesday (Mar 24) called for urgent diversification of its sources for COVID-19 vaccines amid global supply problems, as the Southeast Asian country pushes forward with an inoculation program that began earlier this month. "COVID-...

China's embassy in the Philippines has blamed "some external countries" for stoking tensions in the region, in remarks aimed at Japan after its ambassador stressed the need for peace and stability and in the South China Sea.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia decided on Wednesday (Mar 24) to postpone planned deportations to Myanmar until after a proposed emergency regional summit to discuss the crisis there brought on by a military coup, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters...

TAIPEI: Taiwan will from next month ration water for more than 1 million households in the centre of the island because of a drought but the technology hub of Hsinchu will not be affected, Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua said on Wednesday (Mar 24). Su...

The Philippine immigration bureau said Wednesday it has launched an investigation into allegations that some of its officers were involved in the trafficking of 44 women to work in Syria.

HONG KONG: Hong Kong health authorities have ejected a private clinic from the city's COVID-19 vaccination programme after it reportedly recommended the German-made Pfizer/BioNTech shot to patients over the one from China's Sinovac. The move illustr...

India reported a new variant of the coronavirus on Wednesday (Mar 24) as it struggled with the highest single-day tally of new infections and deaths this year.

Shoppers in a district of Beijing are getting discount coupons if they have received COVID-19 vaccinations, as China tries to accelerate its COVID-19 vaccination rate.