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Mon, 29 Mar 2021 16:45:20 +0800
Hong Kong to reopen pools, beaches as COVID-19 infections ease
Hong Kong will ease some coronavirus restrictions, the government said on Monday, allowing swimming pools and beaches to open and shortening the quarantine period for some international arrivals to 14 days from 21.

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 16:38:26 +0800
Philippines locks down economic hub to fight COVID-19 surge
MANILA: More than 24 million people in the Philippines' economic hub entered a lockdown on Monday (Mar 29), as officials warned the week-long restrictions could be extended if coronavirus infections do not fall. People have been ordered to stay home...

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 16:20:37 +0800
Malaysia to start Phase 2 of COVID-19 vaccinations on Apr 19
PUTRAJAYA: The second phase of Malaysia's national vaccination exercise - which will prioritise the elderly, those with morbidity problems and people with disabilities - will start on Apr 19. Recipients will be notified of their appointments from A...

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 15:45:31 +0800
Overseas athletes may be able to take part in Olympic test events, organisers say
International athletes could be invited to participate in test events before the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games this summer, organisers said on Monday.

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 15:00:15 +0800
Taiwan says no progress in Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine talks
TAIPEI: There has been no progress on talks to seal a deal with Germany's BioNTech for its COVID-19 vaccine though talks are continuing, Taiwanese Health Minister Chen Shih-chung said on Monday (Mar 29). Taiwan complained last month that the firm h...

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 14:53:52 +0800
Taiwan says it tracks intruding Chinese aircraft with missiles, not always scrambling
TAIPEI: Taiwan's air force is no longer scrambling each time Chinese aircraft encroach on its air defence identification zone, but tracks the intruders with ground-based missiles instead to help save resources, a senior official said on Monday (Mar 2...

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 14:39:04 +0800
Japan to accelerate COVID-19 vaccination pace in May, minister says
TOKYO: Japan's COVID-19 vaccine minister, Taro Kono, said on Monday (Mar 29) that the pace of inoculation in the country would accelerate in May, but that the Tokyo Olympics, set to start in July, were not factoring into the schedule. Prime Minister...

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 14:14:32 +0800
New Abu Dhabi plant to make COVID-19 vaccine from China's Sinopharm
A new factory in Abu Dhabi will start manufacturing a COVID-19 vaccine from Chinese pharmaceutical giant Sinopharm later this year under a joint venture between Sinopharm and Abu Dhabi-based technology company Group 42 (G42).

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 13:51:24 +0800
More Myanmar violence reported as activists seek help from ethnic groups
YANGON: Myanmar security forces killed an anti-coup protester and wounded a toddler in fresh violence overnight, media reported on Monday (Mar 29), as activists called on armed ethnic groups in the diverse nation to back their struggle against milita...

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 14:35:36 +0800
Facebook, Google plan new undersea cables to connect Southeast Asia and America
SINGAPORE: Facebook said on Monday (Mar 29) it planned two new undersea cables to connect Singapore, Indonesia and North America in a project with Google and regional telecommunication companies to boost Internet connection capacity between the regio...

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 12:54:36 +0800
China warns companies against politicising actions regarding Xinjiang
The United States, Britain, the European Union and Canada have engaged in political manipulation to destabilise China, a spokesman for the regional government of Xinjiang said on Monday.

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 10:46:46 +0800
South Korea's expert panel says Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine safe, effective for approval
A panel of South Korean advisers said that a COVID-19 vaccine from Johnson & Johnson was safe and effective, the food and drug safety ministry said on Monday (Mar 29), moving the single-dose shot a step closer to receiving regulatory approval.

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 10:25:55 +0800
North Korea accuses UN Security Council of 'double standard' over missile tests
SEOUL: North Korea said on Monday (Mar 29) that the United Nations Security Council showed a double standard as its sanctions committee criticised the country's recent missile test as a violation of UN resolutions. North Korea launched a new type of...

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 10:14:05 +0800
China reports 15 new COVID-19 cases
BEIJING: China reported 15 new COVID-19 cases in the mainland for Sunday (Mar 28), up from eight a day earlier, the country's national health authority said on Monday. The National Health Commission, in a statement, said all the new cases were impor...

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 11:40:19 +0800
5 injured, hundreds evacuated after massive blaze at Indonesia oil refinery
JAKARTA: Indonesian state oil company Pertamina said on Monday (Mar 29) it has shut its Balongan oil refinery in West Java as it battles to control a massive fire that broke out overnight, injuring five people. About 950 nearby residents had been e...

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 13:36:50 +0800
Myanmar bloodshed 'absolutely outrageous', Biden says after deadliest day
YANGON: US President Joe Biden has led global condemnation of an "absolutely outrageous" crackdown by Myanmar's junta that left more than 100 people - including several children - dead in the bloodiest day since the coup two months ago. Soldiers an...

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 08:27:48 +0800
China generated more than half of world's coal-fired power in 2020: Study
China generated 53 per cent of the world's total coal-fired power in 2020, nine percentage points more than five years earlier, despite climate pledges and the building of hundreds of renewable energy plants, a global data study showed on Monday.

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 02:10:08 +0800
Killing of youths sparks protests in northwest Pakistan
Thousands of protesters broke through a police blockade in northwestern Pakistan on Sunday as they tried to march on the city of Bannu and then on to Islamabad to demand a government probe into the deaths of four young men who they allege were tortur...

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 05:59:07 +0800
UN in talks with China for unrestricted Xinjiang visit
The UN is in negotiations with Beijing for a visit "without restrictions" to Xinjiang to see how the Uyghur minority is being treated, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in an interview broadcast Sunday.

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 01:17:05 +0800
India's Maharashtra state reports record spike in COVID-19 cases
The Indian state of Maharashtra reported 40,414 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, the highest number reported by any Indian state since March 2020, government data showed.

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 00:02:29 +0800
Indonesia church suicide bomber was member of pro-Islamic State group behind Jolo attack: Police
JAKARTA: One of two suicide bombers who attacked an Indonesian cathedral on Sunday (Mar 28) belonged to a pro-Islamic State extremist group blamed for other church bombings in Indonesia and the Philippines, said police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo. ...

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 21:58:46 +0800
World Press Photo opens in Hong Kong after being nixed over security fears
An exhibition of World Press Photo winners opened at a different venue in Hong Kong Sunday after a local university called off the event that features images of the city's 2019 pro-democracy protests because of security fears.

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 21:21:58 +0800
UMNO can withdraw from Perikatan Nasional 'any time' if polls are not called soon: Ahmad Zahid
KUALA LUMPUR: United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) can withdraw its support for the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government "any time" if there are no indications of a general election in the near future, said party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. "...

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 20:17:11 +0800
Myanmar protests continue a day after more than 100 killed
YANGON: Protesters in Myanmar returned to the streets on Sunday (Mar 28) to press their demands for a return to democracy, just a day after security forces killed more than 100 people in the bloodiest day since last month's military coup. Protests w...

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 18:52:55 +0800
Palau president visits Taiwan to open travel bubble
Palau's leader flew into Taiwan on Sunday as the two coronavirus-free allies prepare to launch a travel corridor and boost their pandemic-hit tourist sectors.

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 18:43:16 +0800
Violence spreads in Bangladesh after Modi's visit as mobs attack Hindu temples
Hundreds of members of a hardline Islamist group attacked Hindu temples and a train in eastern Bangladesh on Sunday, police and a local journalist said, as violence spread across the country in the wake of a visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Mo...

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 17:40:37 +0800
Sinopharm needs trial results to decide if COVID-19 vaccine needs booster shot
BEIJING: China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm) will need to assess results from overseas Phase III clinical trials to decide whether its two-shot COVID-19 vaccine should be followed by a booster shot, a company executive said on Sunday (Mar...

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 17:25:16 +0800
Chinese digital art mocks Western criticism of labour conditions in Xinjiang
BEIJING: A digital illustration by a prominent Chinese propaganda artist mocking Western governments, media and businesses critical of labour conditions in Xinjiang has gone viral on China's social media. The digital art by the artist who goes b...

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 14:43:28 +0800
Night curfew in India's Maharashtra state after record COVID-19 spike
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.

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 14:43:28 +0800
UMNO will not work with Anwar, DAP or Bersatu in the next general election: Ahmad Zahid
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....

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 14:57:34 +0800
Beijing enveloped in hazardous sandstorm, second time in 2 weeks
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.

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 12:53:59 +0800
Philippines sends fighter aircraft over Chinese vessels in South China Sea
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...

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 20:10:01 +0800
About 20 injured after suspected suicide bombing at Indonesian church
JAKARTA: Two suspected suicide bombers blew themselves up outside a Catholic church in the Indonesian city of Makassar on Sunday morning (Mar 28), the first day of the Easter Holy Week, police and witnesses said. The two suspects are confirmed dead...

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 19:56:15 +0800
Myanmar mourns bloodiest day since coup, UN investigator condemns 'mass murder'
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...

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 10:30:37 +0800
Washington condemns China's 'baseless sanctions' against US officials over Xinjiang: Blinken
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...

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 10:00:37 +0800
China reported 8 new mainland COVID-19 cases
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 ...

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 08:49:05 +0800
Hong Kong says initial investigation of BioNTech vaccines shows no 'obvious systemic factors'
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...

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 07:20:26 +0800
India's Modi ends Bangladesh visit that sparked violent protests
India's Modi ends Bangladesh visit that sparked violence

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 06:10:42 +0800
Commentary: China’s cheap drones are finally taking off, with many uses and huge implications
The proliferation of drones China produces for commercial use and military operations could alter the geostrategic balance, says Defense News’ Mike Yeo.

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 06:10:41 +0800
Commentary: China’s fertility crisis could kill its economic dynamism
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.

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 06:10:41 +0800
Forest plants in watercolours: Malaysian artist documents Orang Asli knowledge and culinary practices
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...

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 02:55:56 +0800
COVAX expects full vaccine supplies from India's Serum in May, says UNICEF
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.

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 01:30:51 +0800
India's Modi gifts Bangladesh 1.2 million doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine
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.

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 00:53:41 +0800
Cities worldwide turn off their lights to mark Earth Hour
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.

Sat, 27 Mar 2021 23:12:04 +0800
Indonesia sees vaccination slowdown as India delays shipments
Indonesia expects a slowdown in COVID-19 inoculations next month as India delays shipments of AstraZeneca vaccines, its health minister said on Saturday.

Sat, 27 Mar 2021 23:02:05 +0800
China sanctions US and Canadian individuals, entities over Xinjiang
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.

Sat, 27 Mar 2021 21:10:37 +0800
US embassy in Myanmar blasts junta for 'murdering unarmed civilians'
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...

Sat, 27 Mar 2021 20:44:23 +0800
India begins voting in two eastern states in key test for Modi
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...

Sat, 27 Mar 2021 19:49:17 +0800
Serum Institute delays expected launch of Novavax vaccine in India
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.

Sat, 27 Mar 2021 20:52:41 +0800
Philippines orders 24 million in and around Manila into COVID-19 lockdown
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.

Sat, 27 Mar 2021 18:01:31 +0800
Indonesia's Merapi volcano spews ash, debris in new eruption
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. 

Sat, 27 Mar 2021 17:33:08 +0800
Bangladesh deploys border guards after deadly anti-Modi protests
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.

Sat, 27 Mar 2021 16:24:01 +0800
Amid anti-Modi protests, Facebook says services restricted in Bangladesh
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...

Sat, 27 Mar 2021 21:09:08 +0800
Myanmar's armed ethnic factions will not stand by if more protesters killed, says one group
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...

Sat, 27 Mar 2021 15:10:38 +0800
India cricket icon Tendulkar contracts COVID-19 as new cases surge
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...

Sat, 27 Mar 2021 14:00:37 +0800
Bhutan begins biggest vaccination drive against COVID-19
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...

Sat, 27 Mar 2021 11:32:06 +0800
Australia threatens WTO action as China hikes duty on wine
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...

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 07:10:00 +0800
More than 100 protesters killed in Myanmar as junta puts on show of force for Armed Forces Day
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.

Sat, 27 Mar 2021 06:40:13 +0800
North Korea says Biden administration took wrong first step over latest missile test
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...

Sat, 27 Mar 2021 06:10:38 +0800
Pesilat tertua Indonesia membuktikan bahwa usia hanyalah angka
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...

Sat, 27 Mar 2021 06:10:38 +0800
Indonesia's oldest pencak silat fighter proves that age is just a number
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 ...

Sat, 27 Mar 2021 07:27:17 +0800
US accuses China of 'state-led' social media campaign against companies over Xinjiang
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...

Sat, 27 Mar 2021 02:27:23 +0800
China outlines COVID-origin findings, ahead of WHO report
China outlines COVID-origin findings, ahead of WHO report

Sat, 27 Mar 2021 01:07:55 +0800
Former US CDC head thinks coronavirus came from Chinese lab
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.

Sat, 27 Mar 2021 00:12:01 +0800
Myanmar junta warns protesters at risk of being shot in the head: State TV
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...

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 22:09:44 +0800
Four shot dead in Bangladesh after anti-Modi protests turn violent
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.

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 22:00:37 +0800
Russia says it is seeking to strengthen military ties with Myanmar
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...

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 21:50:37 +0800
Indonesia bans Ramadan exodus over COVID-19 fears
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...

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 21:40:22 +0800
Philippines breaks daily record for COVID-19 with nearly 10,000 cases
The Philippines reported 9,838 coronavirus cases on Friday, marking the highest daily jump since the pandemic began.

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 21:13:11 +0800
Singapore and Indonesia should have ‘same level of control’ over COVID-19 cases before travel resumes: Vivian Balakrishnan
The Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister also said he was "pessimistic" about developments in Myanmar, an issue he discussed with Indonesian leaders.

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 20:20:37 +0800
China hikes duty on Australian wine for five years
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...

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 19:30:18 +0800
Olympic torch relay ignites business recovery hope of Fukushima flag maker
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. ...

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 20:15:30 +0800
Myanmar activists call for Armed Forces Day protests
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.

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 18:43:57 +0800
Thailand to waive COVID-19 quarantine for vaccinated tourists who visit Phuket
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...

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 17:59:05 +0800
Indonesia badminton fans mistakenly lambast actor Stephen Fry
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...

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 17:26:07 +0800
Tokyo enjoys cherry blossoms despite COVID-19 warning
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...

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 16:44:03 +0800
Japan approves Bill to oversee land deals near defence bases, border islands
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 ...

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 16:08:05 +0800
Nepal relaxes COVID-19 quarantine rules ahead of Everest season
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.

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 15:54:57 +0800
Indian farmers block railway tracks, highway to mark 4 months of protests against new laws
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.

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 14:49:12 +0800
Thailand urges calm after death of COVID-19 vaccine recipient
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...

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 18:07:43 +0800
At least 10 dead in COVID-19 hospital fire in Mumbai
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.

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 14:09:04 +0800
Britain says Hong Kong 'has no right to dictate' passport recognition
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.

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 12:58:49 +0800
Thailand faces meth trafficking surge after Myanmar coup
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.

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 12:20:37 +0800
Myanmar sees more protests as death toll surpasses 300
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.

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 12:04:54 +0800
Young, rich and racy: South Korea's livestreamers
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.

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 10:10:23 +0800
Firebomb attack at Aung San Suu Kyi's party headquarters in Myanmar
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.

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 09:50:37 +0800
Myanmar's economy to contract 10% this year amid turmoil: World Bank
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...

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 09:00:37 +0800
Taiwan, US to strengthen maritime coordination as China looms
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....

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 08:40:37 +0800
China reports 11 new COVID-19 cases
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...

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 09:57:13 +0800
China sanctions UK entities, individuals over Xinjiang 'lies and disinformation'
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...

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 08:26:28 +0800
North Korea tested new 'tactical guided projectile': Pyongyang
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.

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 06:10:39 +0800
Commentary: Fresh COVID-19 restrictions bring Philippines back to square one
With COVID-19 cases rising, the Duterte administration keeps doing the same thing but somehow expects a different result, says a freelance journalist.

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 08:32:25 +0800
China will not surpass US as global leader on his watch, says Biden
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...

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 10:14:36 +0800
Biden warns North Korea against escalation after suspected ballistic tests
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...

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 01:54:02 +0800
India says video streaming platforms should be held responsible for content
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...

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 00:46:15 +0800
Hundreds of Uighurs protest Chinese minister's Turkey visit
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.

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 00:00:26 +0800
US and Britain blacklist Myanmar military-controlled companies
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...

Thu, 25 Mar 2021 22:05:56 +0800
Singapore and Indonesia leaders to meet in person during a retreat later this year
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...

Thu, 25 Mar 2021 19:56:17 +0800
Philippines deploys more navy ships to disputed sea amid row with China
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...

Thu, 25 Mar 2021 19:50:37 +0800
'I have my own journey': Malaysia’s new badminton star Lee Zii Jia on being compared to Lee Chong Wei
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...



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