World / Asia

China faces omicron test weeks ahead of Beijing Olympics 13 Jan 2022 - 09:29 am

Taipei: Just weeks before hosting the Beijing Winter Olympics, China is battling multiple coronavirus outbreaks in half a dozen cities, with the one...

Tesla's Musk says 'working through challenges' with India government 13 Jan 2022 - 08:48 am

New Delhi: Tesla Inc is "still working through a lot of challenges with the government" in India, its billionaire chief executive Elon Musk...

India's Bharat Biotech says Covaxin booster shot neutralises Omicron 12 Jan 2022 - 03:59 pm

NEW DELHI: India's Bharat Biotech said on Wednesday a booster shot of its Covaxin COVID-19 vaccine administered six months after the last of...

Quebec to levy financial penalty on unvaccinated adults 12 Jan 2022 - 12:17 pm

Montreal: The premier of the French-speaking Canadian province ofQuebecannounced Tuesday that adult residents who refuse to get vaccinated against the coronavirus will be...

China blasts KFC promo that saw diner buy 106 meals in one go 12 Jan 2022 - 12:03 pm

China is urging consumers to boycott a promotion offered by KFC and toy retailer Pop Mart International Group Ltd., saying it encourages food...

China's Omicron-hit Tianjin launches new round of tests 12 Jan 2022 - 11:48 am

BEIJING: The Chinese city of Tianjin started a new round of testing of its 14 million residents on Wednesday to block the Omicron...

Tokyo, Osaka expect jump in COVID-19 cases to 4-month highs - media 12 Jan 2022 - 10:43 am

TOKYO: Tokyo's new coronavirus infections are expected to surge to 2,000 on Wednesday, the Fuji News Network reported, as the infectious Omicron variant...

About 70 S.Korean attendees of U.S. tech show test positive for COVID-19 12 Jan 2022 - 10:20 am

SEOUL/SAN FRANCISCO: About 70 South Korean nationals who attended the giant CES tech trade show in Las Vegas last week tested positive for...

S.Korea authorises Novavax COVID-19 vaccine, imports Pfizer pills 12 Jan 2022 - 10:08 am

Seoul: South Korea is turning to additional pharmaceutical tools as it looks to pre-empt a surge of COVID-19 omicron infections, authorising the use...

Thailand to charge foreign tourists $9 to enter the country 12 Jan 2022 - 10:04 am

Thailand plans to start collecting a 300 baht ($9) entry fee from foreign holidaymakers as the tourism-reliant nation predicts a recovery for the...

China blocks some flights from the US as Covid precautions rise 11 Jan 2022 - 09:04 pm

American Airlines Group Inc. and United Airlines Holdings Inc. said Chinese aviation regulators have blocked some of their flights from entry as the...

US announces $308 million in aid for Afghans as crisis grows 11 Jan 2022 - 02:26 pm

Washington: The White House has announced $308 million in additional humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan, offering new aid to the country as it edges...

Record 46% of all Covid tests in Philippines come back positive 11 Jan 2022 - 12:44 pm

The percentage of positive Covid-19 tests reached a record high in the Philippines, fueling fears of a return to stricter curbs on movement...

Hong Kong unveils further steps to curb COVID-19 spread, boost vaccinations 11 Jan 2022 - 12:25 pm

HONG KONG: Hong Kong will shut kindergartens and primary schools and start offering COVID-19 vaccines for children from the age of five, the...

China locks down third city, raising affected to 20 million 11 Jan 2022 - 10:20 am

BEIJING A third Chinese city has locked down its residents because of a COVID-19 outbreak, raising the number confined to their homes in...

Million Indians get COVID vaccine boosters, hospitalisation low 10 Jan 2022 - 07:38 pm

NEW DELHI- More than 1 million Indians received their third COVID-19 vaccine dose on Monday as the country rolled out boosters for frontline...

Nepal closes schools as COVID-19 cases spike 10 Jan 2022 - 02:17 pm

KATHMANDU: Schools across Nepal will close for nearly three weeks after a spike in coronavirus cases, a government spokesman said on Monday, forcing...

Philippines reports 3rd day of record virus cases 10 Jan 2022 - 12:05 pm

MANILA, Philippines: The Philippines on Monday reported a record high number of new COVID-19 cases for the third day, logging 33,169 infections. The...