World / Asia

Philippines finds first Omicron cases, adopts loose curbs 15 Dec 2021 - 10:26 am

ThePhilippinesis retaining its second-most lenient movement restrictions in the capital through the Christmas holidays amid easing coronavirus cases, even as the nation detected...

Grocery startup scores Pakistan’s largest early-stage funding 15 Dec 2021 - 08:06 am

Pakistan’s rapid delivery startup Krave Mart has raised the country’s largest early funding to grow its business in the world’s fifth-most populous nation....

Philippines scales down mass vaccinations as typhoon approaches 15 Dec 2021 - 08:03 am

Manila: An incoming typhoon has forced the Philippines to delay COVID-19 vaccinations of millions of people living in the path of the storm,...

India stuck with Covid-19 vaccines it can't export 14 Dec 2021 - 02:47 pm

New Delhi: India is struggling to export its surplus of COVID-19 vaccines as logistical hurdles delay their use in many countries despite low...

China detects 2nd case of omicron variant 14 Dec 2021 - 02:29 pm

BEIJING: China has detected its second case of the omicron variant in a 67-year-old man who tested positive after more than two weeks...

Singapore eases workplace rules even as it warns of omicron risk 14 Dec 2021 - 01:37 pm

Singapore will loosen some workplace rules as the city-state sees Covid-19 infections easing off their peak, even while it braces for a potential...

Philippines' Duterte withdraws candidacy for a senate seat 14 Dec 2021 - 12:02 pm

MANILA: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday withdrew his candidacy for a senate seat, the election commission's spokesperson said. Duterte's six-year term will...

Moderna to produce millions of mRNA vaccines in Australia 14 Dec 2021 - 11:48 am

SYDNEY: U.S. drugmaker Moderna Inc will produce millions of mRNA vaccines a year in Australia after agreeing to set up one of its...

S. Korea marks deadliest day of pandemic as hospitals buckle 14 Dec 2021 - 11:24 am

Seoul: South Korea on Tuesday marked its deadliest day of the pandemic as an unrelenting, delta-driven spread stretched thin hospitals and left people...

Indonesian quake rattles residents but only one hurt and minor damage 14 Dec 2021 - 11:04 am

JAKARTA: A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Indonesia on Tuesday triggering a tsunami warning and sending residents fleeing from their homes but causing...

India's Gujarat state acknowledges more COVID-19 deaths than official tally 13 Dec 2021 - 08:08 pm

AHMEDABAD, India- India's western state of Gujarat has acknowledged more COVID-19 deaths than its official tally, according to a court document filed on...

Chinese manufacturing hub fights its first 2021 COVID-19 outbreak 13 Dec 2021 - 04:15 pm

BEIJING: Major Chinese manufacturing province Zhejiang is fighting its first COVID-19 cluster this year, with hundreds of thousands of citizens in quarantine and...

Hong Kong activists get up to 14 months in prison for banned Tiananmen vigil 13 Dec 2021 - 12:28 pm

Hong Kong: EightHong Kongpro-democracy activists were sentenced to up to 14 months in prison on Monday for organising, taking part in and inciting...

Pakistan confirms first case of Omicron variant 13 Dec 2021 - 12:21 pm

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has confirmed its first case of the Omicron COVID-19 variant, in the country's most populous city of Karachi, the country's National...

Indonesia to start vaccinating children aged 6-11 against COVID-19 13 Dec 2021 - 12:10 pm

JAKARTA: Indonesia will start administering COVID-19 vaccinations for children aged between 6-11 on Tuesday, a health ministry official said, as the Southeast Asian...

Antibody response from China Zhifei's COVID shot weaker against Omicron 13 Dec 2021 - 11:58 am

BEIJING: China's Anhui Zhifei Longcom Biopharmaceutical said on Monday a small laboratory test showed its COVID-19 vaccine could trigger antibodies against the Omicron...