World / Asia

Tiny Pacific nation beats the world with 99% COVID vaccination, says Red Cross 14 Oct 2021 - 10:13 am

SYDNEY: The tiny Pacific nation of Palau has the world's highest percentage of people vaccinated against COVID-19, the Red Cross said on Thursday,...

India resumes vaccine exports as domestic stocks build up - officials 13 Oct 2021 - 09:21 pm

NEW DELHI - India has resumed a small amount of exports of COVID-19 vaccines and will increase exports significantly in the next few...

Philippines eases capital’s curbs, allows quarantine-free entry 13 Oct 2021 - 01:26 pm

The Philippines is easing virus restrictions, allowing more businesses in the capital to reopen from Oct. 16 and loosening quarantine rules for vaccinated...

COVID-19 curbs in Sydney could ease early amid surge in vaccinations 13 Oct 2021 - 10:56 am

SYDNEY: New South Wales could ease more restrictions in Sydney a week earlier than planned on Oct. 18 as Australia's most populous state...

Philippines tells tech giants to halt sales of 'text blast' kit after election plug 13 Oct 2021 - 10:37 am

MANILA: The Philippines has ordered tech giants Facebook, Alibaba Lazada and Sea's Shopee to stop allowing sales of cellular equipment used for emergency...

South Korea launches panel to debate 'living with COVID-19' 13 Oct 2021 - 09:22 am

SEOUL: South Korea established a panel on Wednesday to debate a strategy on how to "live with COVID-19" in the long-term, as the...

Queues for hours at Singapore Air as travel routes open up 12 Oct 2021 - 09:43 pm

Dozens of people queued outside Singapore Airlines’ customer-service center on the fourth floor of a luxury shopping mall on Orchard Road in downtown...

Billionaire Alibaba founder Jack Ma reappears in Hong Kong - sources 12 Oct 2021 - 07:17 pm

HONG KONG - Alibaba Group founder Jack Ma, largely out of public view since a regulatory clampdown started on his business empire late...

Typhoon barrels towards Hong Kong and south China coast 12 Oct 2021 - 05:50 pm

HONG KONG: Hong Kong authorities closed schools on Tuesday and raised the third highest storm warning as a typhoon threatened the financial hub...

India asks utilities to import coal, warns states not to sell power on exchanges 12 Oct 2021 - 03:47 pm

Bengaluru: India has asked power producers to import up to 10% of their coal needs amid fuel shortages and has warned states that...

India recommends emergency use of Bharat Biotech's COVID-19 shot in kids 12 Oct 2021 - 12:52 pm

BENGALURU: An expert panel of India's drug regulator on Tuesday recommended vaccine maker Bharat Biotech's COVID-19 shot for emergency use in children aged...

Bali surf school owner eagerly awaiting imminent return of foreign tourists 12 Oct 2021 - 12:08 pm

Bali, Indonesia: Surf school owner Halfia Londa is pinning all her hopes on Indonesia's plan to reopen the island of Bali to some...

Japan working on starting COVID-19 booster shots by year-end 12 Oct 2021 - 11:31 am

TOKYO: The Japanese government is working on starting COVID-19 booster shots by year-end, deputy chief cabinet secretary Yoshihiko Isozaki said at a news...

Japan's ruling party unveils manifesto with focus on coronavirus, defence 12 Oct 2021 - 10:08 am

Tokyo: Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) unveiled on Tuesday its manifesto for an Oct. 31 election with a focus on ending the...

Cyclone Kompasu strikes Philippines, kills 9 12 Oct 2021 - 09:40 am

MANILA: Nine people have been killed in the Philippines and 11 were missing on Tuesday due to floods and landslides caused by heavy...

Britain reaffirms Asia 'tilt' as new warship makes Singapore stop 11 Oct 2021 - 03:08 pm

Singapore: Britain's new aircraft carrier the HMS Queen Elizabeth made a stop in Singapore on Monday, part of a move to reassert itself...

Netflix hit show 'Squid Game' spurs interest in learning Korean 11 Oct 2021 - 02:14 pm

SEOUL: Interest in learning Korean has spiked since the launch of hit Netflix show "Squid Game", tutoring services reported, underscoring a growing global...