World / Asia

South Korea unveils inflatable isolation ward for COVID-19 patients 08 Jan 2021 - 01:44 pm

SEOUL - South Korean researchers say they have designed an inflatable "negative pressure" ward for isolating and treating patients with infectious diseases like...

Beijing raises guard as COVID-19 cases rise in Hebei province 08 Jan 2021 - 11:17 am

SHANGHAI/BEIJING - Chinese authorities shut down some entry and exit ramps of a highway connecting Beijing and Shijiazhuang, the provincial capital of Hebei...

Australia sets COVID test for travelers as Brisbane locks down 08 Jan 2021 - 11:07 am

CANBERRA/SYDNEY - Travellers to Australia will have to show a negative COVID-19 test before they can get on their plane, the prime minister...

Singapore PM receives first dose of COVID-19 vaccine 08 Jan 2021 - 11:05 am

SINGAPORE - Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong received his first shot of a COVID-19 vaccine on Friday, and urged others to take...

Over 4 mln COVID-19 vaccine doses from China's CNBG administered in emergency use 07 Jan 2021 - 06:57 pm

BEIJING: China National Biotec Group (CNBG) has administered more than 4 million COVID-19 vaccine doses as of Jan. 4 via China's emergency use...

Less than a third of Filipinos open to COVID-19 jabs: Survey 07 Jan 2021 - 03:33 pm

MANILA: Less than a third of Filipinos are willing to get inoculated against the coronavirus, an opinion poll showed on Thursday, as the...

Japan declares state of emergency for Tokyo, paying price for virus complacency 07 Jan 2021 - 03:03 pm

Tokyo: Japan's leaders believed they had found a way to live with the coronavirus and keep the economy open, relying on widespread mask-wearing...

Chinese city of 11 million stops people leaving in bid to contain COVID 07 Jan 2021 - 02:38 pm

SHANGHAI: The capital and largest city in northern China's Hebei province barred people from leaving on Thursday in an effort to curb the...

Malaysia reports record jump in COVID-19 cases amid fears of new lockdown 07 Jan 2021 - 02:26 pm

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia reported its biggest daily rise in coronavirus cases on Thursday as the government considered imposing restrictions in some areas, while...

Thai activists answer summons as dozens face charges of insulting king 07 Jan 2021 - 01:35 pm

Bangkok: A group of activists answered a police summons on Thursday over complaints that could see them jailed for up to 15 years...

China plays down WHO concern about delay in coronavirus team's trip 06 Jan 2021 - 07:50 pm

BEIJING - China played down on Wednesday World Health Organization (WHO) concern about a delay in authorisation for a visit by team of...

China's Dicos adds plant-based egg from U.S. firm Eat Just to fast food menus 06 Jan 2021 - 06:24 pm

HONG KONG: U.S. startup Eat Just Inc said on Wednesday that Dicos, one of China's largest fast food chains, has added plant-based egg...

India's proposed changes to anti-smoking law face objections from tobacco industry 06 Jan 2021 - 04:11 pm

NEW DELHI: India's tobacco industry will object to a proposal to ban smoking zones in hotels and prohibit advertising at cigarette kiosks as...

Japan's daily coronavirus cases hit record as state of emergency looms 06 Jan 2021 - 03:21 pm

TOKYO: Japan's COVID-19 cases reached a new daily record on Wednesday, as the government faced mounting pressure from health experts to impose a...

South Korean police chief apologises amid outrage over death of adopted child 06 Jan 2021 - 01:53 pm

Seoul: South Korea's police chief apologised on Wednesday amid an outpouring of grief and anger over the death of an adopted child in...

Philippines seeks 148 mln Covid-19 shots this year for 2/3 of population 06 Jan 2021 - 12:15 pm

Manila: The Philippines is negotiating with seven vaccine manufacturers to procure at least 148 million Covid-19 shots as it seeks to inoculate close...