Asia

The Philippines reports biggest spike in deaths from Covid-19 in three weeks

The Philippines on Sunday recorded 61 more coronavirus deaths, the highest daily increase in fatalities reported since July 18, taking the country's death tally to 2,270. A health ministry bulletin…

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India to push for defence self-reliance

India will stop importing 101 items of military equipment in an effort to boost domestic defence production, defence minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday. Singh said the move follows…

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Photo Story: Nagasaki marks 75th anniversary of the atomic bombing in 1945

Doves fly over the Peace Statue at Nagasaki Peace Park during the memorial ceremony in Nagasaki, southwestern Japan, 09 August 2020, marking the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombing in…

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South Korea floods, landslides kill 21 as heavy rains continue

At least 21 people have died after 46 days of heavy rains in South Korea, with the country's longest monsoon in seven years causing more flooding, landslides and evacuations on…

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Flight data, cockpit voice recorders recovered from India plane crash site

The flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder have been recovered from the site of an Indian passenger aircraft crash in a southern state, a top official at the Directorate…

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US imposed sanctions on Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam

The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam, the territory's current and former police chiefs and eight other officials for their role in curtailing…

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Air India Express plane skids off runway in Kerala – Update

A special evacuation flight bringing people home to India who had been trapped abroad because of the coronavirus skidded off a runway and split in two while landing Friday in…

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Asymptomatic cases ‘carry same amount of virus’ as those with symptoms

People with symptomless Covid-19 can carry as much of the virus as those with symptoms, a South Korean study has suggested. South Korea was able to identify and isolate asymptomatic…

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Chinese court sentences another Canadian to death for drugs

A Chinese court said on Friday it had sentenced a Canadian to death for transporting and manufacturing drugs, the second Canadian in two days to receive a death penalty for…

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The Philippines registers 3,379 new coronavirus infections, 24 deaths

The Philippines' health ministry on Friday reported 3,379 additional coronavirus cases, bringing the country's total number of confirmed infections to 122,754. In a bulletin, the ministry said deaths had increased…

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Deadly virus re-emerges in China which experts confirm can spread from person to person

A deadly virus has re-emerged in China, infecting more than 60 people and killing seven. The highly pathogenic, tick-borne novel bunyavirus can lead to thrombocytopenia syndrome. It causes a viral…

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AstraZeneca in first COVID-19 vaccine deal with Chinese company

Shenzhen Kangtai Biological Products will produce AstraZeneca Plc's potential COVID-19 vaccine in mainland China, the British drugmaker said, its first deal to supply one of the world's most populous countries.…

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India suffers record jump in COVID-19 cases to pass 2 mln

India, the country hardest hit in Asia by the coronavirus pandemic, reported on Friday a record daily jump in infections, taking its total number of cases over two million. It…

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Hong Kong to offer free coronavirus testing for all residents

Hong Kong will offer free voluntary coronavirus testing for residents, leader Carrie Lam said on Friday, as the global financial hub races to contain a resurgence of the virus over…

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Sri Lanka president’s group wins big majority in parliament polls

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's party and its allies won an overwhelming two-thirds majority in a parliament election, results showed on Friday, giving him the power to enact sweeping changes…

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Tourism-reliant Thailand shelves ‘travel bubble’ plan as Asia virus cases rise

Thailand has delayed plans for a "travel bubble" agreement with select countries as new daily coronavirus cases rise in parts of Asia, putting pressure on its vital tourism industry and complicating efforts…

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Photo Story: National Day-themed light up in Singapore

A man takes pictures of the Asian Civilisation Museum, lit in red and white, during a National Day-themed light up in Singapore. Major buildings and monuments in the civic district…

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Philippines records most coronavirus cases in East Asia after new surge

The Philippines on Thursday recorded another jump in coronavirus cases to overtake neighbouring Indonesia as the country with the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 infections in East Asia. A recent…

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Philippine economy dives into recession for the first time in 29 years

The Philippine economy plunged by much more than expected in the second quarter, falling into recession for the first time in 29 years, as economic activity was hammered by one…

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WHO says North Korea’s COVID-19 test results for first suspected case ‘inconclusive’

North Korea’s test results for a man suspected of being the country’s first coronavirus case were inconclusive, though authorities have quarantined more than 3,635 primary and secondary contacts, a World…

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Hiroshima marks 75 years since atomic bombing in scaled-back ceremony

Bells tolled in Hiroshima on Thursday for the 75th anniversary of the world’s first atomic bombing, with ceremonies downsized due to the novel coronavirus and the mayor urging nations to…

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Photo Story: Japan prepares for 75th anniversary of Hiroshima, Nagasaki bombing

A man walks past the Atomic Bomb Dome at Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, Japan, 05 August 2020. On 06 August 2020 Japan will mark the 75th anniversary of the…

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Doctors in Japan caution against domestic travel amid COVID-19 resurgence

Japanese holidaymakers should refrain from domestic travel and regional governments should act independently to contain a resurgence of coronavirus infections, the country's top doctors' association said on Wednesday. Japan Medical…

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Zydus Cadila’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate found safe in early-stage human trial

India's Zydus Cadila said on Wednesday its COVID-19 vaccine candidate was found to be safe and well-tolerated in an early-stage human trial. The company will now start a mid-stage trial…

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Philippines confirms 3,462 more coronavirus cases

The Philippines' health ministry on Wednesday reported 3,462 new coronavirus infections and nine additional deaths. In a bulletin, the ministry said total infections had risen to 115,980, putting the tally…

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Sri Lankans, wearing masks, flock to voting centres for parliament election

Sri Lankans lined up before polling stations opened on Wednesday, wearing masks and social distancing, to elect a new parliament that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa hopes will clear the way for…

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North Korea has “probably developed nuclear devices which fit into missiles” – UN

North Korea has seemingly made important progress in its nuclear weapons programme and several countries believe it has "probably developed miniaturised nuclear devices to fit into the warheads of its…

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EU-Vietnam trade agreement enters into force

EU exports to Vietnam will be taxed less of this month. This is the immediate effect of the entry into force of the EU-Vietnam trade agreement that will ultimately scrap…

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In surprising turnaround, Trump wants Microsoft to buy TikTok

In an unexpected turnaround, President Donald Trump has agreed to allow Microsoft Corp to negotiate the acquisition of popular short-video app TikTok if it could secure a deal in 45 days, three people familiar…

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Singapore’s Universal Studios deploys facial recognition for entry

Visitors to Universal Studios in Singapore will now have to pass through facial recognition scanners to enter the park, in the city-state's latest foray with a technology that has stoked…

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UK says trade talks with Japan making good progress, hopes to conclude shortly

Britain hopes to conclude a trade agreement with Japan shortly, a spokesman for Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday, ahead of an official visit to London by Japanese Foreign…

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Philippines reports 3,226 new coronavirus infections, 46 more deaths

The Philippine health ministry on Monday confirmed 3,226 novel coronavirus infections and 46 additional deaths. In a bulletin, it said total confirmed cases have reached 106,330 and deaths have increased…

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Chinese artificial intelligence company files $1.4 billion lawsuit against Apple

Chinese artificial intelligence company Shanghai Zhizhen Intelligent Network Technology Co., Ltd., also known as Xiao-i, has filed a lawsuit against Apple Inc, alleging it has infringed on its patents. The…

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Mass jailbreak in Afghanistan, at least 24 die in Islamic State attack

A gunbattle between Islamic State fighters and Afghan security forces raged at a prison in the eastern city of Jalalabad on Monday, with at least 24 people killed after the…

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Vietnam says early August ‘decisive time’ to avert large-scale virus spread

Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said on Monday that early August would a decisive period for preventing a large-scale spread of the coronavirus, state broadcaster VTV reported, after a…

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India reports 52,972 new coronavirus infections

India reported 52,972 new coronavirus infections in the past 24 hours, taking the total to 1.8 million, data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare showed on Monday. With…

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Photo Story: Heavy rain hits South Korea

A collapsed road, caused by heavy rain, in Chungju, South Korea. Heavy rains triggered a string of mudslides and flooding in central South Korea on Sunday, leaving at least five…

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HSBC accelerates 35,000 job cuts amid Covid-19 profit plunge

HSBC is to accelerate plans to cut 35,000 jobs globally after the Covid-19 crisis forced the bank to put aside another $3.8bn (£2.9bn) to cover bad debts. The London-headquartered bank…

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China reports 43 new coronavirus cases in mainland

China reported 43 new confirmed coronavirus cases in the mainland as of Aug. 2, down from 49 a day earlier, the country's national health authority said on Monday. The National…

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Singapore to make travellers wear electronic tags to enforce quarantine

Singapore will make some incoming travellers wear an electronic monitoring device to ensure that they comply with coronavirus quarantines as the city-state gradually reopens its borders, authorities said on Monday.…

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HSBC first-half profit plunges 65%, warns loan losses could hit $13 bln

HSBC Holdings PLC warned of rising bad debt charges and a falling core capital ratio after posting a higher-than-expected 65% tumble in first-half pre-tax profit as the coronavirus pandemic hit…

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Islamic State claims responsibility for attack in Afghanistan

Islamic State claimed responsibility for an attack in the Afghan city of Jalalabad, the group's Amaq news agency said on Sunday . At least three bombs exploded outside a jail…

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China sends team to Hong Kong for widespread coronavirus testing

Seven Chinese health officials arrived in Hong Kong on Sunday, the first members of a 60-person team that will carry out widespread COVID-19 testing in the territory as it races…

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Philippines to reimpose stricter coronavirus lockdown measures

The Philippines said on Sunday it would reimpose a stricter lockdown in and around its capital for two weeks from midnight of Aug. 4, as the country struggles to contain…

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Tokyo reconsidering declaring an emergency in view of spike in cases

Tokyo confirmed 292 new coronavirus infections on Sunday, after cases rose by more than 400 in the past two days, public broadcaster NHK said. With Sunday's figure in Tokyo, the…

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6.4 earthquake strikes Mindanao, Philippines

An earthquake of magnitude 6.4 struck Mindanao, Philippines, on Saturday, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said. The quake had a depth of 473 kilometers, EMSC said. An initial report…

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EPA’s Eye in the Sky: Jakarta, Indonesia

A general view of giant slides at Ancol amusement park amid an easing of the large scale coronavirus restrictions in Jakarta, Indonesia. Via EPA-EFE/MAST IRHAM

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Photo Story: National Day parade rehearsals in Singapore

Republic of Singapore Air Force F-15SG fighter aircraft fly in formation past a building during a National Day Parade (NDP) rehearsal in Singapore, 01 August 2020. Singapore's National Day parade…

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Tokyo reports record 472 new coronavirus cases on Saturday

The number of new coronavirus cases confirmed in Tokyo was around 472 on Saturday, a new record, NHK public television quoted Tokyo officials as saying. It was the second day…

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Philippine doctors, nurses urge new COVID-19 lockdowns as country regiters record increase

More than a million Philippine doctors and nurses, saying the country was losing the fight against COVID-19, urged President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday to reimpose strict lockdown in and around…

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Photo Story: Flood situation worsen in Assam, India

Indian villagers move to a safe place with the help of a banana raft in the flood affected area of Goalbil, Baksa district, Assam, India. According to news reports, heavy…

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Surge in damaged cash as worried South Koreans try to microwave the coronavirus

Worried South Koreans are putting banknotes in their microwaves and washing machines, damaging the bills in their attempts to cleanse them of the coronavirus. The central bank said on Friday…

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North Korea’s economy grows for first time in 3 years

The economy of isolated North Korea grew for the first time in three years in 2019 as better weather conditions boosted crop yields, but sanctions imposed to stop its nuclear…

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China reports 127 new coronavirus cases, highest since March 5

China reported 127 new coronavirus cases on the mainland on July 30, up from 105 the previous day, the country's health authority said on Friday, the highest daily number since…

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Philippines records 4,063 new coronavirus cases, SE Asia’s highest jump for 2nd day

The Philippine health ministry on Friday confirmed 4,063 novel coronavirus infections, reporting the highest daily case increase in Southeast Asia for a second straight day. In a bulletin, the ministry…

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Hong Kong leader says key election postponed, blow to pro-democracy camp

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam on Friday postponed a Sept. 6 election for seats in the city legislature for a year because of a spike in novel coronavirus cases, dealing…

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Vietnam reports biggest jump in COVID-19 cases

Vietnam on Friday reported 45 new coronavirus infections in the city of Danang, marking the country's biggest single-day jump in cases, as the health ministry sent more health experts to…

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