Asia

Japan approves dexamethasone as coronavirus treatment

Japan's health ministry has approved dexamethasone, a cheap and widely used steroid, as a second treatment of COVID-19 after a trial in Britain showed the drug reduced death rates in…

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US accuses China of attempts to steal vaccine research data

The U.S. accused two Chinese hackers of working for Beijing to steal or try to steal terabytes of data, including coronavirus research, from Western companies in 11 nations -- the…

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UK will bear consequences if it interferes in Chinese affairs – Ambassador

China’s ambassador has issued a stern warning to the UK, accusing it of interfering in China's internal affairs when suspending extradition with Hong Kong. Yesterday, the UK foreign secretary, Dominic…

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UK-Hong Kong extradition treaty suspended immediately – Raab

Britain is suspending its extradition treaty with Hong Kong immediately in response to Beijing imposing new legislation in the former British colony, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said. Developing Story

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China to respond to British sanctions ‘resolutely’

China will respond resolutely to any attempt by Britain to sanction Chinese officials following the imposition of a security law in Hong Kong, its ambassador in London said on Sunday.…

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China can turn the other cheek, for now

by Gina Chon via Reuters Breakingviews Turning the other cheek takes fortitude, but that’s what China could do in response to the U.S. government’s latest actions. It slapped sanctions…

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Coronavirus spread risks going out of control – Hong Kong Leader

Hong Kong's leader said Sunday that coronavirus was spreading out of control in the city as she announced a record daily high of more than 100 cases and ordered new…

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EPA’s Eye in the Sky: Jakarta, Indonesia

The Semanggi interchange with less than usual traffic during the large-scale social restrictions that were imposed in Jakarta, Indonesia, because of the coronavirus pandemic. EPA-EFE/MAST IRHAM

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Philippines confirms 113 more novel coronavirus deaths

The Philippines' health ministry on Saturday reported 113 more new coronavirus deaths and 2,357 additional infections. In a bulletin, the ministry said total deaths have increased to 1,773 while confirmed…

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Indonesia overtakes China with highest coronavirus cases in East Asia

Indonesia overtook China on Saturday as the country with the most confirmed coronavirus cases in East Asia with 84,882 infections, and authorities said the actual infection rate could be higher…

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Mainland China reports 22 new coronavirus cases, including 16 in Xinjiang

Urumqi, the capital of China's far western region of Xinjiang, said it has launched emergency response plan after the city reported 16 new coronavirus cases on Friday. The regional government…

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U.S. passenger flights to India can resume July 23

The government of India has agreed to allow U.S. air carriers to resume passenger services in the U.S.-India market starting July 23, the U.S. Transportation Department announced. The Indian government,…

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South Korea approves human trials of Celltrion’s COVID-19 antibody drug

South Korea on Friday approved an early stage clinical trial of Celltrion Inc's experimental COVID-19 treatment drug, making it the country's first such antibody drug to be tested on humans.…

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India’s Cadila aims to complete trial of coronavirus vaccine by March

India's Zydus Cadila plans to complete late-stage trials for its novel coronavirus vaccine candidate by February or March and could produce up to 100 million doses a year initially if…

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Philippine health ministry reports 17 coronavirus deaths, 1,841 more cases

The Philippines on Friday recorded 17 new coronavirus deaths and 1,841 additional infections, with the capital Manila still accounting for the bulk of newly confirmed cases and casualties. In a…

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Hong Kong reports 50 locally transmitted coronavirus cases

Hong Kong authorities reported 50 locally transmitted coronavirus cases on Friday, stoking further concern about an escalating third wave of infections in the global financial hub. Including imported cases, the…

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Philippines to allow some foreigners to enter country from August

The Philippines will allow the entry of foreign nationals with long-term visas into the country from August 1, the presidential spokesman said on Friday, as the country gradually relaxes some…

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New coronavirus cases in China nearly all imported

China reported 10 new confirmed COVID-19 cases for the mainland as of the end of July 16, up from one a day earlier, the country's national health authority said on…

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India’s coronavirus cases cross 1 million

India on Friday became the third country in the world to record more than one million cases of the new coronavirus, behind only the United States and Brazil, as infections…

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‘Dumping’ Huawei will cost you’ – China to UK

China warned British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday that his decision to ban Huawei from the 5G network would cost Britain dearly in investment, casting the move as the…

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Trump orders end to Hong Kong’s special status

President Donald Trump on Tuesday ordered an end to Hong Kong's special status under U.S. law to punish China for what he called "oppressive actions" against the former British colony,…

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France reduces Chinese flights to Paris in tit-for-tat row

France on Monday started restricting Chinese airlines to one passenger flight per week, saying it was acting in response to curbs imposed by Beijing on French carriers. "From July 13,…

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Philippines sees region’s biggest daily rise in COVID-19 deaths

The Philippines reported Southeast Asia's biggest daily jump in COVID-19 deaths on Monday and warned of more fatalities ahead, as authorities scrambled to verify thousands of suspected cases and pressure grows on…

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Thailand tightens borders over fears of second wave of coronavirus

Thailand ordered security stepped up at its land borders on Monday after concerns surged over a possible second wave of coronavirus infections, following the arrests of thousands of illegal migrants…

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China says floods situation remains ‘grim as 33 rivers hit record levels

As many as 33 rivers in China have risen to their highest levels in history during the current wave of floods, a senior water ministry official said on Monday, as…

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Hong Kong reports 52 new coronavirus cases as local transmissions spike

Hong Kong recorded 52 new cases of coronavirus on Monday, including 41 that were locally transmitted, health authorities said, as worries over an escalating third wave of infections in the…

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One in three South Korean COVID-19 patients improve with remdesivir

One in three South Korean patients seriously ill with COVID-19 showed an improvement in their condition after being given Gilead Sciences Inc's antiviral remdesivir, health authorities said. More research was…

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Philippines reports 65 new coronavirus deaths

The Philippines' health ministry on Monday reported 65 more novel coronavirus deaths and 836 additional infections. In a bulletin, the ministry said total deaths have reached 1,599, while confirmed infections…

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Photo Story: The Mahanakhon Skywalk in Bangkok

People pose for photos on the glass floor of the Mahanakhon Skywalk, 78 floors above the ground at King Power Mahanakhon building, Bangkok, Thailand. The King Power Mahanakhon has one…

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India adds over 28,000 new coronavirus cases

India reported another record surge of coronavirus infections on Monday, adding 28,701 new cases over the previous 24 hours. Authorities in several cities are reinstating strict lockdowns after attempting to…

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Singapore says blockchain payments project ready for commercial rollout

Singapore has developed a blockchain-based payments network that could enable faster and cheaper international settlements, authorities said on Monday, adding that the next step was a commercial rollout. The final…

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China reports eight new mainland coronavirus cases

Mainland China reported eight new Covid-19 cases as of the end of 12 July, up from seven reported a day earlier, the Chinese national health authority said on Monday. The…

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Indonesia reports 1,681 new coronavirus cases

Indonesia reported 1,681 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, bringing the total count to 75,699, Health Ministry official Achmad Yurianto told a televised news briefing. Fatalities from the COVID-19 rose by…

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Thailand plans November human testing for potential coronavirus vaccine

Thai researchers plan to begin human trials of a potential vaccine for the new coronavirus in November and are preparing 10,000 doses, a senior official said on Sunday, aiming for…

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China’s CanSino in talks for COVID-19 vaccine Phase III trial overseas

Chinese vaccine developer CanSino Biologics is in talks with Russia, Brazil, Chile and Saudi Arabia to launch a Phase III trial of its experimental COVID-19 vaccine, its co-founder announced. China's…

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India IT hub Bangalore in lockdown as cases rise

India’s coronavirus caseload is nearing 850,000 with a record surge of 28,637 in the past 24 hours, prompting authorities to announce a weeklong lockdown in the key southern technology hub…

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Fear in China as quake rattles city hit by massive 1976 disaster

A 4.7-magnitude earthquake struck the northern Chinese city of Tangshan on Sunday, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), reviving memories of a devastating 1976 quake there that was…

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Hong Kong enters first sustained local outbreak

Hong Kong health authorities have confirmed a record high number of locally-transmitted cases, about 50 of which can’t be traced to a previous infection. Head of Hong Kong University’s school…

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Tokyo confirms 206 new cases of coronavirus infections on Sunday

Tokyo officials confirmed 206 new coronavirus infections on Sunday, public broadcaster NHK reported, as Japan's capital struggles with a resurgence in cases after the government lifted a state of emergency.…

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India in talks with EU for trade deal, open to pact with UK

India has started trade talks with the European Union (EU) and is open to dialogue with the United Kingdom for a free trade agreement, the trade minister said on Saturday,…

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Thailand expects to delay plans for ‘travel bubble’ on virus worries

Thailand expects to delay plans for so-called travel bubbles given a resurgence in coronavirus infections in countries that had managed to contain the initial outbreak, a senior official told Reuters.…

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Hong Kong opposition’s primary elections underway

Hong Kong’s opposition camp set up polling booths across the Chinese-ruled city on Saturday for primary elections aimed at selecting democracy candidates who stand the best chance of success in…

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Photo Story: Coffin-makers in India struggle to keep up with demand

A worker prepares a low-cost coffins with ply board for the Covid-19 victims provided by an NGO 'World Peace Organisation', at a makeshift workshop in New Delhi, India. An NGO…

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Fujifilm’s Avigan drug yielded inconclusive results as a treatment of Covid-19

A clinical trial in Japan of Fujifilm Holdings Corp’s Avigan drug yielded inconclusive results as a treatment of Covid-19. The drug, which has been shown to cause birth defects in…

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Photo Story: Tokyo aquarium unveils a 14-meter-wide jellyfish tank

A woman looks at jellyfish swimming in a 14-meter-wide tank at Sunshine Aquarium in Tokyo, Japan, the day of the opening of the new jellyfish area. The Sunshine Aquarium reopened…

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WHO advance team on way to China to set up probe into virus origin

An advance team from the World Health Organization (WHO) has left for China to organise an investigation into the origins of the novel coronavirus which sparked the global pandemic, a…

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Philippines reports 42 new coronavirus deaths, biggest daily rise since April

The Philippines' health ministry on Friday reported 42 new coronavirus deaths, the largest single-day increase in nearly three months, and 1,233 additional infections. In a bulletin, the ministry said total…

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Photo Story: Floods devastate southwestern Japan

A resident takes his belongings out of his damaged car in the aftermath of torrential rains and floods in Sakamoto, Kumamoto Prefecture, Kyushu island, Japan, 10 July 2020. At least…

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China suspends Air China’s Moscow-Beijing route for a week due to COVID-19

China's aviation regulator said on Friday it would suspend Air China flights on the Moscow-Beijing route for one week from July 13 after more than five passengers on a recent…

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India sees more local coronavirus lockdowns as cases near 800,000

India reported a record 26,506 new coronavirus cases on Friday as authorities re-imposed lockdowns in its most populous state and in an industrial hub, home to automakers, drug factories and…

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Photo Story: Death of a mayor

A handout picture made available by Seoul City Hall, shows mourners pay tribute at the memorial altar for late Mayor Park Won-soon at Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul, South…

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Japan urges nightclubs to act to stem coronavirus spikes

Japanese host and hostess clubs must act quickly to ensure they abide by rules to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus after nightlife districts became new hot spots in…

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Hong Kong to suspend all schools due to spike in coronavirus cases

Hong Kong's Education Bureau on Friday announced the suspension of all schools from Monday after a spike in locally transmitted coronavirus cases that has fuelled fears of a renewed community…

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North Korean leader’s sister says another summit unlikely but “a surprise thing may still happen”

Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korea's leader, said another summit with the United States would only be useful for Washington at this point, adding her country had no…

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In masks and gloves, Singaporeans vote during pandemic

Singaporeans wearing masks and gloves cast their ballots on Friday under the cloud of the COVID-19 pandemic that is pushing the city-state's economy towards its worst-ever recession, making saving jobs…

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Smog causes an estimated 49,000 deaths in Beijing, Shanghai in 2020

Air pollution has caused an estimated 49,000 deaths and $23 billion in economic losses in the cities of Beijing and Shanghai alone since Jan. 1, 2020, according to a "clean…

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South Korea finds just one case of coronavirus antibodies out of 3,000 tested

Just one person in a South Korean survey of more than 3,000 people showed neutralizing antibodies to the novel coronavirus, health authorities said on Thursday, indicating the virus has not…

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