Asia

China reports 11 new imported coronavirus cases as of end-June 10

Mainland China reported 11 confirmed and four new asymptomatic COVID-19 cases by the end of June 10, the National Health Commission said on Thursday. All the new confirmed cases involved…

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Thailand reports zero new cases for first time in almost 3 weeks

Thailand on Thursday reported no new coronavirus infections or deaths, maintaining the total of 3,125 confirmed cases and 58 fatalities. It was the first time in nearly three weeks that…

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Photo Story: Test flights begin of self-made advanced jet trainer in Taiwan

A handout photo made available by Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence shows a prototype of the AIDC T-5 Brave Eagle advanced jet trainer undergoing a test flight at Ching Chuan…

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Indian firm Panacea says aiming to make COVID-19 vaccine

Indian biotech firm Panacea Biotec Ltd said on Wednesday it would partner with U.S.-based Refana Inc to make a potential vaccine for COVID-19. The collaboration aims to make more than…

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Singapore approves remdesivir drug for emergency COVID-19 treatment

Singapore on Wednesday approved the use of Gilead Sciences Inc's antiviral drug remdesivir for the treatment of severely ill patients with COVID-19 infection. Remdesivir is the first drug shown to…

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N.Korean leader’s sister emerges as policymaker

The sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is taking a leading role in a new, more hard-line pressure campaign against South Korea, highlighting what analysts say is a…

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Mumbai cases pass Wuhan peak as India sees close to 10,000 new daily infections

Coronavirus cases in Mumbai, India have passed 51,000, according to the Indian Express. The last 24 hours alone saw close to 10,000 new confirmed infections, with 9,985. The BBC points…

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China warns students over ‘risks’ of studying in Australia

China has warned students to consider the risks of studying in Australia during the pandemic, aggravating a political row between the nations. Its education ministry has issued the advisory to…

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South Korea cases spike again

The Yonhap News Agency reports that South Korea’s coronavirus cases spiked to 50 new cases on Wednesday, after two consecutive days of fewer than 40 cases: South Korea’s new virus…

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North Korea severs ties with South after leaflets from defectors reach its territory

North Korea said on Tuesday it will sever hotlines with South Korea as the first step toward shutting down all contact with Seoul, state news agency KCNA reported. For several days, North Korea has lashed out at…

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Harvard study claims evidence suggesting Covid-19 had been circulating earlier in China

A study by the University of Harvard has placed further doubts on the handling of the coronavirus pandemic by China at its onset. So far, generally accepted evidence indicated that…

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EPA’s Eye in the Sky: Kathmandu, Nepal

Syambhunath Stupa, an ancient religious architecture atop a hill in the Kathmandu valley, is seen amidst smog during the coronavirus lockdown in Kathmandu, Nepal.

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Japan braces for worst postwar economic slump

Japan's economy braced for its worst postwar slump even as first-quarter GDP contracted less than initially thought, as the coronavirus crisis slams the brakes on global growth and raises pressure…

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N.Korea’s Kim stresses self-sufficient economy as tensions with S.Korea rise

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un focused on domestic economic issues at a meeting of the politburo of the country's ruling Workers Party, state media said on Monday, as the…

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Toyota Launches New Model RAV4 PHEV

Toyota has launched the new model RAV4 plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) through dealerships in Japan. Since its debut in 1994, RAV4 has pioneered the crossover SUV market, and remains…

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Thai Airways rehabilitation may take up to 7 years

The rehabilitation of flag carrier Thai Airways International Pcl may take up to seven years, the airline's legal advisor said on Monday. After the bankruptcy court allows the rehabilitation, its…

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Shanghai Junshi Biosciences in human tests for coronavirus antibody drug

Shanghai Junshi Biosciences has started an early-stage study in China to test a potential antibody treatment against the coronavirus in uninfected people, the company said in a filing on Sunday.…

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The Philippines to outlaw face-to-face education until a vaccine is found

The education secretary of the Philippines has confirmed the government’s intention to outlaw face-to-face education until a vaccine against coronavirus is discovered and distributed. “It is a challenging task for…

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Half of Singapore’s new COVID-19 cases are symptomless

At least half of Singapore's newly discovered coronavirus cases show no symptoms, the co-head of the government's virus taskforce told Reuters on Monday, reinforcing the city-state's decision to ease lockdown…

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China reports 4 new coronavirus confirmed cases

China reported four new confirmed and two asymptomatic COVID-19 cases in the mainland as of end-June 7, the country's health commission said on Monday. The National Health Commission said the…

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EU wants power to investigate Chinese firms buying EU companies with state aid

European Union competition regulators want more power to investigate Chinese companies benefiting from state subsidies seeking to acquire EU firms because of the distortive effect of such aid, Reuters revealed. The…

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EU free trade agreement with Vietnam to eliminate 99% of tariffs between the two

Vietnam ratified a free trade agreement with the European Union on Monday that will cut or eliminate 99% of tariffs on goods traded between the Southeast Asian country and the bloc, and provide…

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Photo Story: India adapts to the ‘new normal’

Workers draw circles to maintain social distance for the devotees on premises of the historical temple of the Goddess Kali, during the ongoing lockdown amid coronavirus covid-19 alert in Jammu,…

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Singapore heading for record unemployment in 2020

Singapore's finance minister said its unemployment rate could rise to a record of over 100,000 in 2020 due to fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. Singapore's highest annual average number of…

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China reports 3 new COVID-19 cases, 2 asymptomatic cases

China recorded three new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus as of the end of Friday, down from five the day before, the national health authority reported. All of the…

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South Korea reports 51 new cases of Covid-19

South Korea on Saturday reported 51 new cases of Covid-19, mostly in the densely populated capital region, as authorities scramble to stem transmissions among low-income workers who can’t afford to…

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India overtakes Italy in coronavirus cases

India surpassed Italy as the sixth worst-hit by the coronavirus pandemic after another biggest single-day spike in confirmed infections. The health ministry reported 9,887 new cases on Saturday, bringing the…

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COVID-19 contributing to Thailand’s plastic pollution problem

While the world's main focus is on battling the COVID 19 disease pandemic caused by the SARS CoV-2 coronavirus, Thailand is dealing with another effect of the coronavirus: mountains of…

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After easing of lockdown, Pakistan’s COVID-19 cases surge

Four weeks ago, with its most important festival coming up and millions of people facing starvation as economic activity dwindled, Pakistan lifted a two-month-long coronavirus lockdown. Prime Minister Imran Khan…

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China building secure facilities to fast track coronavirus vaccine production

China is laying the groundwork to begin manufacturing Covid-19 vaccines as soon as they are given the green light. Although the five drugs being developed by the country’s scientists are…

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Inovio plans human trials for potential COVID-19 vaccine in South Korea in June

Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc said on Thursday it plans to begin human trials of its potential COVID-19 vaccine in South Korea later in June, with support from Seoul-headquartered partner, non-profit organization…

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Thailand to offer perks encouraging travel for some 1.2 million medical personnel and health volunteers

Thailand will draw up a stimulus plan for domestic tourism to be rolled out for four months starting in July, a senior official said on Thursday, as the country seeks…

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Hong Kong confirms 5 new coronavirus cases

Hong Kong confirmed five new cases of coronavirus on Thursday, all imported, while Cable TV reported some residents of a housing estate were evacuated after a cluster of cases was…

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HSBC backs China security law for Hong Kong

HSBC and Standard Chartered banks gave their backing to China's imposition of a national security law on Hong Kong on Wednesday in a break from their usual policy of political neutrality.…

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UPDATED: Earthquake of magnitude 6.5 hits north of Halmahera, Indonesia

An earthquake of magnitude 6.5 struck north of Halmahera near the province of North Sulawesi in Indonesia on Thursday, the GFZ German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ) said. Indonesia's national…

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Japan to explore ‘simplified’ Olympic Games

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said on Thursday it may be necessary to a stage a "simplified" Olympics next year due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and that organisers…

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40 injured in knife attack on primary school in China

More than 40 students and staff members were injured in a knife attack at a primary school on Thursday, Chinese state media reported. The attack took place at a school…

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Candles to light up Hong Kong on Tiananmen anniversary

Many people in Hong Kong plan to commemorate the bloody 1989 crackdown by Chinese troops in and around Tiananmen Square by lighting candles across the city on Thursday, circumventing a…

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Philippines confirms 8 new coronavirus deaths, 751 additional cases

The Philippine health ministry on Wednesday recorded eight more deaths and 751 additional infections because of the coronavirus pandemic. In a bulletin, the ministry said total deaths have increased to…

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Mumbai braces for Cyclone Nisarga

Bracing for the first ever cyclone to hit Mumbai in living memory, people in India's most populous metropolis stayed off the streets and scrambled to protect their homes before the…

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India’s coronavirus cases cross 200,000, peak still weeks away

India's coronavirus infections crossed 200,000, the health ministry said on Wednesday, and a peak could still be weeks away in the world's second most populous country. Cases jumped by 8,909…

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British PM Johnson tells China: We’ll not walk away from Hong Kong people

The United Kingdom will not walk away from the people of Hong Kong if China imposes a national security law which conflicts with Beijing's international obligations under a 1984 accord,…

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China reports 1 confirmed, 4 asymptomatic COVID-19 cases

China reported one new coronavirus case and four new asymptomatic COVID-19 cases in the mainland on June 2, the country's health commission said. The National Health Commission said the one confirmed…

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Thailand re-opens massage parlour as easing of restrictions continue

Thailand massage parlours re-open as country eases Covid-19 lockdown Thousands of Thai massage parlours re-opened today yesterday as the country eased its coronavirus lockdown measures. Officials said they were moving…

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India confirms more than 8,000 new Covid-19 cases

Indian health authorities say 8,392 new coronavirus patients were registered in the past 24 hours -- the highest number of cases identified in a single day since the pandemic began.…

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Photo Story: International Children’s Day in Cambodia

A young boy feeds pigeon in front of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 01 June 2020. Cambodia marked the annual International Children's Day on 01 June in support…

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Hitachi plans to make working-from-home standard practice

Japanese electronics giant Hitachi announced that it will aim to make working-from-home the new normal from April 2021, surprising many in Japan. Hitachi said it will give employees 3,000 yen…

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India asks internet service providers to block WeTransfer

India has ordered its internet service providers (ISPs) to block file-sharing website WeTransfer at a time when hundreds of millions of people are working from home because of a nationwide…

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S.Korea’s Celltrion says COVID-19 drug shows drop in viral load in animal testing

South Korea's Celltrion Inc said on Monday its experimental treatment of COVID-19 demonstrated a 100-fold reduction in viral load of the disease in animal testing. Drugmakers worldwide are rushing to…

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Manila eases lockdown

Traffic jams and crowds of commuters returned to the Philippine capital on Monday, as Manilla relaxed antivirus measures in a high-stakes gamble to slowly reopen the economy while fighting the…

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Japan may open doors to travellers from selected countries

Japan is considering re-opening its borders to travellers from selected countries which have low levels of coronavirus infections, as it begins to ease restrictions put in place earlier this year…

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China reports highest number of new Covid-19 cases in nearly 3 weeks

China reported the highest daily increase in coronavirus cases in nearly three weeks with 16 new infections discovered on May 31, as the number of so-called imported cases jumped in southwestern…

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Hong Kong reports first locally transmitted coronavirus case in two weeks

Hong Kong has confirmed its first locally transmitted coronavirus cases in more than two weeks, fuelling concerns over its spread as restrictions on movement are relaxed. The Centre for Health…

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Photo Story: Singapore confirms 518 more coronavirus cases

Singapore has confirmed 518 more coronavirus infections, the health ministry said on Sunday, taking its tally to 34,884. Migrant workers living in dormitories make up the vast majority of the…

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Photo Story: Pakistan facing devastating locust swarms

Locusts are seen on the outskirts of Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan province, Pakistan. According to country's food and agriculture authorities, a second wave of desert locust swarms is…

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Mass output of Chinese Covid-19 vaccine expected to begin this year

A front-running Covid-19 vaccine candidate being developed in China is expected to be available as soon as the end of this year, according to a report published in the official…

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Pakistan makes face masks mandatory in public

It is now mandatory to wear a mask in crowded public spaces across Pakistan, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Health on Sunday. Such spaces include mosques, bazaars,…

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