Asia

China vows to enhance global cooperation on coronavirus control

China's Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that China is willing to enhance global cooperation in, and make contributions to COVID-19 prevention and control work as the disease continues to spread worldwide. China's…

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Tokyo Olympics may face 1-2 year delay over coronavirus

A delay of one or two years would be the "most feasible" option if the Tokyo Olympics cannot be held this summer due to the global outbreak of the coronavirus,…

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Thailand cancels visa on arrival for 18 countries, Malta included, due to spread of coronavirus

Thailand on Wednesday cancelled the grant of visa on arrival for 18 countries and visa exemption for three others to contain the spread of the coronavirus, the country’s interior minister…

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South Korea reports jump in coronavirus cases, China’s cases rise on infections from abroad

China reported an uptick in new confirmed cases of coronavirus infections, reversing four straight days of fewer new cases, driven by infected individuals arriving from abroad. Mainland China had 24…

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Vietnam suspends visa-free travel for 8 European countries over coronavirus concerns

Vietnam on Monday decided to temporarily suspend visa-free travel for citizens from eight European countries amid growing concern over the coronavirus epidemic, its government said. The temporary suspension applied to…

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Photo Story: Holi festival celebrations at Central University of Himachal Pradesh

College students are smeared with colours during the Holi festival celebrations at Central University in Dharamshala, India, 09 March 2020. The Holi festival is celebrated on the full moon day…

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Photo Story: Sanitizing Gate used to fight coronavirus outbreak in Thailand

A woman wearing a protective mask walks through a 'Sanitizing Gate' at the entrance to a shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand, 09 March 2020. In order to combat the coronavirus…

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Photo Story: China turns to hi-tech to fight coronavirus

A police security robot drives on a sidewalk near the high-speed railway station in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China. The security robot warns people if they are not wearing masks, checks…

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North Korea fires three more projectiles into sea

North Korea launched multiple short-range projectiles into the sea on Monday as part of ongoing firing drills, a week after it resumed missile tests following a three-month break, South Korea’s…

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Founder of India’s fifth-biggest private sector bank arrested

The founder of Yes Bank, Rana Kapoor, was arrested on Sunday on allegations of money laundering, after being questioned for over 20 hours by Indian authorities. "He has been arrested…

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Photo Story: Infant saved from quarantine hotel building collapses in China

Rescuers carry out an injured infant from the collapsed six-floor hotel building in Quanzhou city in southeast China's Fujian province, 08 March 2020. Ten people have been found dead and…

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Photo Story: The miracle of life amid coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, China

A midwife shows a new-born to the present medical workers after a C-section operation on a suspected COVID-19 patient at Wuhan Union Hospital in Wuhan , Hubei province, China,…

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30 still trapped as Hotel used to Quarantine people collapses in China – Update

About 30 people remained trapped early on Sunday after a five-storey hotel being used for coronavirus quarantine collapsed in the southeast Chinese port city of Quanzhou, state media said. About…

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Chinese firm Xiaomi donates thousands of masks to Italy

Xiaomi has donated supplies, including tens of thousands of masks, to Italy during this difficult time. We entered the market less than two years ago and have continuously felt love…

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Photo Story: Kabul attack kills 27 persons

The death toll in an attack on a ceremony in Kabul rose to 27, a ministry of health spokesman said on Friday. Gunmen attacked a ceremony in the Afghan capital…

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Thailand turns away Costa cruise ship with 64 Italians

The Costa Fortuna cruise ship carrying 64 Italian passengers on board has not been allowed to dock in Phuket in Thailand over concerned linked to coronavirus, Costa cruise company said…

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War crimes investigation into US forces in Afghanistan can go ahead, ICC rules

An investigation into alleged war crimes by US and others in the Afghanistan war can go ahead, the International Criminal Court has ruled (ICC). The US invaded Afghanistan in 2001…

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Photo Story: Philippines police chief survives helicopter crash

The wreckage of the Bell 429 helicopter, carrying Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Archie Gamboa, lies on a road after a crash in San Pedro city, Laguna province, Philippines,…

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China approves use of Roche arthritis drug for coronavirus patients

China will use a Roche Holding AG arthritis drug to treat some coronavirus patients in severe conditions, health authorities said on Wednesday, as the country seeks to build up treatment…

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Drug shortage fears as India limits exports

There are fears of global shortages of some common drugs after India limited the export of certain medicines due to the coronavirus. The world's biggest supplier of generic drugs has…

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Chinese Medical Association states coronavirus median incubation period 5-7 days, maximum 14

The median incubation period of the new coronavirus is five to seven days and the maximum 14 days, Du Bin, Chairman of the Critical Care Medical Branch of the Chinese…

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US conducts first airstrike on Taliban since peace deal

The US military on Wednesday said it had conducted an airstrike against Taliban forces, just days after signing a historic peace deal with the militant group. In a tweet,…

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Indonesia’s Mount Merapi Volcano erupts

Indonesia's Mount Merapi volcano erupted on Tuesday morning, sending a 6-km (3.7 mile) column of ash into the air and triggering the closure of the airport in the nearby city…

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China concerned over possible locust invasion

China could face a desert locust invasion, a government body warned on Monday, urging local authorities to prepare for the possible arrival of the voracious insects from neighboring Pakistan and…

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Photo Story: Armed suspect takes hostages inside mall in the Philippines

Filipino elite Police Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) personnel take position at the entrance to a shopping mall following a shooting incident in San Juan City, Philippines, 02 March 2020.…

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North Korea fires two projectiles off east coast into sea

North Korea fired two unidentified projectiles off the east coast into the sea on Monday, South Korea’s defense ministry said. The ministry did not provide details of the projectiles…

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Samsung Electronics closes one of its South Korea factories

Samsung Electronics has closed one of its factories in South Korea, according to Yonhap news agency. The mobile device factory in Gumni, near Davey, was closed after a worker tested positive…

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Satellite images show how pollution cleared over China following Coronavirus outbreak

Satellite images from NASA show how pollution has cleared over China as the coronavirus outbreak keeps people indoors and factories are forced to close. NASA and the European Space Agency used…

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Trump announces travel restrictions and warnings for US citizens including Italy, Iran and South Korea

In a rare televised news conference from the White House on Saturday, President Donald Trump said the risk to Americans from coronavirus remains low and that he would meet with…

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North Korea takes hard-line approach to coronavirus threat

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw military drills on Friday, state media KCNA said, a rare public outing amid efforts to prevent an outbreak of the coronavirus in the…

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US and Taliban sign peace agreement ending 18-year war in Afghanistan

The United States signed a peace agreement with Taliban militants on Saturday aimed at bringing an end to 18 years of bloodshed in Afghanistan and allowing U.S. troops to return…

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Photo Story: Cobra Gold 2020 military exercise in Thailand

US Marines take position during amphibious assault training as part of the Cobra Gold 2020 joint military exercise at a military base in Sattahip, Chonburi province, Thailand. Cobra Gold is…

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Taliban orders halt to attacks in Afghanistan ahead of U.S. agreement

The Taliban ordered all its fighters “to refrain from any kind of attack” on Saturday ahead of the signing of an agreement with the U.S. diplomats aimed at bringing peace…

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Photo Story: Volunteers in China provide healthcare to non-COVID-19 patients

A woman gives birth to a baby girl, with the help of a midwife at the Maternal and Child Hospital of Hubei Province in Wuhan, Hubei province, China. A group…

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Japan to temporarily close all schools

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says he will ask all elementary and high schools across the country to temporarily close beginning Monday. The development comes after a man in his…

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India’s Modi appeals for calm after deadly clashes

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed for calm after days of clashes between Hindus and minority Muslims over a controversial citizenship law in some of the worst sectarian violence in…

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Coronavirus confirmed in Japanese woman for second time, after initial recovery

A Japanese woman working as a tour-bus guide in Japan has tested positive for the coronavirus for a second time, Osaka's prefectural government said, the first known person in the…

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Coronavirus infects US soldier for first time

A U.S. soldier stationed in South Korea has tested positive for the coronavirus and is in self-quarantine at his residence off base, the military said Tuesday. The 23-year-old is based…

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Ten killed, 150 injured in clashes in India

Ten people have been killed and over 150 injured in clashes between opposing groups of protesters in New Delhi, police said on Tuesday, riots that overshadowed U.S. President Donald Trump's…

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EU co-finances the delivery of more protective equipment to China

The European Commission is co-financing the delivery of more than 25 tonnes of personal protective equipment to China after the EU Civil Protection Mechanism was activated. Janez Lenarčič, Commissioner for Crisis…

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Malaysia’s Mahathir submits resignation

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad announced his resignation on Monday, according to reports, paving the way for a possible formation of a new government. Two sources with direct knowledge of…

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Trump begins first official trip in India

US President Donald Trump on Monday arrived for his first official trip of India with a focus on deepening ties between the world's two largest democracies. Mr Trump arrived in…

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South Korea raises virus alert level to ‘highest’ as cases surge

South Korea is raising its alert on the new coronavirus to the “highest level”, President Moon Jae-in said Sunday, as the country reported 123 new infections. South Korea has seen…

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5.1 Earthquake reported in China

No casualties have been reported so far as a 5.1-magnitude earthquake jolted Jiashi County in Kashgar Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, at 11:39 p.m. Friday.Tremors were felt in…

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Two passengers who were quarantined on the Diamond Princess cruise ship died

Two passengers who were on the cruise ship quarantined because of the coronavirus have died, according to a report. They were a man and a woman in their 80s, Japanese…

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Australia’s former PM says Malaysia believed pilot downed MH370 jet in murder-suicide

MH370 flight, which went missing in March 2014 with 239 people on board, was downed by the pilot in a murder-suicide plot. The Beijing bound Malaysia Airlines jet went missing on…

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Parallel governments in Afghanistan as both presidential candidates say they won

Afghan presidential election challenger Abdullah Abdullah contested results that declared incumbent President Ashraf Ghani the winner of a September presidential poll, vowing to form a parallel government. "Our team, based…

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Passengers and crew leave Diamond Princess as quarantine ends

Hundreds of people who have been stuck on board a coronavirus-hit cruise ship for two weeks are being allowed to disembark. The ship is currently moored off the coast of…

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Armed gang in Hong Kong steals toilet rolls amid coronavirus scare

Armed robbers who stole hundreds of toilet rolls were being hunted by Hong Kong police on Monday, in a city wracked by shortages caused by coronavirus panic-buying. Toilet rolls have…

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Photo story: The 2020 Taiwan Lantern Festival

People walk part a lantern figure during the 2020 Taiwan Lantern Festival in Taichung City, Taiwan, 16 February 2020. Many Taiwan cities are holding Lantern Festival as part of the…

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Emperor’s birthday event cancelled due to COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak

The Japanese Imperial Household Agency announced it has cancelled a birthday public appearance for Emperor Naruhito at the Imperial Palace scheduled on 23 February 2020 due to the COVID-19 coronavirus…

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Japan’s economy shrinks at fastest rate since 2014

Japan's economy shrank at the fastest rate in five years at the end of 2019 as it was hit by a sales tax rise, a major typhoon and weak global…

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“United by Emotion” revealed as Tokyo Olympic Games’ motto

United by Emotion" has been revealed as the motto for this summer's Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, the games organizing committee said Monday. A committee comprised of former athletes and others…

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China has quarantined used bank notes to contain the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus

China has quarantined used bank notes to contain the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, the Chinese central bank announced on Saturday. Notes will be disinfected with X-rays or high temperatures…

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Thailand reports one new case of coronavirus

Thailand has recorded one new case of coronavirus, bringing the total in the country to 34 since January, a health ministry official said on Saturday. The new case is a…

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US and Taliban agree to truce in Afghanistan

The United States and the Taliban have agreed to a temporary truce that, if successful, would open the way for a deal that would bring American troops home from Afghanistan…

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Photo Story: Endangered sea eagle spotted in South Korea

An endangered white-tailed sea eagle, an endangered species, catches a fish on the Namdaecheon Stream in Gangneung, South Korea, 14 February 2020. The white-tailed eagle is a very large species…

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