Southeast Asia

China reports drop in new imported coronavirus cases, no local transmissions

Mainland China reported a drop in new confirmed coronavirus cases as imported infections fell and no locally transmitted infections are reported, including in central Hubei province, the epicentre of the outbreak in China.
WHO calls for urgent, aggressive actions as coronavirus cases soar in Southeast Asia region

The World Health Organization (WHO) calls on Southeast Asian countries, including Bangladesh, to urgently scale-up aggressive measures to combat Covid-19, as confirmed cases crossed 480, and the disease claimed eight lives in the region.
Thailand cancels on-arrival visa for 18 countries

Thailand cancels 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 said.
Section 144 imposed in Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh

Delhi Police deploy forces and imposed Section 144 in Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh area which has been the epicentre of the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) agitation, as protesters have been sitting on the road since December 15 demanding the withdrawal of the act.
South Korea virus cases surge as WHO sounds maximum alert

South Korea reports its biggest surge in new coronavirus cases as concerns grow of a possible epidemic in the United States and the World Health Organization raises its risk alert to its highest level.
Capable people, not party reps: Mahathir’s plans for new government

Malaysia’s Interim Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad reveals his plan for the new government, saying that he wants a cabinet comprising capable individuals and not just party loyalists.
Coronavirus Outbreak in South Korea: Samsung confirms case at phone factory

Samsung Electronics says that one coronavirus case had been confirmed at its mobile device factory complex in the southeastern city of Gumi, causing a shutdown of its entire facility there until Monday morning.
Cruise ship shunned over coronavirus fears arrives in Cambodia

A cruise ship that spent two weeks at sea after being turned away by five countries over fears that someone aboard might have the coronavirus arrived in Cambodia on Thursday, to the relief of passengers and praise from global health officials.
17 Chinese sailors stuck in Sitakunda for days to return home tonight

Seventeen Chinese sailors, who were stuck in a ship docked at Sitakunda coast for five days, are set to return to their country tonight on a flight departing from Shah Amanat International Airport in the capital, reports our Chattogram correspondent.
Coronavirus death toll passes 1,000 in China

The death toll from the coronavirus outbreak in mainland China passes 1,000 people, health authorities announces.
China to allow in US health experts as virus shows no sign of slowing

China has agreed to allow US health experts into the country as part of a World Health Organization (WHO) effort to help fight the fast-spreading coronavirus, as the number of cases and deaths continued to mount.
US to evacuate citizens from Wuhan, China

The United States is arranging a charter flight tomorrow to bring its citizens and diplomats back from the Chinese city of Wuhan, epicentre of the outbreak of a new coronavirus, the Wall Stree Journal reports.
Asia steps up defences as China virus hits 291 people, kills 6

Asian countries ramps d up measures to block the spread of a new virus as the death toll from it in China rose to six and the number of cases jumped to almost 300, raising concerns in the middle of a major holiday travel rush.
Myanmar appointed panel finds no 'genocide' against Rohingya

A government-appointed panel established in Myanmar to probe allegations of abuses in Rakhine state in 2017 that drew global outrage says they had found no evidence of genocide against the Rohingya Muslim minority.
Computer viruses cause US$902m in damage to Vietnamese users

Computer viruses caused estimated losses of US$902 million to Vietnamese users last year, much higher than in 2018, reports Bkav Technology Group.
Risking lives to rescue horses in Philippine

The horses were still caked in grey ash as they stepped off the boat, lucky beneficiaries of a risky rescue mission to ground zero of the Philippines' Taal volcano eruption.
Malaysia mulls 'zero-cost recruitment' deal with Bangladesh

Human Resources Minister M Kula Segaran today indicated that Malaysia is aiming to reach a "zero-cost recruitment" agreement for migrant workers from Bangladesh as part of efforts to avoid risking US trade sanctions.
UN condemns human rights abuses against Myanmar’s Rohingya

The UN General Assembly approves a resolution strongly condemning human rights abuses against Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslims and other minorities, including arbitrary arrests, torture, rape and deaths in detention.
Boat carrying 64 including Bangladeshis sinks in Turkey; 7 dead

Seven people died and 64 were rescued when a boat carrying migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan sank on Thursday in eastern Turkey's Lake Van, the governor's office in Bitlis province says.
Rohingya Repatriation: Russia urged to put pressure on Myanmar

Bangladesh has urged Russia to use its influence on Myanmar and put pressure so that Naypyidaw takes back its people currently living in Cox's Bazar camps.
Afghanistan and Pakistan jolted by strong 6.1 quake: USGS

A strong earthquake rattled Afghanistan and Pakistan, the US Geological Survey says, forcing residents into the streets in Kabul and Islamabad.
Musharraf gets death sentence

In a first in Pakistan's history, a three-member bench of the special court in Islamabad hands former military ruler Pervez Musharraf death sentence in the long-drawn high treason case against him.
Citizenship law: Fresh violence breaks out in West Bengal

Sporadic violence breaks out in Nadia, North 24 Parganas and Howrah districts of India’s West Bengal state where protest grew against the amended Citizenship Act, police say.
Violence erupts in West Bengal over new citizenship law

Arson and violent protest erupt in parts of West Bengal for the second consecutive day of the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act.
Myanmar asks UN court to ‘drop genocide case’

Myanmar urges the UN top court to drop the application for provisional measures in Rakhine by the Gambia from its list.
Gambia slams Suu Kyi for her silence

The Gambia criticises Myanmar civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi for her "silence" over "awe serial violations" of Rohingya women and girls and defending Myanmar at the UN's top court.
Remove hatred from your heart: Rights bodies to Suu Kyi

Different international rights bodies condemn Aung San Suu Kyi’s argument in social media as the Myanmar leader ruled out the allegation of ongoing genocide at Rohingya villages in Rakhine.
Genocidal intent there for decades, experts say

Denial of Rohingya citizenship, systematic deprivation and violation of basic rights by the Myanmar authorities over the decades were not mentioned by any of the lawyers at the ICJ – making their arguments weak that there was no genocidal intent, analysts say.
95 Rohingyas in Myanmar face jail as Hague hears 'genocide' case

Nearly 100 Rohingya appeared in a Myanmar court Wednesday after being arrested for trying to flee persecution, their lawyer said, as leader Aung San Suu Kyi addressed the UN's top court to deny allegations of a genocidal campaign against the ethnic minority.
Muslims not part of conflict in Rakhine: Suu Kyi

Refuting the allegation of the ongoing genocide against Rohingyas in Rakhine, Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi tells the UN’s highest court that Muslims are not part of the conflict.