Tag: Asia
The Latest: US opens more distance in worldwide vaccine race
NEW YORK — In the coronavirus vaccine race, the U.S. is opening more distance between itself and much of the rest of the world....
US stocks rise to records on more proof of economic recovery
U.S. stocks are rallying toward records on Thursday after a suite of encouraging data showed how hungry Americans are to spend again, how fewer...
US expels Russian diplomats, imposes sanctions for hacking
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Thursday announced the U.S. is expelling 10 Russian diplomats and imposing sanctions against dozens of companies and...
Biden to host South Korea’s president in late May
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will host South Korean President Moon Jae-in for meetings in the second half of May, the White House...
India’s biggest cities shut down as new virus cases hit 200K
NEW DELHI (AP) — India's two largest cities imposed stringent restrictions on movement and one planned to use hotels and banquet halls to treat...
Africa CDC urges India to lift COVID vaccine export limits
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Africa's top health official said Thursday he wants to believe that India will lift export restrictions on COVID-19 vaccines as...
France asks citizens to leave Pakistan amid violent protests
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — The French embassy in Pakistan on Thursday advised all of its nationals and companies to temporarily leave the country after...
Blinken in Afghanistan to sell Biden troop withdrawal
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan on Thursday to sell Afghan leaders and a...
Lawyer: 290 relatives file for compensation in MH-17 downing
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A lawyer for relatives of people killed in the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over eastern Ukraine...
Ousted Myanmar ambassador appeals for UK government help
LONDON (AP) — The ousted Myanmar ambassador to Britain has appealed to the British government to help him as he faced eviction from his...
Officials say Olympic cancellation, no fans still an option
TOKYO (AP) — Two officials in Japan's ruling LDP party on Thursday said changes could be coming to the Tokyo Olympics. One suggested they...
Ambassador: UAE played part in India-Pakistan cease-fire
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United Arab Emirates played a role in getting longtime Asian rivals India and Pakistan to agree to...
Chipmaker TSMC says profit up 16.7% as demand revives
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., the world’s biggest contract manufacturer of processor chips, said Thursday quarterly profit rose 16.7% over a...
Bangkok nightlife clusters expose Thailand’s virus stumbles
BANGKOK (AP) — When Thailand's transport minister was recently diagnosed with COVID-19, it was Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha who got a headache.
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Asian stock markets mixed after Wall St retreats from record
BEIJING (AP) — Asian stock markets were mixed Thursday after Wall Street retreated from a record high as major banks reported strong profits at...
Biden’s gamble: Will pulling troops revive extremist threat?
BRUSSELS (AP) — At its start, America’s war in Afghanistan was about retribution for 9/11. Then it was about shoring up a weak government...
Myanmar charges doctors over civil disobedience protests
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Myanmar's ruling junta has charged at least 19 medical doctors for participating in civil disobedience protests against the military's Feb....
Biden to pull US troops from Afghanistan, end ‘forever war’
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Wednesday he will withdraw remaining U.S. troops from the "forever war” in Afghanistan, declaring that the Sept....
NATO to match US troop pullout from Afghanistan
BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg says the alliance has agreed to withdraw its roughly 7,000 non-American forces from Afghanistan to match U.S....
Ralph Lauren unveils crisp white Team USA Olympic uniforms
NEW YORK (AP) — With a crisp white graphic look and roomy pockets, the uniforms to be worn by Team USA at the closing...
India’s worst-hit state imposes strict virus restrictions
MUMBAI (AP) — India's worst-hit and richest state Maharashtra will impose stricter restrictions for 15 days on Wednesday in an effort to stem the...
Japan’s Toshiba president steps down amid acquisition talks
TOKYO (AP) — The president of Toshiba Corp. stepped down Wednesday, a week after the Japanese technology and manufacturing giant said it was studying...
Asian stock markets advance after new Wall St high
BEIJING (AP) — Asian stock markets rose Wednesday after Wall Street hit a high following an uptick in U.S. inflation and an order by...
China-drafted electoral reform bill introduced in Hong Kong
HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong’s electoral reform bill was introduced in the city’s legislature on Wednesday, setting in motion changes that will give...
100 Days: Tokyo Olympics marked by footnotes and asterisks
TOKYO (AP) — Tokyo pitched itself as "a safe pair of hands” when it was awarded the Olympics 7 1/2 years ago.
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Pakistan forces try to clear sit-ins by protesting Islamists
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistani security forces swinging batons and firing teargas moved before dawn Wednesday to clear sit-ins by protesting Islamists in the...
New Zealand bans live cow exports due to welfare concerns
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand announced Wednesday it is banning the export of live cows and other farm animals by sea due...
White House: First lady Jill Biden to undergo ‘procedure’
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says President Joe Biden will accompany his wife, Jill Biden, early Wednesday morning to an appointment where she...
Kerry heads to China for climate talk between top 2 emitters
U.S. climate envoy John Kerry is heading to China for talks between the world's two biggest carbon emitters ahead of President Joe Biden's climate...
“Sour Grapes” wine fraud con man deported to Indonesia
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A one-time California man who bilked wine collectors out of millions by selling cheaper booze he rebottled in his kitchen...
US to withdraw all troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on...
Hong Kong’s delayed legislative elections set for December
HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said Tuesday that the semiautonomous Chinese territory's legislative elections will take place in December, more...
The Latest: Governor bans vaccine passports for Montana
HELENA, Mont. — Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte has issued an executive order banning the development or use of vaccine passports in Montana.
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Column: Matsuyama goes from inspiration to Masters champion
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — The idea was to create golfing heroes, not necessarily a Masters champion.
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US intel report: Virus impact to cause global ‘aftershocks’
WASHINGTON (AP) — The effects of the coronavirus pandemic are expected to contribute over the next year to “humanitarian and economic crises, political unrest,...
Muslims mark Ramadan amid virus surge and new restrictions
MECCA, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Muslims in many parts of the world marked the start of Ramadan on Tuesday, but a spike in coronavirus...
Austin: US adds 500 troops in Germany, despite Trump pledge
BERLIN (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on Tuesday that he is expanding the U.S. military presence in Germany by 500 troops and...
Artist gives nature a `cosmic’ twist in big NY garden show
An expansive new show featuring works by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, famous for mesmerizing polka dots, speckled pumpkins and fascination with the natural world,...
Grab to list in US via $40 bln merger with Altimeter Growth
HONG KONG (AP) — Southeast Asia’s largest ride-hailing company, Grab Holdings, said Tuesday that it plans to merge with U.S.-based Altimeter Growth Capital in...
Japan to start releasing Fukushima water into sea in 2 years
TOKYO (AP) — Japan's government announced Tuesday it would start releasing treated radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean...
Pentagon chief on inaugural tour of Europe to shore up ties
BERLIN (AP) — Nearly a year after President Donald Trump ordered thousands of troops to leave Germany, capping a series of setbacks for U.S....
5 miners die, 4 missing in coal mine collapse in Afghanistan
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A makeshift coal mine collapsed Tuesday in northern Afghanistan, burying five miners and leaving four more missing, a provincial security...
China’s March exports rise 30.6% as global demand revives
BEIJING (AP) — China’s exports rose 30.6% over a year ago in March as global consumer demand strengthened and traders watched for signs of...
India to approve coronavirus shots green-lit by WHO, others
NEW DELHI (AP) — India said Tuesday that it will approve the use of all coronavirus vaccines that have been given an emergency nod...
India reels amid virus surge, affecting world vaccine supply
NEW DELHI (AP) — The Indian city of Pune is running out of ventilators as gasping coronavirus patients crowd its hospitals. Social media is...
Olympic torch runs through empty park in Osaka as cases rise
TOKYO (AP) — The torch relay for the Tokyo Olympics ran through a mostly empty Osaka city park on Tuesday, showing the risks of...
The Latest: Australia has 2nd likely Astra-Zeneca clot case
CANBERRA, Australia — Australian authorities have identified a second case of a rare blot clot likely linked to the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine.
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Late president’s book outlines vision for Japan’s Nintendo
TOKYO (AP) — Nintendo’s late president Satoru Iwata oversaw the video-game maker’s global growth as Super Mario and Pokemon became household names.
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Altered photos of Cambodian torture victims stir controversy
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodians on Monday continued to condemn an Irish photo restorer for altering photographs of victims of their country’s 1970s...
Pentagon chief on inaugural tour of Europe to shore up ties
BERLIN (AP) — Nearly a year after President Donald Trump ordered thousands of troops to leave Germany, capping a series of setbacks for U.S....
Taliban not ready to meet Afghan govt in Turkey as US wants
ISLAMABAD (AP) — A Taliban spokesman said Monday the religious militia won’t attend a peace conference tentatively planned for later this week in Turkey,...
Muslims navigate restrictions in the second pandemic Ramadan
CAIRO (AP) — For Ramadan this year, Magdy Hafez has been longing to reclaim a cherished ritual: performing the nighttime group prayers called taraweeh...
Asia Today: India records another surge in COVID-19 cases
NEW DELHI (AP) — India reported another record daily surge in coronavirus infections Monday to pass Brazil as the country with the second-most reported...
Small but quick: Bhutan vaccinates 93% of adults in 16 days
THIMPU, Bhutan (AP) — When plotted on a graph, the curve of Bhutan’s COVID-19 vaccination drive shoots upwards from the very first day, crossing...
Chinese regulator orders Ant Group to conduct major overhaul
HONG KONG (AP) — Chinese regulators have ordered Ant Group, a financial affiliate of e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding, to become a financial holding...
Blinken heads to Brussels for talks on Afghanistan, Ukraine
WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Antony Blinken is heading to Brussels for talks with European and NATO allies about Afghanistan, Ukraine and other...
Pakistan’s iconic human rights defender I.A. Rehman dies
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — An iconic Pakistani human rights defender and journalist I.A. Rehman has died in the eastern city of Lahore after a...
Tokyo adopts tougher virus rules, starts vaccinating elders
TOKYO (AP) — Tokyo adopted tougher measures against the coronavirus Monday as Japanese authorities struggle to curb the spread of a more contagious variant...
Huawei, HSBC agree on document deal for extradition case
HONG KONG (AP) — Chinese telecommunications equipment firm Huawei said Monday that it has reached an agreement with HSBC in Hong Kong to obtain...
Huge gatherings at India’s Hindu festival as virus surges
NEW DELHI (AP) — Tens of thousands of Hindu devotees gathered by the Ganges River for special prayers Monday, many of them flouting social...
Japan’s champion: Matsuyama wins the Masters for his nation
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Hideki Matsuyama almost turned down his first chance to play the Masters. It was a month after a devastating earthquake...
Prime minister leads celebrations of Matsuyama’s Masters win
TOKYO (AP) — Led by Japan's prime minister, the country celebrated golfer Hideki Matsuyama's victory in the Masters — the first Japanese player to...
Top Chinese official admits vaccines have low effectiveness
BEIJING (AP) — China’s top disease control official, in a rare acknowledgement, said current vaccines offer low protection against the coronavirus and mixing them...
Asian shares decline on vaccine, virus worries
BANGKOK (AP) — Asian shares were lower on Monday, as investors grew wary over the recent surge in coronavirus cases in many places while...
Matsuyama becomes first Japanese in Masters green jacket
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — The pressure was even more than Hideki Matsuyama could have imagined when he stood on the first tee Sunday at...
The Latest: Matsuyama hopes to be pioneer for Japanese golf
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — The Latest on the Masters, the first golf major of the year (all times EDT):
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The Latest: Michigan pushing for more vaccines amid spike
DETROIT — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer vowed to keep pushing the White House for more COVID-19 vaccines as the state experiences a spike in...
Kyrgyzstan approves constitution boosting president’s power
MOSCOW (AP) — Kyrgyzstan’s national elections commission says voters have overwhelmingly approved a new constitution that substantially increases the president’s powers.
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Thailand hits new daily record with nearly 1,000 virus cases
BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand’s Health Ministry warned Sunday that restrictions may need to be tightened to slow the spread of a fresh coronavirus wave,...
Online grocery Weee’s Larry Liu on delivering in a pandemic
Virtual grocery...
Report: Hotel will house Olympic athletes with COVID-19
TOKYO (AP) — Athletes at the Tokyo Olympics who come down with minor symptoms of COVID-19 could be isolated in a hotel lined up...
8 dead, dozens hurt as Indonesia quake shakes East Java
MALANG, Indonesia (AP) — A strong earthquake on Indonesia's main island of Java killed eight people, including a woman whose motorcycle was hit by...
21 Chinese coal miners trapped by underground flood
BEIJING (AP) — Rescuers on Sunday were trying to reach 21 coal miners who were trapped by an underground flood in China's northwest, a...
Reports: Myanmar forces kill 82 in single day in city
YANGON (AP) — At least 82 people were killed in one day in a crackdown by Myanmar security forces on pro-democracy protesters, according to...
US-Philippines officials discuss concerns over China’s ships
ABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday discussed with his Philippine counterpart China’s recent positioning of “militia vessels”...
A masterpiece from Hideki Matsuyama to take Masters lead
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — The storms that stopped play for a little more than hour Saturday at the Masters were expected. The masterpiece delivered...
The Latest: Lawmakers aim to limit state emergency powers
NEW YORK — State lawmakers across the U.S. are taking actions to limit the emergency powers of governors — not just in the current...
John Naisbitt, author of bestseller ‘Megatrends,’ dies at 92
BERLIN (AP) — The American author John Naisbitt, whose 1982 bestselling book “Megatrends” was published in dozens of countries, has died. He was 92.
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Kyrgyzstan votes on constitution boosting president’s powers
MOSCOW (AP) — Voters in Kyrgyzstan will cast ballots Sunday on whether to approve a new constitution that would substantially increase the president’s powers...
The Latest: Tweet recalls queen’s loving anniversary speech
Events and reaction from around the world to mark the death of Prince Philip at age 99:
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Alibaba fined $2.8 billion on competition charge in China
BEIJING (AP) — Alibaba Group, the world’s biggest e-commerce company, was fined 18.3 billion yuan ($2.8 billion) by Chinese regulators on Saturday for anti-competitive...
Stalled at first jab: Vaccine shortages hit poor countries
LONDON (AP) — As many as 60 countries, including some of the world’s poorest, might be stalled at the first shots of their coronavirus...
US unveils new rules for government contacts with Taiwan
WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department on Friday unveiled new rules for U.S. government contacts with Taiwan that are likely to anger China but...
The Latest: Australia mourns Prince Philip
Reaction from around the world on the death of Prince Philip at age 99:
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The Latest: Navajo Nation issues weekend stay-at-home order
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. -- The Navajo Nation has issued a stay-at-home order for the weekend after reporting 26 more confirmed COVID-19 cases.
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Thailand faces growing outbreak ahead of New Year travel
BANGKOK (AP) — Thai authorities struggled to contain a growing coronavirus outbreak just days before the country's traditional Songkran New Year’s holiday, when millions...
Myanmar junta attacks again as spokesman defends crackdown
YANGON (AP) — Security forces in Myanmar cracked down heavily again on anti-coup protesters Friday even as the military downplayed reports of state violence.
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The Latest: US 7th Fleet: 14,000 personnel fully vaccinated
PHILIPPINE SEA — The U.S. 7th Fleet that operates throughout the Indo-Pacific says more than 14,000 of its service members have received their full...
Countries worldwide hit new records for virus cases, deaths
Ambulances filled with breathless patients lined up in Brazil as nations around the world set new records Thursday for COVID-19 deaths and new coronavirus...
Positive atmosphere, little progress in Iran nuclear talks
BERLIN (AP) — Nascent talks aimed at bringing the United States back into the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran broke Friday without any immediate...
No region in the world spared as virus cases, deaths surge
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Hospitals in Turkey and Poland are filling up. Pakistan is restricting domestic travel. The U.S. government will send more help...
Japan imposes new virus measures in Tokyo ahead of Olympics
TOKYO (AP) — Japan announced Friday that it will raise the coronavirus alert level in Tokyo to allow tougher measures to curb the rapid...
US envoy Kerry discusses climate challenges in Bangladesh
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — John Kerry, the special U.S. envoy on climate, said Friday that President Joe Biden is eager to work with Bangladesh...
Japan to announce Fukushima water release into sea soon
TOKYO (AP) — The Japanese government has decided to dispose of massive amounts of treated but still radioactive water stored in tanks at the...
American, Russians dock at International Space Station
MOSCOW (AP) — A trio of Russian and American space travelers launched successfully and reached the International Space Station on Friday.
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Iran frees South Korean ship it held amid dispute over funds
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A South Korean oil tanker held for months by Iran amid a dispute over billions of dollars seized...
US sanctions on Myanmar gems target key junta funding source
BANGKOK (AP) — The latest U.S. sanctions on Myanmar target an army-controlled gems business rife with corruption and abuses that is one of the...
Kim compares North Korea’s economic woes to 1990s famine
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for waging another “arduous march” to fight severe economic difficulties, for...
Chipmaker TSMC says revenue up 16.7% as demand surges
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., the world’s biggest contract producer of processor chips, said Friday its revenue rose 16.7% in the...
China report accuses US of causing humanitarian disasters
BEIJING (AP) — China accused the U.S. of causing humanitarian disasters through foreign military interventions in a report Friday that was the latest broadside...
