Asia

Philippines cancels ‘Black Nazarene’ parade as COVID-19 pandemic lingers
14Nov By Desk TeamNo Comments
Asia, World

Philippines cancels ‘Black Nazarene’ parade as COVID-19 pandemic lingers

MANILA: The Philippine capital Manila on Friday (Oct 23) cancelled an annual procession of a centuries-old black wooden statue of Jesus Christ that draws millions of Roman Catholic devotees as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to afflict the country. The Philippines, renowned for its colourful religious rituals, has the second-highest number of coronavirus infections and deaths in Southeast Asia behind Indonesia. "The grand procession of the life-sized image of the Black Nazarene in January 2021 has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic," the city government of Manila said in a statement. Youth devotees prepare a replica of Black Nazarene statue as they take part in the annual procession to celebrate a feast day at a main road in Manila, Philippines. Jan 8, 2020. (Photo: Reuters...
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Japan should brace for ‘leaderless era’ as U.S. turns inward, Suga adviser says
14Nov By Desk TeamNo Comments
Asia, China, USA, World

Japan should brace for ‘leaderless era’ as U.S. turns inward, Suga adviser says

A prominent economic adviser to the prime minister says Tokyo should prepare for a “leaderless era” as U.S. global leadership gradually withers, and expand other strategic ties while bolstering its security alliance with Washington. The prime minister, Yoshihide Suga, wasted little time in congratulating U.S. President-elect Joe Biden on last week’s election win over incumbent Donald Trump, despite the latter’s refusal to concede, saying he wanted to strengthen the alliance and ensure peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. But concerns about America’s inward turn have simmered in Japan for years, intensifying in the face of China’s growing military and economic assertiveness and persisting during the Trump presidency despite comparatively warm ties between the outgoing U.S. lea...
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Australia may open borders to Asia as it records third day without local COVID-19 case
14Nov By Desk TeamNo Comments
Asia, China, Singapore, World

Australia may open borders to Asia as it records third day without local COVID-19 case

SYDNEY: Australia is considering opening its borders to Asian countries, including parts of China, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Tuesday (Nov 10), as Canberra seeks to revive an economy ravaged by COVID-19. Australia in March shut its borders to all non-citizens and permanent residents, though in October, Canberra allowed New Zealand residents to enter. Internal travel is limited, although those restrictions are scheduled to be removed by the end of the year. Morrison ruled out entry from the United States or Europe, but said Australia may allow people from low-risk places such as Taiwan, Japan, Singapore and even provinces in China. "We ... are looking at what alternative arrangements could be had to channel visitors through appropriate quarantine arrangements for low-risk ...
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Indian researchers find new mutation in Covid genome for testing
13Nov mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

Indian researchers find new mutation in Covid genome for testing

In Indian state of Karnataka’s Nitte University, a team of researchers have found a new mutation in the Covid-19 genome for testing its virus strain, a top varsity official said on Wednesday."The novel mutation will have implications for the diagnostic RT-PCR-based detection of the Covid-19 virus, which uses screening test," said Nitte senior director Iddya Karunasagar.In a paper submitted for publication in the Elsevier Journal "Virus Research", researchers at Nitte said they detected partial deletions in the gene encoding the viral envelope protein (E-gene) in the genomes across Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, New Delhi and Odisha.The research was initiated after Anusha Rohit of tertiary care hospital Madras Medical Mission in Chennai alerted the Nitte team on the observation of ...
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Malaysia says aviation firms may need three years to recover from COVID-19
12Nov By Desk TeamNo Comments
Asia, Market, Singapore, World

Malaysia says aviation firms may need three years to recover from COVID-19

KUALA LUMPUR: Airlines in Malaysia could take three years to bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic, depending on the outbreak in the country and abroad, the transport ministry said. Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong said earlier this week that in the Malaysian Aviation Commission's (MAVCOM) revised projections for passenger traffic this year, it expects passenger numbers to shrink as much as 75.6 per cent to 26.6 million, compared with the 109.2 million passengers recorded in 2019. "In this regard, airlines are expected to need a period of three years to fully recover the situation from the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, subject to the of the outbreak in the country and abroad," Wee said in a written parliamentary reply dated Monday (Nov 9). Airlines globally have taken a hit from ...
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J&K: Advanced research centre playing vital role in saffron cultivation
11Nov mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

J&K: Advanced research centre playing vital role in saffron cultivation

In the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, an advanced research Centre at Dussu area of Pampore district is playing a vital role in boosting the cultivation of saffron.“From irrigation to fertilizers, the research center has provided assistance to saffron growers, farmers are also cooperating with the center to boost the cultivation,” said a saffron grower, Syed Mohiud-din Amin.“Earlier, we were doing traditional farming, now they have introduced us with new technology, the farmers have also adapted it, said another saffron grower, Abdul Majeed.Under the National Saffron Mission (NSM) of the central government, the Advance Research Station For Saffron & Seed Spices was established by Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) a few ...
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Maryam Nawaz says Pakistan PM Imran Khan, his party is like Coronavirus
11Nov mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia, World

Maryam Nawaz says Pakistan PM Imran Khan, his party is like Coronavirus

In a scathing attack on Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice president Maryam Nawaz Sharif, on Monday, likened coronavirus to the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and Prime Minister Imran Khan."The disease called COVID-19 came to the world recently, but it had already spread in Pakistan in 2018," she said while addressing a public gathering in Gupis, Gilgit-Baltistan.She further said that this disease does not go away by wearing masks, and has to be thrown out.The daughter of former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is on a seven-day election campaign ahead of the Gilgit-Baltistan elections scheduled for November 15, said it "pained her to take the name of a person like Imran".She added that Khan and his party of 'turncoats' is the nam...
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Malaysia reports daily high of 869 new COVID-19 cases, 4 more deaths
8Nov By Desk TeamNo Comments
Asia, World

Malaysia reports daily high of 869 new COVID-19 cases, 4 more deaths

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia reported 869 new coronavirus cases on Saturday (Oct 17), its highest daily count so far, health authorities said. All of the new COVID-19 cases are local transmissions, involving 745 citizens and 124 non-Malaysians, Health Director-General Noor Hisham Abdullah said. Many of the cases continue to be in the state of Sabah, with 451 infections over the past 24 hours. Four more deaths were confirmed, bringing the total number of fatalities to 180. Saturday's case count is a sharp rise from the day before when 629 new infections were reported. After a recent surge in cases, Malaysia imposed targeted lockdowns this month, with Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Putrajaya under a Conditional Movement Control Order until Oct 27. The country's tally of cases stand...
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Japan eases COVID-19 travel curbs for China, eight others
8Nov By Desk TeamNo Comments
Asia, China, Singapore, World

Japan eases COVID-19 travel curbs for China, eight others

TOKYO: Japan has eased travel curbs for China, Australia, South Korea and six other countries and regions, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said on Friday (Oct 30), as Tokyo steps up efforts to revive its economy while preventing the spread of COVID-19. Japan lowered its infection risk advisory level for Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan, New Zealand, Brunei and Vietnam, besides China, South Korea and Australia, to 2 from 3, telling its citizens to avoid non-urgent, non-essential trips. Under the infection risk advisory level of 3, the public are instructed not to take any trips. Singapore and Japan launched a reciprocal green lane to facilitate short-term essential business and official travel between the two countries on Sep 18. The business track will allow the safe resumption of cr...
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J&K: Friendly match between specially-abled, PMMCT winners held
7Nov mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

J&K: Friendly match between specially-abled, PMMCT winners held

In the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), a friendly cricket match between specially-abled team (SAT) of Kulgam district and winners of Police Martyrs Memorial Cricket Tournament (PMMCT) was played at the Sports Stadium in Kulgam.The Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Kulgam, Showkat Aijaz Bhat who was Chief Guest on the occasion along with SP Kulgam Gurinder Pal Singh interacted with participants and applauded the efforts put forth by specially-abled persons.The event was organized by District Police of Kulgam under ‘Civic Action Programme’ in the memory of “police martyrs for their supreme sacrifices in safeguarding the unity and integrity of the nation.”The Specially-abled team won the match by 28 runs. The match was played as a revolutionary initiative to boost the morale ...
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