By Sayed Ramin BAMIYAN, Afghanistan(Reuters) – The winter landscape around the deep, blue mountain lakes of Band-e-Amir in the central Afghan province of Bamiyan presents an arresting spectacle empty of people – but the absence of visitors is costing locals dearly. After two decades of war and facing its worst economic crisis, the collapse of …
Afghanistan’s blue mountain lakes deserted as tourists stay away Read More »
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said on Tuesday the government will expand a “vaccine bubble” from Feb. 24 to include venues such as gyms, cinemas and libraries as the city steps up its fight against the spread of coronavirus. Only vaccinated people would be allowed into those venues. Lam was speaking …
Hong Kong to expand ‘vaccine bubble’ from February 24 to combat COVID-19 spread Read More »
MOSCOW/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -China, Russia, Britain, the United States and France have agreed that a further spread of nuclear arms and a nuclear war should be avoided, according to a joint statement by the five nuclear powers published by the Kremlin on Monday. It said that the five countries – which are the permanent members of …
Russia, China, Britain, U.S. and France say no one can win nuclear war Read More »
By Jessie Pang and Edmond Ng HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong independent online publication Citizen News said on Monday its decision to shut down was triggered by the closure of a pro-democracy media outlet last week following a police raid and seven arrests. Stand News, a prominent pro-democracy news site, closed last week after …
Hong Kong’s Citizen News says closure triggered by Stand News collapse Read More »
TOKYO (Reuters) – Daily coronavirus infections in Tokyo hit the highest since Oct. 8 at 103 cases on Monday, the Tokyo government said as more cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 come to light. There have been fears of a rebound in coronavirus cases as highways and airports filled with travelers during the New …
Tokyo daily coronavirus cases hit 103, highest since Oct 8 Read More »
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesia will begin giving COVID-19 booster shots to the general public from January 12, health minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said on Monday, as the Omicron variant spreads in the country. Health workers were given booster doses in July and the plan now is to cover all adults who took their second shots …
Indonesia to give booster shots to public from January 12 as Omicron spreads Read More »
BEIJING (Reuters) – China reported 161 confirmed coronavirus cases for Jan. 2, down from 191 a day earlier, the country’s health authority said on Monday. Of the new infections, 101 were locally transmitted, according to a statement by the National Health Commission, down from 131 a day earlier. Most of the new local cases were …
China reports 161 new COVID-19 cases for Jan 2 vs 191 day earlier Read More »
By Josh Smith SEOUL (Reuters) – A man observed crossing the heavily fortified border from South Korea into North Korea last week is believed to be a North Korean who previously defected to the South in 2020 in the same area, Seoul’s defence ministry said on Monday. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) had …
Man who crossed DMZ was previous defector from North Korea, South says Read More »
By Josh Smith SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korean President Moon Jae-in vowed on Monday to use his last months in office to press for a diplomatic breakthrough with North Korea, despite public silence from Pyongyang over his attempts for a declaration of peace between the two sides. “The government will pursue normalisation of inter-Korean relations …
South Korea’s Moon promises final push for North Korea peace Read More »
SEOUL (Reuters) – Two people who posthumously tested positive for the highly contagious Omicron variant of the coronavirus appear to be the first such reported deaths in the country, Yonhap news agency reported on Monday. Officials are still investigating the exact cause of death for the two patients, who were both in their 90s, Yonhap …
South Korea reports first deaths linked to Omicron coronavirus variant – Yonhap Read More »
