HONG KONG (Reuters) – The Hong Kong government said on Thursday it would extend a work-from-home plan for civil servants as health officials warned tougher measures could follow amid a worsening COVID-19 outbreak. Aside from those involved with essential and urgent work, all other civil servants – who had been due to resume work on …
Hong Kong expands government work-from-home plans as Omicron bites Read More »
TOKYO (Reuters) – Daily coronavirus infections in Japan on Thursday exceeded 100,000 for first time since the pandemic began, the Yomiuri newspaper reported. Infections in Japan have surged since the start of the year as the Omicron variant has taken hold. About a fifth of the cases are in Tokyo. (Reporting by Tim Kelly; editing …
Japan’s daily coronavirus infections exceed 100,000 for first time -Yomiuri Read More »
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Singapore has approved Pfizer’s oral COVID-19 medicine Paxlovid, its Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said on Thursday. Paxlovid is the first COVID-19 oral treatment authorised for use in the city-state for the treatment of mild to moderate cases among adults at high risk of severe disease, HSA said in a statement. (Reporting by …
Singapore approves Pfizer’s oral COVID-19 medicine Paxlovid Read More »
By Elaine Lies and Rocky Swift TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan’s former vaccine czar and a key official of its ruling party, Taro Kono, hopes the nation’s strict border curbs against coronavirus, which are the toughest among the Group of Seven wealthy nations, can be eased from March, he said on Thursday. With the borders shut for …
Key Japanese ruling party official Kono hopes for March easing of border curbs Read More »
By Hyonhee Shin SEOUL (Reuters) – Going by opinion polls, the two leading candidates for South Korea’s presidency have a big problem – their disapproval ratings are so high that the March 9 vote has been dubbed the “unlikeable election”. Started by pundits and popularised by the media, the name has stuck, and even the …
S.Korean voters hold noses as rivals land low blows in ‘unlikeable’ election Read More »
DENPASAR, Indonesia (Reuters) – Indonesia’s holiday island of Bali will welcome its first direct flight carrying foreign tourists for nearly two years on Thursday, but just a handful of visitors will be on board to enter strict quarantine on arrival. A Garuda Indonesia flight from Tokyo is scheduled to arrive in Bali in the afternoon, …
Bali to welcome first international tourist flight amid cautious reopening Read More »
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan is considering a two-week extension of infection controls in 13 regions, including its capital Tokyo, to rein in a record surge of COVID-19 infections, the Fuji News Network said on Thursday. Officials may decide next week to extend the measures originally set to expire on Feb. 13, the broadcaster added. Tokyo …
Tokyo among 13 Japanese regions weighing extension of COVID curbs -media Read More »
PHNOM PENH (Reuters) – Cambodia’s foreign ministry said on Thursday that a non-political representative from Myanmar had been invited to attend a meeting of Southeast Asian foreign ministers later this month rather than the country’s military-appointed foreign minister. Cambodia Foreign Ministry spokesman Chum Sounry said members of the bloc had not reached a consensus on …
Cambodia says non-political Myanmar rep invited to ASEAN meeting Read More »
