Asia

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AFP) — Five people were killed in a top Bangladesh hospital on Thursday after a fire swept through a makeshift coronavirus isolation unit, officials said. The blaze occurred in Dhaka’s posh Gulshan neighborhood and comes as the country …

  MOSCOW (AFP) — A baby was born with the coronavirus in Russia’s Caucasus region, health officials were quoted by TASS news agency as saying on Sunday, to a mother who is also infected. The birth in the North Ossetia …

  TOKYO (AFP) — Tokyo stocks opened slightly higher on Tuesday with investors cautiously optimistic on hopes of economic restarts after business shutdowns forced by the coronavirus outbreak. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index gained 0.17 percent or 34.87 points to …

  LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AFP) — The International Olympic Committee revealed on Wednesday plans to hold its next session initially scheduled for Tokyo before the opening of the 2020 Games by video link to be streamed live on July 17. A …

  HONG KONG (AFP) — Here are the latest developments from Asia related to the novel coronavirus pandemic: – Singapore to ease restrictions as community spread slows – Singapore says it will gradually ease some restrictions aimed at limiting the spread …

  TOKYO (AFP) — Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Friday the government would plan for an approximately month-long extension of a state of emergency declared over the coronavirus pandemic. Abe put in place an initial month-long state of emergency …

  MANILA (AFP) — Nearly 10,000 prison inmates have been released in the Philippines as the country races to halt coronavirus infections in its overcrowded jails, a Supreme Court official said Saturday. The move follows a directive to lower courts …

  MANILA, PHILIPPINES (AFP) — Nine doctors have died in the Philippines from the coronavirus, the country’s top medical association said Thursday, as hospitals were overwhelmed and medics complained about a lack of protection on the frontlines. The announcement of …

  HONG KONG (AFP) — Asian equities soared again Wednesday after US lawmakers finally agreed a mammoth stimulus package to support the world’s top economy against the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. While the deadly disease continues to spread, traders …

  TOKYO, JAPAN (AFP) — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Saturday resisted pressure for changes to the Tokyo Olympics schedule even as sporting events worldwide fall victim to the coronavirus pandemic. Abe pledged Japan would host the Games as …

  MANILA (AFP) — Manila will impose a night-time curfew in the city of 12 million, officials said Saturday, as the Philippines steps up efforts to curb the spread of the new coronavirus. The measure takes effect Sunday along with …

TEHRAN, Iran (AFP) — Iran’s health ministry announced on Tuesday that 11 more people had died from the new coronavirus in the past day, bringing the Islamic republic’s overall death toll to 77. In all, 2,336 people have been infected, …