Asia
Zero COVID in Europe: Possible or pipe dream?
In Auckland, two million New Zealanders have been confined to their homes since Monday because of three confirmed COVID-19 cases.
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Europe moves ahead with lockdown easing, but caution in Asia
As much of the world grapples to find the path forward, with the deadly virus still spreading in some places and a vaccine at best a distant reality, Europe is slowly emerging from isolation.
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NCID warns coronavirus stereotyping may cause panic, confusion
There have been no confirmed cases in the country, but fear and anxiety continue to grow as the Covid-19 virus spreads rapidly across the globe.
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No port in a storm, but cruise ship laughs off virus fears
The Westerdam, with its 1,455 passengers and 802 crew, left Hong Kong on 1 February on what was meant to be a dream 14-day cruise across Asia, and was due to disembark this Saturday in Yokohama, Japan.
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Asia steps up defences as China virus hits 291 people, kills 6
From Australia to Thailand and as far as Nepal, nations stepped up fever checks of passengers at airports to detect the SARS-like coronavirus, which first emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.
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Pope to Asia in search of Buddhist ties, nuclear arms ban
The pope's third trip to Asia and his 32nd trip abroad takes him to two countries with minority Catholic populations, both evangelised by Jesuit missionaries in the 16th century.
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Mosquito trials raise hopes of defeating dengue
But one group of scientists is rolling out trials to breed dengue-resistant bugs in a bid to tackle one of the world's leading mosquito-borne illnesses, raising hopes the untreatable disease can finally be beaten.
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Myanmar troops help flood rescue after landslide kills 51
Every year monsoon rains hammer Myanmar and other countries across Southeast Asia, submerging homes, displacing residents and triggering landslides.
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Hand-picked successor sweeps to victory in Kazakhstan vote
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev took 70.8% of the vote in Sunday's election, the Central Election Commission said, with his nearest rival, opposition candidate Amirzhan Kosanov, taking 16.2%.
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Singapore in second major pangolin seizure in a week
Authorities across Southeast Asia are battling to stop the rampant poaching and smuggling of pangolins, the world's most heavily trafficked mammal, which is sought for use in traditional medicine.
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Juve opt for Asian pre-season amid Ronaldo US rape claims - report
Juventus have confirmed their participation in the event with the official programme to be unveiled on 27 March.
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Asia shares slip as China's Huawei in legal hot water; focus on Sino-US talks
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan slipped 0.5% with Australia’s benchmark index down 0.7% and South Korea’s KOSPI off 0.6%.
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Venezuela's Maduro travels to China in search of fresh funds
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez is currently in China and on Wednesday met with Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a brief statement late Wednesday.
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Asia's growing appetite for meat is causing problems for environment
With supply chains ramping up to meet demand, greenhouse gas emissions will jump from 2.9 billion tonnes of CO2 per year to 5.4 billion tonnes.
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Thailand bets on 'magic pills' to boost declining birth rate
Like several other Asian countries, Thailand is ageing rapidly. Birth rates have dropped sharply from more than 6 children per woman in 1960 to 1.5 in 2015, according to World Bank figures.
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China's new 'Silk Road' cannot be one-way, France's Macron says
Unveiled in 2013, the Belt and Road project is aimed at connecting China by land and sea to Southeast Asia, Pakistan and Central Asia.
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US Navy to relieve commander after collisions in Asia - source
The US Navy will relieve Seventh Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Joseph Aucoin after a series of collisions involving its warships in Asia, a US official said.
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Environmental Affairs agree to export 800 lion skeletons to Asia
Spokesman Albie Modise says the department is guided by the scientific authority which has conducted an in-depth research as to the viability of exporting the skeletons.
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Interpol launches project to combat wildlife trafficking between Asia, Africa
Interpol has vowed to tackle organised crime profiting from wildlife trafficking between Africa and Asia.
