Latest Asia News
Thailand sets mid-October to reopen to vaccinated visitors
BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand plans to fully reopen to vaccinated foreign visitors by mid-October as the government seeks to restart the crucial coronavirus-devastated tourism industry, the prime minister announced Wednesday. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said fully...
Stocks, bond yields in holding pattern ahead of Fed decision
Stocks are off to a mixed lower start on Wall Steet Wednesday as traders wait for the latest decision on interest rates from the Federal Reserve. The S&P 500 was flipping between small gains and losses in the early going as gains for health care and some big technology companies were...
The Latest: EU suggests lifting travel limits on US tourists
BRUSSELS — The European Union is recommending member countries start lifting restrictions on tourists from the United States. EU members agreed Wednesday to add the United States to the list of countries from which restrictions on non-essential travel should be lifted....
Japan looks to ease virus emergency ahead of Olympics
TOKYO (AP) — Japan is expected to ease a coronavirus state of emergency in Tokyo and most other areas this weekend, with new daily cases falling just as the country begins making final preparations for the Olympics starting in just over a month. Japan has been...
China says nuclear fuel rods damaged, no radiation leak
BEIJING (AP) — A Chinese nuclear power plant near Hong Kong had five broken fuel rods in a reactor but no radioactivity leaked, the government said Wednesday in its first confirmation of the incident that prompted concern over the facility’s safety. Radiation rose...
Malaysian king says Parliament must resume despite emergency
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia's king said Wednesday that Parliament, which has been suspended under a coronavirus emergency since January, must resume as soon as possible, but stopped short of saying the emergency should end. The monarch's comments contrasted...
China releasing metals stockpiles in bid to cool inflation
BEIJING (AP) — The Chinese government said Wednesday that it will release copper, aluminum and zinc from stockpiles to increase market supplies in a fresh effort to restrain surging prices that officials warn might disrupt a business revival. Wednesday’s announcement...
Malaysian PM switches back to real name after court bungle
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia's government has issued a directive ordering all civil servants to use the legal spelling of the prime minister's name, after a court earlier squashed a detention order that was signed by the leader using his more widely known unofficial spelling. ...
China offers glimpse of Tibetan life without the Dalai Lama
LHASA, China (AP) — A brisk wind ruffles yellow prayer flags as dozens of Tibetans, some on crutches, circle a shrine in a time-honored Buddhist ritual. Across the street, a red banner spells out a new belief system, one being enforced with increasing fervor, of China's ruling Communist...
Malaysian court rejects coroner's verdict in teen's death
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — A Malaysian high court found Wednesday that a coroner erred in ruling that the death of a French-Irish teenager whose body was found near a jungle resort was likely due to a misadventure that didn't involve other people. High Court Judge...
