Asia

Cultural events in Turkey during these pandemic days

Turkey has been under lockdown for more than two months. How have citizens kept themselves busy while they’ve been told to stay at home?

Swarms of desert locusts threaten India's summer crops

Authorities estimate insects have engulfed more than 50,000 hectares of agricultural land in seven states, where people are already suffering from coronavirus pandemic.

Hong Kong police arrest 300 as thousands protest over security laws

Riot police flooded the streets as protesters gathered ahead of a debate on the bill that once enacted will criminalise abuse of China's national anthem in the semi-autonomous city.

Peace in sight for Afghans, but spoilers may threaten harmony

There is cause for cautious optimism so long as troublesome elements within the government and the Taliban are not allowed to derail the process.

New Iran parliament convenes under strict coronavirus curbs

The lawmakers were sworn in after many of them arrived for the opening ceremony wearing face masks and observing social distancing regulations.

Lockdown pushes India’s economy to the brink

With its economic health in the doldrums, Modi is lifting restrictions – as the death toll mounts.

South Korean cafe hires robot barista to help with social distancing

After managing to contain an outbreak of the new coronavirus that infected more than 11,000 and killed 269, South Korea is slowly transitioning from intensive social distancing rules towards what the government calls "distancing in daily life".

China expands scope of Hong Kong security legislation

The law has revived mass protests by demonstrators who say China aims to curb the freedoms enjoyed in Hong Kong, a global financial centre with broad autonomy.

UNHCR: Child labour, marriages on rise in Yemen as Covid-19 spreads

UNHCR said Yemen's health care system "has in effect collapsed", with the virus thought to be spreading throughout the country, and appealed for urgent funding last week.

Tencent to invest $70 billion in 'new infrastructure'

The announcement comes after call by Beijing last month for a tech-driven structural upgrade of the world's second-largest economy through investment in "new infrastructure" .

Afghanistan frees 900 more Taliban inmates on last day of truce

Authorities release prisoners from across the country, with approximately 600 of them from notorious Bagram jail near capital Kabul, following insurgents' three-day ceasefire to mark Eid al Fitr.

Kashmir construction sparks China-India border standoff

Indian observers say thousands of troops from both sides face each other in Galwan Valley following controversial Indian construction in high-altitude Ladakh area of India-administered Kashmir, scene of a brief but bloody war in 1962 that India lost.