Southeast Asia

Spain becomes third worst-hit country by coronavirus - latest updates

World Health Organization figures show the increase in new Covid-19 infections is now about 70,000 per day, up from about 50,000 just a few days ago. Here are the latest updates for March 30:

Anti-government fun run draws thousands of defiant Thais

Thousands of anti-government protesters in Thailand donned sports gear in the pre-dawn darkness for the biggest political protest in the country in years.

Indonesia plans cloud seeding as flash flood death tolls exceeds 40

Indonesia will carry out cloud seeding in a bid to prevent further rainfall over the capital Jakarta after the death toll rose to 43 while tens of thousands of people have been displaced.

Q&A: Turkey to be 'command centre' for fight against anti-Muslim sentiment

Ainon Mohd, Communication Coordinator between Ankara, Kaula Lumpur, Islamabad on their joint efforts to tackle anti-Muslim sentiment, told TRT World that there is more to come besides launching a TV channel to tackle anti-Muslim hatred worldwide.

New powerful quake hits South Philippines

The 6.5 magnitude quake hit the island of Mindanao, the US Geological Survey said, in the same area where a strong tremor killed at least six people on Tuesday.

Strong quake kills two in south Philippines

An earthquake of magnitude 6.6 sent people scrambling as it shook buildings and disrupted power supply in the central area of the Philippines' southern island of Mindanao, killing at least two and injuring dozens, authorities said.

'Abominable' film axed in Malaysia after rebuffing order to cut China map

Vietnam has already pulled the movie from cinemas last week, while the Philippines' foreign minister has called for the scene showing China's "nine-dash line" in a map of the South China Sea to be cut and the film boycotted.

Malaysia, Indonesia shut thousands of schools over forest fires haze

Toxic haze from Indonesian forest fires closed thousands of schools across the country and in neighbouring Malaysia amid health concerns.

Indonesia struggles to douse underground fires

Indonesia is regularly hit by slash-and-burn clearances of forests for farms and palm oil plantations. Many of the blazes smoulder deep underground in peatlands, where they can last for months.

NASA pioneers malaria-predicting tech in Myanmar

NASA is deploying "cutting edge" spatial technology to tackle malaria outbreaks before they happen, as a report released this week in The Lancet argued the disease could be eradicated by 2050.

Why is Indonesia moving its capital?

The massive move will cost $33 billion and the construction is set to begin next year.

Australia urges 'sovereignty' as South China Sea tensions rise

The US slammed China for its "escalation" in the key global shipping route where Beijing is accused of deploying warships, arming outposts and ramming fishing vessels. Most recently, Vietnam voiced concerns on China's movements near Spratly Islands.