Wednesday, 20 Nov 2024

Asia

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China releases Tibetan activist who was sentenced to five years' jail

BEIJING (AFP) – A Tibetan activist sentenced to five years in prison by the Chinese authorities for “inciting separatism” after appearing in a New York Times documentary has been released from jail, his lawyer said on Friday (Jan 29). Mr Tashi Wangchuk was sentenced in 2018 after prosecutors cited a short documentary about his work […]

6 MPs file Singapore's first parliamentary motion on climate change

SINGAPORE – Six MPs have filed a motion on climate change – a first for Singapore – to be heard at the next parliamentary sitting on Monday (Feb 1). Their private member’s motion, which allows all MPs to take part in the ensuing debate, calls on the Government to partner the private sector and Singaporeans […]

China will 'no longer recognise' UK-issued BNO passport for Hong Kongers

BEIJING (AFP) – China on Friday (Jan 29) said it will “no longer recognise” the British National (Overseas) passport for Hong Kongers as Britain prepares to open its doors to millions more residents of the former colony following a security crackdown by Beijing. The Chinese move follows a promise by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government […]

Tibetan Who Spoke Out for Language Rights Is Freed From Chinese Prison

A Tibetan businessman has been released from prison in China after completing a five-year sentence for “inciting separatism” by campaigning for Tibetan language education, including in interviews with The New York Times, his lawyer said on Friday. The businessman, Tashi Wangchuk, returned to Yushu, his hometown in the northwestern province of Qinghai, and was staying […]

China exported more than 220 billion masks in 2020

BEIJING (AFP) – China exported more than 220 billion face masks last year, the commerce ministry said Friday (Jan 29), the equivalent of nearly 40 per person outside China as demand for protective gear skyrocketed during the coronavirus pandemic. Shifting billions of dollars’ worth of the coverings has become an important driver of China’s exports […]

China exported more than 220 billion masks in 2020

BEIJING (AFP) – China exported more than 220 billion face masks last year, the commerce ministry said Friday (Jan 29), the equivalent of nearly 40 per person outside China as demand for protective gear skyrocketed during the coronavirus pandemic. Shifting billions of dollars’ worth of the coverings has become an important driver of China’s exports […]

About 3,000 hospitality staff have received Covid-19 vaccine

About 3,000 workers in the hospitality industry have received the Covid-19 vaccine as at Monday, after an inoculation programme for the industry was rolled out on Jan 15. About two-thirds are staff at stay-home notice (SHN) dedicated facilities, said Minister of State for Trade and Industry Alvin Tan yesterday. He was speaking on the sidelines […]

NZ, Vietnam and Taiwan top Covid-19 performance index

SYDNEY • New Zealand, Vietnam and Taiwan are the top three in a Covid-19 performance index of almost 100 countries and territories for their successful handling of the coronavirus pandemic, with Britain and the United States near the bottom of the pile. The Lowy Institute said its index, published yesterday, excludes China, where the first […]

Over 113,000 people in S'pore received first Covid-19 vaccine dose: MOH

SINGAPORE – More than 113,000 people have received their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Thursday (Jan 28). Among them, there were 432 “adverse event reports” linked to symptoms generally associated with all vaccinations. These include injection site pain and swelling, fever, headache, fatigue, body aches, giddiness, […]