A new understanding is emerging at talks aimed at salvaging Iran’s nuclear deal with global powers, Tehran’s chief negotiator said yesterday according to Iranian state media, as China’s delegate also reported progress.

India and Thailand reported record daily coronavirus cases yesterday, as a new wave of infections, combined with a shortage of hospital beds and vaccines, threatens to slow Asia’s recovery from the pandemic.

China’s record imports of Iranian crude in recent months has squeezed out supply from rival producers, forcing sellers of oil from countries such as Brazil, Angola and Russia to slash prices and divert shipments to India and Europe.

Japan plans to release into the sea more than 1 million tonnes of contaminated water from the destroyed Fukushima nuclear station, the government said on Tuesday, a decision that is likely to anger neighbours such as South Korea.

Eight miners have been rescued and 21 remain trapped in a coal mine that flooded in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, state-backed newspaper China Daily reported citing local authorities.

Chinese regulators have fined Alibaba Group Holding Ltd 18 billion yuan ($2.75 billion) for violating anti-monopoly rules and abusing its dominant market position, marking the highest ever antitrust fine to be imposed in the country.

Two Uyghur former government officials in China's Xinjiang have been handed death sentences for carrying out "separatist activities", a court said, as Beijing comes under increasing fire for its actions towards minority groups in the region.

Russia and India are discussing “additional” production of Russian military equipment in India, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said yesterday, in a move that could irk the United States which frowns upon countries engaged in defence trade with Moscow.

Parliamentarians of different Asian countries today suggested to create funds and launch financial instruments to ensure sustainable reintegration of migrant workers affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

A Hong Kong court found seven prominent democrats guilty of unauthorised assembly, including barrister Martin Lee and media tycoon Jimmy Lai, the latest blow to the city’s beleaguered democracy movement.

Japan’s health minister has apologised after media reported ministry employees had gathered at a restaurant late at night in Tokyo in violation of the government’s Covid-19 contagion protocols.

Indonesian state oil company Pertamina has said it was trying to control a massive fire at its Balongan oil refinery in West Java that injured five people and led to the evacuation of 950 nearby residents.

A consortium of private Japanese firms and a Japanese state entity paid rent on a multi-million dollar hotel and office development that ultimately went to Myanmar’s defence ministry, six company and government officials told Reuters.

Hong Kong and Macau said they were suspending the use of Pfizer/BioNTech's coronavirus vaccine after being informed of a packaging problem with a batch of vials.

Ensuring the continuing security of China's energy needs remains Saudi Aramco's highest priority, not just for the next five years but the next 50 and beyond, said Aramco CEO Amin Nasser during the China Development Forum held in Beijing on Sunday.

Pakistan’s 2017 census recorded about 10,000 transgender people, though trans rights groups say the number could now be well over 300,000 in the country of 220 million.

China has accelerated its vaccinations against Covid-19, administering 10 million doses in around a week, and is considering varied visa policies based on vaccination and virus conditions in different countries, officials said today.

Japan will make more investments in Bangladesh when situation returns to normal after the Covid-19 pandemic ends.

An earthquake struck northeastern Japan on Saturday, hitting areas devastated by the 2011 disaster and generating a tsunami of 1 metre, public broadcaster NHK said.

Japan government has decided to extend emergency grant aid of USD 10 million for displaced Rohingyas and host communities in Bangladesh.