Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

TANGKAK (Johor, Malaysia) April 27 (NNN-Bernama) — The government’s decision to bar travellers from India from entering into the country is not discriminatory or racist, instead it is to curb the spread of a new COVID-19 variant, said Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

He said the decision was taken at the special National Security Council (MKN) meeting he chaired Monday.

“Yesterday, we made a decision, we bar or ban, don’t allow people coming from India (to enter). This is not about racism or discrimination.

(Reuters) --- China said on Tuesday it had offered help to South Asian countries in accessing COVID-19 vaccines but India did not attend a regional video-conference on the matter, although it is currently suffering the world's worst wave of the pandemic.

China's State Councillor and foreign minister Wang Yi hosted the conference attended by Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, to which China's neighbour and regional rival India was also invited, the Chinese foreign ministry said.

(Reuters) --- A tanker carrying around one million barrels of bitumen mix was involved in a collision near the Chinese port city of Qingdao during heavy fog, spilling oil into the Yellow Sea, Chinese maritime officials and tanker representatives said on Tuesday.

The collision involving the anchored Liberia-flagged tanker A Symphony and the bulk vessel Sea Justice took place at 0850 local time (0050 GMT), A Symphony's manager Goodwood Ship Management said in an e-mail.

(Reuters) --- Ethnic minority Karen insurgents attacked a Myanmar army outpost near the Thai border on Tuesday in some of the most intense clashes since a military coup nearly three months ago threw the country into crisis.

The Karen National Union (KNU), Myanmar's oldest rebel force, said it had captured the army camp on the west bank of the Salween river, which forms the border with Thailand.

The Myanmar military later hit back against the insurgents with air strikes, the KNU and Thai authorities said.

JAKARTA, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's volcano Sinabung in North Sumatra erupted four times, throwing thick ash up to 1,000 meters above its peak to the south and southwest, the Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center (PVMBG) said on Tuesday.

PVMBG officer Moh Nurul Asrori said the first eruption occurred at 6:06 a.m. local time for 224 seconds with a burst of ash up to 1,000 meters above its peak while the next blast was at 8:10 a.m. local time as high as 500 meters above the peak.

New Delhi, Apr 26 (PTI) Thailand has decided to restrict entry of travellers from India in view of the coronavirus crisis

India on Monday reported 352,991 new infections, the fifth straight day to record three lakh-plus cases.

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Coronavirus infections surged past 1 million in the Philippines on Monday as officials assess whether to extend a monthlong lockdown in the Manila region amid a grim spike in cases or relax it to fight a recession, joblessness and hunger.

The Department of Health reported 8,929 new infections on Monday, bringing the country’s total to 1,006,428, including 16,853 deaths. The totals are the second highest in Southeast Asia after Indonesia.

BANGKOK (AP) — Ethnic Karen guerrillas said they captured a Myanmar army base Tuesday in what represents a morale-boosting action for those opposing the military’s takeover of the country’s civilian government in February.

A spokesman for the Karen National Union, the minority’s main political group seeking greater autonomy from Myanmar’s central government, said the group’s armed wing attacked the base at 5 a.m. and burned it down just after dawn.

KUALA LUMPUR, April 26 (NNN-Bernama) — Malaysia has secured committed investment of RM8.9 billion for 2021 from the recently concluded trade and investment mission (TIM) to South Korea and Japan, which was led by Senior Minister cum International Trade and Industry Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali.

The TIM was held from March 31 to April 6, 2021.

Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) chief executive officer Arham Abdul Rahman said Malaysia continues to welcome high-quality foreign direct investment from around the world.

(Reuters) --- Malaysian health authorities on Monday said the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca (AZN.L) is safe for use, three days after the Southeast Asian nation received its first batch of the shots bought through the global COVAX facility.

Some countries have limited or halted its use over possible links to blood clotting. AstraZeneca says regulatory reviews in Britain and Europe have noted its vaccine offers a high level of protection and that its benefits far outweigh any risks