Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines will reimpose stricter quarantine measures in the capital Manila and nearby provinces, a senior official said on Saturday, as the country battles to contain a surge in COVID-19 cases that put a bigger strain on hospitals.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the measures would be in effect from March 29 to April 4.

The health ministry on Saturday reported 9,595 new coronavirus cases, marking the second straight day the daily jump in infections remained above 9,000. The country posted a record rise in three of the past five days.

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Myanmar security forces reportedly killed 93 people Saturday in the deadliest day since last month’s military coup.

A count issued by an independent researcher in Yangon who has been compiling near-real time death tolls put the total as darkness fell at 93, spread over more than two dozen cities and towns.

The online news site Myanmar Now reported the death toll had reached 91.

Both numbers are higher than all estimates for the previous high on March 14, which ranged from 74 to 90.

HONG KONG (AP) — H&M disappeared from the internet in China as the government raised pressure on shoe and clothing brands and announced sanctions Friday against British officials in a spiraling fight over complaints of abuses in the Xinjiang region.

H&M products were missing from major e-commerce platforms including Alibaba and JD.com following calls by state media for a boycott over the Swedish retailer’s decision to stop buying cotton from Xinjiang. That hurts H&M’s ability to reach customers in a country where more than a fifth of shopping is online.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea on Saturday snapped back at President Joe Biden’s criticism of its ballistic missile tests, calling his comments a provocation and encroachment on the North’s right to self-defense and vowing to continuously expand its “most thoroughgoing and overwhelming military power.”

The statement issued by senior official Ri Pyong Chol came after the North on Thursday tested-fired two short-range missiles off its eastern coast in the first ballistic launches since Biden took office.

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — The head of Myanmar’s junta on Saturday used the occasion of the country’s Armed Forces Day to try to justify the overthrow of the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, as protesters marked the holiday by calling for even bigger demonstrations.

BEIJING, March 26 (APP): Recently, after years of highly intense confrontations, it seems that the relations between India and Pakistan, the two rivals in the South Asian subcontinent, are showing some positive signs of improvement.

If the relations can really be improved, it will be a good development and conducive to the peace and stability in South Asia, which is good news for the people of the region.

PUTRAJAYA, March 26 (NNN-Bernama) — Sixty eight per cent of Malaysians want to get the COVID-19 vaccine jab based on statistics of the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Special Functions) Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof.

According to Nadma statistics, only 16 per cent of the people in the country are still unsure whether to receive COVID-19 vaccine shots or not, he said.

(Reuters) - Myanmar security forces shot and killed three anti-junta protesters on Friday, witnesses said, as the World Bank warned the country’s economy could slump 10% this year due to the turmoil since last month’s coup.

“Two were killed by head shots,” said a witness who saw security forces open fire on protesters waving black flags in the southern town of Myeik.

“We cannot pick up the (third) dead body as many security forces are there,” the witness told Reuters, adding that several other people were wounded. The witness requested anonymity for fear of retribution.

TOKYO (Reuters) -Oil prices reversed a sharp sell-off a day earlier to rise about 2% on Friday on mounting fears that it could take weeks to dislodge a giant container ship blocking the Suez Canal, which would squeeze supplies of crude and refined products.

Prices, however, were still headed for a third consecutive weekly loss, with the outlook for demand dented by fresh coronavirus lockdowns in Europe.

Brent crude was higher by $1.09, or 1.8%, at $63.04 a barrel by 0750 GMT, after dropping 3.8% on Thursday.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was up

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai authorities on Friday agreed to allow foreigners inoculated against the coronavirus to travel to its biggest holiday island without undergoing quarantine, and announced a new order for five million more doses of AstraZeneca’s vaccine.

With arrival numbers plummeting this past year, tourism-reliant Thailand is racing to secure vaccines for its population and reopen the country to foreigners in a pilot project for vaccine passports.