NEW DELHI, Dec 30 — India is planning to make a Covid-19 negative test report mandatory for passengers arriving from countries with a high number of cases, the country's health minister said during an interview with broadcaster NewsX on Friday.

DHAKA, Dec 30 — Bangladesh is trying to stop Rohingya refugees risking their lives in boats to Southeast Asia, a government official said, amid fears that this year could be one of the most deadly in years for the persecuted Muslims from Myanmar seeking new lives.

SAO PAULO, Dec 30 —Former Brazilian soccer legend Pele, the three-time World Cup football champion, died Thursday at the age of 82 in a hospital in Sao Paulo from colon cancer, his doctors officially announced reported Xinhua.

BANGKOK, Dec 29 — Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Ministry proposed to provide free Covid-19 booster shots to tourists entering the kingdom in a bid to attract more international travellers to the kingdom.

MOSCOW, Dec 29 — The Indian authorities launched an investigation into the pharmaceutical company Marion Biotech, based in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, after 18 children died In Uzbekistan as a result of consuming the company’s drugs, Indian media reported on Thursday.

CANBERRA, Dec 29 — Australia's trade deal with India has come into effect, with the nation's trade minister hailing it as a major boon for both nations' economies reported Xinhua.

HANOI, Dec 29 — Vietnam's economy grew 8.02 per cent in 2022, the fastest annual pace since 1997, backed by strong domestic retail sales and exports, but is facing headwinds from a global slowdown.

BANGKOK/SINGAPORE/SYDNEY, Dec 29 — Asian countries are bracing for an influx of Chinese tourists as Covid restrictions are dismantled, and while some are wary, operators in others are preparing packages such as hotpot buffets to cash in on the expected spike in travel.

NEW DELHI, Dec 29 — At least seven people died and a few others were injured after they fell into a drain following a "stampede" that occurred during a political road show in southern India, officials and local media said on Wednesday.

MOSCOW, Dec 29 — Russia wants to resolve the Ukraine situation and end the war as soon as possible, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Wednesday.

CHICAGO, Dec 29 — The United States will impose mandatory Covid-19 tests on travellers from China, US health officials said on Wednesday, joining India, Italy, Japan and Taiwan in taking new measures after Beijing's decision to lift stringent zero-Covid policies.

REUTERS, Dec 29 — Tesla Inc Chief Executive Elon Musk told employees that they should not be "bothered by stock market craziness" after the company's shares fell nearly 70 per cent this year on jitters over softening demand for electric vehicles and Musk's distraction with running Twitter.

SYDNEY, Dec 29 — Australia is making no change to its rules around allowing travellers from China into the country, despite measures by some countries to require mandatory Covid-19 tests, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday.

BEIJING, Dec 28 — China's video games regulator granted on Wednesday publishing licences to 45 foreign games for release in the country, further lifting rigid curbs that have hammered the industry for 18 months.

BANGKOK, Dec 28 — Thai Navy continues the search for another seven missing sailors after the HTMS Sukhothai sank during a storm in the Gulf of Thailand on December 18.

KUALA LUMPUR, DEC 28 — The latest call by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on December 21 for restraint and the immediate end to all forms of violence in Myanmar summed up how challenging 2022 has been on the foreign front for Malaysia and the world.

MANILA, Dec 28 — The death toll from heavy rain and floods triggered by the shear line in the Philippines climbed to 25 on Wednesday as the Southeast Asian country braces for more rainfall due to a low-pressure area moving towards the archipelagic country.

NEW YORK, Dec 28 — The UN Security Council urged the Taliban in Afghanistan to reverse policies and practices Tuesday that further exclude women from public life.

NEW YORK, Dec 28 — Popular video-sharing app TikTok will not be allowed on official devices used by the House of Representatives and their staff, according to the House's Chief Administrative Office.

DHAKA, Dec 28 — Another 232 Rohingya people safely reached ashore in northwestern Indonesia over the past few days after they took a risky sea journey to flee Bangladesh’s cramped refugee camps weeks ago, the United Nations (UN) refugee agency said on Tuesday.