Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) for assistance following reports that a new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) variant has been detected in neighboring Sabah, Malaysia, ... ( read original story ...)
Malaysia sees upsurge in domestic tourism as hotels fill up with year-end holidaymakers
Malaysia's hoteliers cheered when interstate travel was allowed to resume on Dec 7.. Read more at straitstimes.com. ( read original story ...)
Saudi Arabia to Allow Foreigners to Leave Kingdom: State TV
Saudi Arabia’s aviation authority has allowed airlines to resume flights to transport foreigners out of the kingdom, state television reported. ( read original story ...)
Saudi Arabia lifts international flight ban for foreign nationals
Under the new terms, any country dealing with the more infectious strain will still be restricted, and crew members on flights landing in Saudi Arabia will be confined to the plane, according to ... ( read original story ...)
China’s Nov U.S. oil imports near record, Saudi imports up 43% on mth
China's crude oil imports from the United States soared 13 fold in November from a year earlier to the third highest on record, customs data showed on Friday, as companies accelerated energy purchases ... ( read original story ...)
Soldier who served in Afghanistan says he felt safer in war zone than working in Aussie hospital
Ex-frontline soldier Dean Douglass took up a job at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital in 2016 but said he was repeatedly assaulted by violent patients during his time at the facility. ( read original story ...)
Afghanistan explosions target police; at least 4 killed
A series of explosions hit Kabul on Saturday morning, killing at least four people, including two police officers, officials said. ( read original story ...)
Baht’s Rally Stalls as Thailand Battles Virus Pandemic Fallout
A tug-of-war is building for Thailand’s baht as concern about the nation’s virus outbreak counters the support from its current-account surplus. ( read original story ...)
At least 11 climbers killed in avalanches in Iran’s Alborz mountains
Several more mountaineers are unaccounted for and seven crew on a capsized ship are missing after wild weather across the region ... ( read original story ...)
Avalanches kill 12 in mountainous area near Iran’s capital
Iran's state TV says rescue workers have ended their search for survivors following a series of deadly avalanches ... ( read original story ...)