TERNATE: A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the Molucca Sea off eastern Indonesia early Thursday, killing one person, damaging buildings and prompting a tsunami warning that was later lifted after small waves were recorded. The undersea quake hit at a depth of 35 kilometers about 127 kilometers west-northwest of Ternate,…
LVLIANG: Four workers were killed after a roof collapse late Wednesday at the Guanjiaya coal mine in Xingxian county in northern China’s Shanxi province, with local authorities confirming the deaths early Thursday after an overnight rescue operation. The accident happened at about 9:15 p.m. on April 1 and…
SEJONG: South Korea’s food exports rose 4.0% from a year earlier in the first quarter, supported by strong overseas demand for ramyeon, snacks, beverages and fresh fruit, according to provisional government data released on April 3. Food exports reached $2.5622 billion in the January to March period, up from $2.4639 billion a year earlier. Broader K-Food+ exports,…
HANOI: Vietnam’s exports rose 19.1% from a year earlier in the first quarter of 2026 to $122.93 billion, according to official data released on April 4, extending a strong start to the year for one of Southeast Asia’s most trade-dependent economies. Imports increased at a faster 27% pace to $126.57 billion, leaving the country with a trade deficit…
BEIJING: China’s central bank has added 12 banks to the roster of institutions authorized to operate the digital yuan, widening the reach of the e-CNY and lifting the total number of approved operators to 22. The People’s Bank of China said the newly admitted institutions will connect to the central bank’s digital yuan system and begin offering…
SEOUL: South Korea’s foreign exchange reserves fell in March as a stronger U.S. dollar reduced the converted value of non-dollar assets and authorities used reserves in operations to ease currency-market strain, central bank data showed on Friday. Official reserves stood at $423.66 billion at the end of March, down $3.97 billion from $427.62 billion a month earlier.…
DAEJEON: South Korea’s consumer prices rose 2.2% in March from a year earlier, accelerating from 2.0% in February as higher oil costs pushed up transport-related prices, official data showed on Thursday. On a monthly basis, the consumer price index rose 0.3%, matching the pace seen in February. The reading placed inflation back above the Bank of Korea’s…
TOKYO: Japan’s industrial output fell 2.1% in February from the previous month, official preliminary data showed on Tuesday, as weaker production in autos, fabricated metals and electronic parts reversed some of January’s strength. The decline matched economists’ median forecast and marked the first monthly drop in three months. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the index of industrial…
Health
KINSHASA: The Democratic Republic of the Congo has declared an end to the mpox outbreak that had remained under national emergency management for about two years, with Health Minister Roger Kamba saying the epidemic no longer met the threshold for that status. The announcement marks a major public health milestone for a country that carried the heaviest burden during the recent surge in Africa, as authorities said the response…
DUBAI: UNICEF, Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) have launched a US$300 million partnership aimed at helping save 3 million children from malnutrition, the organisations announced on March 12. The partnership is tied to Dubai’s Ramadan humanitarian drive, known as 11.5: Edge of Life, which is seeking to mobilise large-scale funding for child nutrition programmes in vulnerable communities. The partners…
LYON: Nearly four in 10 cancer cases worldwide could be prevented by reducing exposure to known, modifiable risk factors, according to a new analysis from the World Health Organization and its cancer research agency released for World Cancer Day. The assessment estimated that 37% of new cancer diagnoses in 2022, about 7.1 million of 18.7 million cases, were linked to risks that can be reduced through public health measures…
MENA Newswire, WASHINGTON: U.S. regulators have classified a recall affecting more than 80,000 single serve coffee pods made for Keurig brewers after a labeling error raised concerns for consumers who avoid caffeine. The action covers McCafé Premium Roast Decaf Coffee K-Cup pods distributed by Keurig Dr Pepper, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s recall listing. The FDA categorized the action as a Class II recall on Jan. 23, 2026.…