A study in Chile, which has one of the furthest-advanced vaccination campaigns in South America - mainly with China's Coronavac, has found that a first dose alone does not protect against coronavirus infection.The study by the University of Chile found inoculation to be 56.5 percent effective in protecting recipients two weeks after the second dose, and 27.7 percent effective within the first two weeks.But for a single dose, efficacy in the 28 days between the first and second dose was o

Myanmar activists daubed roadways with red paint Tuesday to protest against the junta's bloody crackdown on protests, as an online fundraising drive to support the movement neared the US$10 million mark.The country has been in turmoil since the military ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi on 1 February, rocked by daily clashes between protestors and authorities that have left at least 570 people dead.10 of Myanmar's ethnic rebel armies voiced support for the protest movement at

In May last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping declared that his country would soon provide safe and effective vaccines as a “global public good”, especially to the developing world.To this end, the Chinese leader launched a massive state-backed campaign, allocating large amounts of subsidies and corralling up to 22 firms and research institutes to work on as many as 17 vaccine projects.Some leaders in China’s immediate neighbourhood felt reassured by Xi’s rhetoric and hoped to capitalise on

The presence of Chinese vessels at a disputed reef off the Philippines could ignite “unwanted hostilities”, a top aide to President Rodrigo Duterte has warned, intensifying a diplomatic spat over the ships that Manila has described as “maritime militia”.More than 200 Chinese boats were first spotted on 7 March at Whitsun Reef, approximately 320 kilometres (175 nautical miles) west of Palawan Island within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).Most of them have since scattered across

Her friends called her Ah Khu. Born in Falam, close to the north-western border with India, she spoke many of the ethnic languages of Myanmar. As a child, Ah Khu moved from place to place following her father’s postings as a civil servant.

A Filipino man who was found breaking quarantine rules has died after being made to do 300 squat-like exercises by police as punishment, his family said.Darren Manaog Penaredondo was allegedly stopped by officers while buying water after 6:00 pm local time in Cavite province on Thursday.He collapsed the following day and later died.Cavite province, on the island of Luzon, is currently under strict lockdown to tackle the spread of COVID-19.Marlo Solero, police chief of General Trias City, said

An Australian couple was released from house arrest in Myanmar and allowed to leave the country, as protests against the military junta continued Monday.Myanmar has been in turmoil since a 1 February coup ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and derailed the country's experiment with democracy.Business consultants Matthew O'Kane and Christa Avery, a dual Canadian-Australian citizen, tried to leave the country on a relief flight in late March but were barred from departing and pla

Speeches by beauty pageant contestants rarely make headlines.But when Han Lay, Miss Grand Myanmar, spoke out last week against alleged atrocities committed by her country's military, her speech turned heads."Today in my country Myanmar ... there are so many people dying," she said at the Miss Grand International 2020 event in Thailand. "Please help Myanmar.

China's "wolf warrior" diplomats are back after a brief lull, firing insults over Twitter, smearing critics and suggesting conspiracies.The hyperactivity of these envoys follows renewed global pressure over Beijing's treatment of the Muslim Uyghur minority in China's Xinjiang region.Here are five things to know about wolf warriors:The term "wolf warrior diplomacy" became common parlance in 2019, when Chinese envoys – most prominently, spokesman Zhao Lijian –

Vietnam’s Communist Party on Monday nominated a little-known official to become the country’s next Prime Minister, tasked with reviving the economy in the wake of the pandemic while navigating growing United States (US)-China tensions.Pham Minh Chinh, who rose through the ranks of Vietnam’s national security apparatus and has a PhD in Law, is the only candidate for Prime Minister put forward by the Politburo.