asia
Japan confirms 99 more cases of new virus on cruise ship
Japanese officials have confirmed 99 more people infected by the new virus aboard the quarantined cruise ship Diamond Princess, bringing the total to 454, the Health Ministry said Monday .
China may postpone annual congress because of virus
China said Monday it may postpone its annual congress in March, its biggest political meeting of the year, as the military dispatched hundreds more medical workers and extra supplies to the city hit hardest by a 2-month-old virus outbreak.
2 killed, dozens injured in highway pileup in South Korea
Two people were killed and 38 were injured Monday in a highway pileup in snowy weather in southwestern South Korea, officials said.
British MP who leads Kashmir group denied entry to India
Indian officials denied a British lawmaker entry on Monday after she landed at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, according to an accompanying aide.
India's top court grants equal rights to women in army
India's top court on Monday ordered the federal government to grant permanent commission and command positions to female officers in the army on par with men, asserting that the government's arguments against the policy were based on gender stereotypes.
Hawaii police say thieves took $1K worth of pungent fruit
Police in Hawaii are investigating the theft of fruit valued at about $1,000 including durian, which is known for its powerful odor.
Unknown chemical leakage kills 5 in S. Pakistan
An unknown poisonous chemical leaked from a container at a port in Pakistan's southern city of Karachi, killing at least five people and affecting 23 others, local police said Sunday.
Sri Lanka asks US to review travel ban on its army chief
Sri Lanka asked the United States on Sunday to review its decision to impose a travel ban on the island nation's army chief, who has been accused of grave human rights abuses during the final stage of the country's civil war that ended 11 years ago.
Americans in Japan to trade one quarantine for another
Americans Cheryl and Paul Molesky are trading one coronavirus quarantine for another.
Virus renews safety concerns about slaughtering wild animals
China cracked down on the sale of exotic species after an outbreak of a new virus in 2002 was linked to markets selling live animals. The germ turned out to be a coronavirus that caused SARS.