Asia News

Related Travel Information

FAO estimates Asia-Pacific bird flu losses at $10 million

FAO estimates Asia-Pacific bird flu losses at $10 million The Asia-Pacific region has suffered losses of around $10 million due to the bird flu pandemic, Food and Agriculture Organisations regional representative for Asia Pacific He Changchui said on Friday. He said over 200 million birds have been culled over two-and-a-half years due to the flu. All countries need to put in place vigilant surveillance and a timely action plan to prepare against further outbreaks, Changchui told reporters on the sidelines of regional conference on avian influenza control and pandemic preparedness in Asia. He said all countries in the region need

Asia prepares to remember tsunami

Asia prepares to remember tsunami Countries around the Indian Ocean are preparing to commemorate the first anniversary of the Asian tsunami, one of the deadliest natural disasters in modern history, that left more than 216,000 people dead or missing. The disaster, which was triggered by the most powerful earthquake in more than 40 years, ravaged Indian Ocean coastlines on 26 December 2004, smashing cities, seaside communities and holiday resorts in a dozen countries from Indonesia to Somalia. Thousands of foreign survivors and bereaved relatives are expected to head to the affected countries to mark the event and to promote solidarity and remembrance, while

Dravid helps India wrest control of 2nd Test

Dravid helps India wrest control of 2nd Test Indian skipper Rahul Dravid came within three runs of his second successive century in the series to frustrate Pakistan in the second Test at the Iqbal stadium on Monday. Dravid was unbeaten on 97 during a stubborn second-wicket stand with Venkatsai Laxman (83 not out) as India reached 227-1 at lunch on the third day in reply to Pakistan's first-innings total of 588. The tourists now need 162 to avoid the follow-on with nine wickets in hand on a dead wicket that is proving a nightmare for bowlers. Dravid and Laxman, who resumed on 110-1, blunted

Dravid helps India wrest control of 2nd Test

Dravid helps India wrest control of 2nd Test Indian skipper Rahul Dravid came within three runs of his second successive century in the series to frustrate Pakistan in the second Test at the Iqbal stadium on Monday. Dravid was unbeaten on 97 during a stubborn second-wicket stand with Venkatsai Laxman (83 not out) as India reached 227-1 at lunch on the third day in reply to Pakistan's first-innings total of 588. The tourists now need 162 to avoid the follow-on with nine wickets in hand on a dead wicket that is proving a nightmare for bowlers. Dravid and Laxman, who resumed on 110-1, blunted

First bird flu deaths outside Asia

First bird flu deaths outside Asia A teenage brother and sister who died of bird flu were infected with the H5N1 strain of the virus, said the UN's health agency. It confirmed the first human fatalities from the deadly strain outside east Asia. A laboratory in Britain had detected H5N1 in samples from the 14-year-old boy and his 15-year-old sister, said World Health Organisation spokeswoman Maria Cheng. Tests have yet to be completed on samples from their 11-year-old sister, who died of suspected bird flu on Friday. Their doctor said they probably contracted the illness by playing with dead chickens. Cheng said the spread of