NEW YORK -- The emergence of a new, apparently more contagious COVID-19 virus variant first found in southern Africa has rattled markets, triggered travel bans and put vaccine makers on alert.

NEW YORK -- Shares in Chinese stocks tumbled in U.S. trading on Friday following reports that Beijing ordered ride-hailing group Didi Global to delist from the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq-listed e-commerce platform Pinduoduo missed quarterly revenue expectations.

OSAKA/TOKYO -- As bicycles gain popularity as an alternative to Japan's crowded trains and buses amid the coronavirus, thieves are homing in on electric bike batteries as a quick way to make some extra cash.

TOKYO -- Femtech is garnering more attention in Asia as companies and startups launch services and products, while discussion of female-specific health issues becomes less taboo.

TOKYO -- Japan's financial watchdog urged Mizuho Bank and its parent Mizuho Financial Group to clarify responsibility as part of its latest business improvement order to the institution, issued on Friday, in the wake of eight system failures that have rocked bank operations this year.

Criselda Yabes is a journalist based in the Philippines. She is author of "The Battle of Marawi," her 10th book, which was published last year.

BANGKOK -- Soaring energy prices are threatening to hobble Thailand’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and have already sparked angry demonstrations in the ‘Land of Smiles.’

MANILA -- Philippine snack maker Universal Robina on Friday said it is buying Malaysian biscuit producer Crunchy Foods in a deal worth 1.93 billion ringgit ($453.7 million).