Here are the latest developments from Asia related to the novel coronavirus pandemic:

The postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics will be cancelled if the coronavirus pandemic isn't brought under control by next year, the organising committee's president said.

The pandemic has already forced a year-long delay of the Games -- which are now scheduled to open on July 23, 2021 -- but Tokyo 2020 president Yoshiro Mori said no further postponement was possible.

Imama Saroso and his wife Faizah Badaruddin, who are hearing and speech-impaired, pose with homemade face masks which enables people with disabilities to read lips
Imama Saroso and his wife Faizah Badaruddin, who are hearing and speech-impaired, pose with homemade face masks which enables people with disabilities to read lips AFP / ANDI

In an interview with Japan's Nikkan Sports daily, Mori was categorical when asked if the Olympics could be delayed until 2022 if the pandemic remains a threat next year, replying: "No."

Hundreds of Sydney-siders rushed into the waves at the city's famous Bondi Beach as Australia took the first steps in easing coronavirus restrictions.

Dozens of eager surfers jumped railings and hit the water even before the beach officially opened at 7:00 am, five weeks after police sealed the area off because of large crowds ignoring social distancing orders.

A man walks past a shuttered pachinko gaming parlour in Tokyo. While life is returning to normal in Japan, the head of the Olympic organising committee said the games would be cancelled if the pandemic wasn't over by next year
A man walks past a shuttered pachinko gaming parlour in Tokyo. While life is returning to normal in Japan, the head of the Olympic organising committee said the games would be cancelled if the pandemic wasn't over by next year AFP / CHARLY TRIBALLEAU

New Zealanders satisfied their cravings for hamburgers and coffee as a five-week lockdown eased, as hopes swelled that the country's coronavirus outbreak was under control.

Lines of cars snaked along drive-thru lanes at McDonald's outlets around the country, with the fast-food chain reporting 50 vehicles queued before dawn in the North Island town of Hastings.

A man poses with a message on his back before enjoying his first swim after Bondi Beach re-opened
A man poses with a message on his back before enjoying his first swim after Bondi Beach re-opened AFP / Saeed KHAN

Asian stocks were mixed as government moves to ease lockdown measures around the world were offset by profit-taking from Monday's rally, while US oil prices suffered another collapse.

Broadcasters in 10 foreign territories have bought rights to air the upcoming South Korean football season, the K-League said, with major sports on hold around the world over the coronavirus pandemic.

South Korea endured one of the worst early outbreaks of the disease outside China, prompting professional sports to suspend or delay seasons.

Malaysia's deputy health minister Noor Azmi Ghazali was fined 1,000 ringgit ($230) for having lunch with a group of men in violation of the country's lockdown rules, official news agency Bernama reported.

Thousands of people have been detained, with many facing fines and some short jail terms, for breaching Malaysia's strict curbs aimed at stemming the spread of the virus.

Deaf people in Indonesia have been thrown a lifeline by a husband and wife team making see-through facemasks to aid with lip reading.

"Since the pandemic started, everyone is wearing facemasks. For deaf people, we can't understand what others are saying because we can't read their lips," said 52-year-old Faizah Badaruddin.

She and her husband, from Makassar on Sulawesi island, started producing cloth masks with transparent plastic which they sell for between 10,000 rupiah to 15,000 rupiah (65 cents to 97 cents) each.