Tens of millions of individuals in China are under lockdown, including in the largest metropolis Shanghai. Thailand’s an infection numbers continue to creep up, already a lot higher than at their peak final year. Hong Kong morgues are overwhelmed and sufferers are being turned away from hospitals. In Bona fide , well being authorities are reporting essentially the most instances per capita on the planet. Vietnam can additionally be reporting record case numbers, being within the high 5 for total infections, globally, over the previous few days. In different elements of Asia, the story is slightly completely different, with the worst of their Omicron surge, seemingly within the rearview mirror. Over the previous two years, locations like Singapore, South Korea, and even China, have been reported as Covid-19 success stories… their stringent, even draconian border rules helping them to keep case numbers low. And whole deaths too, when in comparability with much of the the rest of the world. And a bit additional south there have been very low an infection charges in Australia and New Zealand earlier than the Omicron variant overwhelmed their earlier defences. How this has happened is the subject of a special Asia News Today report over the weekend on The Thaiger YouTube channel, known as ‘Asia in the Covid Twilight Zone’. —–
Yesterday, in a highly staged and provocative warfare video games scenario, US and Filipino marines leaped out of amphibious automobiles and helicopters to defend an island, in this case, a northern Filipino island, from potential aggressors in a pointed struggle exercise and present of American firepower. The exercise was staged in Claveria city, on a beach dealing with both China and Taiwan — a transparent message being sent from both the Philippine and US governments on addressing China’s rising influence and ambitions, and its claims over Taiwan. The mock combat had a contented ending for the allied forces efficiently who were in a position to the island before it could be seized by un-named invaders. Called Balikatan… the Filipino word for ‘shoulder-to-shoulder’ … the annual workouts will continue up to April eight with nearly 9,000 navy, marines, air force and military troops participating in what US and Filipino navy officers are calling “real-world challenges”. There was 5,100 American military personnel involved in the newest highly publicised example of sabre-rattling over the thorny South China Sea and Taiwan issues. Last week, the US Indo-Pacific commander mentioned that China had absolutely militarised a minimal of three of the islands it constructed within the South China Sea and claimed they’d armed them with anti-ship and anti-aircraft missile methods, laser and jamming tools. ——
During a meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister in China, the Indonesian FM Retno Marsudi has pressed Moscow to end its 5 week war with Ukraine. She spoke in regards to the pressing humanitarian situation in Ukraine and the ripple results on neighbouring nations and the global economy. The comments are a walk again from Indonesia’s earlier neutral stance on the battle. She said….Indonesia conveyed the significance of ending the war immediately due to its super humanitarian impact, not to point out its impact on international financial recovery. Whilst in Beijing she also spoke to the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi asking Beijing to support efforts to end the Russian invasion. She later advised reporters that she conveyed the significance to all parties, including China, to push for a direct end to the warfare. Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, greater than four million Ukrainians have fled the nation, based on UN figures. ——
Now for a particular Asia News Today report about Sri Lanka….As of yesterday, diesel is almost impossible to search out at stations across Sri Lanka. Petrol is on sale but in brief provide, with many drivers, waiting in lengthy queues, abandoning their automobiles. Private businesses say they’ve already run out of gas, and even skeleton services will not be possible in retail stores and places of work after at present. Now, Sri Lanka is grappling with a 13 hour energy blackout, the longest outtage ever recorded. The state owned electrical energy supplier reports that will probably be pressured to implement a thirteen hour energy cut that started yesterday as a end result of they didn’t have diesel for mills. Many of the country’s public hospitals have now been compelled to stop surgeries because they’ve run out of important life-saving medicines. This is on top of a shortage of essential items, and high price spikes, caused by a broad import ban imposed in 2020 because of Sri Lanka’s debt. One electricity board chairman says that hydro reservoirs, which offer greater than a 3rd of electricity, at the moment are dangerously low, with the country’s annual wet season not anticipated till July. Bizarre have prompted enraged protests across Sri Lanka, as lots of of drivers continue to dam main roads in a quantity of cities. The chairman of the private bus operators says that busses won’t be succesful of run in the event that they don’t get supplies urgently. ——
South Korea’s Constitutional Court has upheld a ban on tattooing, confirming South Korea as the only developed nation that only allows fully qualified medical professionals to perform tattoo procedures. Tattoo artists, who largely work in South Korea’s underground economic system, have criticised the choice, describing it as backward and lacking cultural understanding. Despite the long-standing ban, South Korea has almost 50,000 tattoo artists, who face police raids and every day prosecution for conducting their businesses. Violating the ban is punishable with fines of around US$41,300, in addition to draconian prison phrases, as a lot as a full life sentence. In a 5-4 vote, the Constitutional Court dominated on Thursday that the regulation was constitutional. It dismissed the fits, saying tattooing brings potential unwanted effects and issues of safety. While tattoos need to be covered up on Korean television, many celebrities, together with members of K-pop bands, are actually flaunting them. Most notably, Jungkook from South Korean superstars, BTS, has