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Senin, 03 Mei 2021

Hong Kong ends longest recession in decades - CNA

HONG KONG: Hong Kong's economy jumped back into growth in the first quarter of the year, official figures showed on Monday (May 3), ending the city's most pronounced period of recession in its modern history.

The international financial hub has been battered in the last 18 months by a triple whammy of the United States-China trade war, months of social unrest and then the COVID-19 pandemic.

It recorded six consecutive quarters of negative growth, a more prolonged downturn than during both the 1997 Asian financial crisis and the 2007 to 2008 global crash.

That came to an end on Monday when the government announced that the city's economy grew by 7.8 per cent on year in the first three months of 2021.

Hong Kong was one of the few places in the world unlucky enough to enter the coronavirus pandemic already mired in a deep recession.

In 2019, months of huge and often violent protests coincided with swirling trade tensions between Beijing and the US, pummelling the economy that acts as an international gateway to China.

The city was among the first places outside mainland China to record a COVID-19 infection, and the economy plunged by a record-breaking 9.1 per cent in the first quarter of 2020.

Since then, Hong Kong has managed to keep the virus' spread down to a little more than 11,000 infections thanks to strict quarantine and economically punishing social distancing measures.

READ: Residents vaccinated against COVID-19 ready to party till 2am as bars reopen in Hong Kong

READ: Asia-focused HSBC profits double as credit losses reversed

This year's economic rebound was largely sparked by a sharp resurgence in exports fuelled by recoveries in both China and the US.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan has forecast full-year growth of 3.5 to 5.5 per cent in 2021.

But the city has warned that the economy remains below its pre-pandemic levels and that the recovery will be uneven.

Coronavirus restrictions are keeping Hong Kong all but closed to those without work permits, and people who do arrive need to undergo three weeks of compulsory hotel quarantine.

The tourism and retail sectors remain on their knees, and unemployment is at around 7 per cent, its highest rate in years.

While political stability has returned, an ongoing crackdown on dissent and moves to make semi-autonomous Hong Kong more like the mainland continue to rattle business confidence.

A quick journey out of the pandemic looks unlikely as well.

The city has managed to secure ample doses of coronavirus vaccines, but many residents are hesitant to listen to a government that suffers from a palpable trust deficit.

So far, just 12 per cent of the city's 7.5 million residents have taken one or more vaccine doses.

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2021-05-03 10:04:01Z
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Singapore ranks 4th out of 28 in world with most number of B1617 Indian variant cases - The Online Citizen Asia

According to the latest information on GISAID website today (3 May), the B1617 double mutation variant found in India has now reached close to 30 countries in the world, including Singapore.

In Singapore, there have already been 121 COVID-19 cases reported to have contracted the B1617 Indian variant. In fact, Singapore is now ranked #4 in the world with the most number of cases with this variant.

The following is a map tracking the occurrence of the B1617 Indian variant spreading in the world:

Last Tue (27 Apr), the World Health Organization (WHO) said that the B1617 variant feared to be contributing to a surge in coronavirus cases in India has been found in more than a dozen countries.

It said that the B1617 variant first found in India had as of last Tue been detected in more than 1,200 sequences uploaded to the GISAID open-access database “from at least 17 countries”. As of today (3 May), it has already spread to 28 countries including India, according to data from GISAID.

“Most sequences were uploaded from India, the United Kingdom, USA and Singapore,” WHO said last week.

GISAID is a global science initiative and primary source established in 2008 that provides open-access to genomic data of influenza viruses and the coronavirus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic.

On January 10, 2020, the first whole-genome sequences of SARS-CoV-2 were made available on GISAID, which enabled global responses to the pandemic, including the development of the first vaccines and diagnostic tests to detect SARS-CoV-2. GISAID facilitates genomic epidemiology and real-time surveillance to monitor the emergence of new COVID-19 viral strains across the planet. GISAID was recognized for its importance to global health by G20 health ministers as well as the WHO.

Of the 25 imported cases announced by the Ministry of Health yesterday (2 May), 17 were found to be linked to India.

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2021-05-03 05:32:18Z
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New Zealand's Ardern says differences with China becoming harder to reconcile - Yahoo Singapore News

By Praveen Menon

WELLINGTON (Reuters) -Differences between New Zealand and its top trading partner China are becoming harder to reconcile as Beijing's role in the world grows and changes, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday.

The comments come as New Zealand faces pressure from some elements among Western allies over its reluctance to use the Five Eyes intelligence and security alliance to criticise Beijing.

In a speech at the China Business Summit in Auckland, Ardern said there are things on which China and New Zealand "do not, cannot, and will not agree", but added these differences need not define their relationship.

"It will not have escaped the attention of anyone here that as China's role in the world grows and changes, the differences between our systems – and the interests and values that shape those systems – are becoming harder to reconcile," Ardern said.

"This is a challenge that we, and many other countries across the Indo Pacific region, but also in Europe and other regions, are also grappling with," she added.

In comments that sparked some reaction among Western allies, Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta said last month she was uncomfortable expanding the role of Five Eyes, which includes Australia, Britain, Canada and the United States.

"This speech appears to be crafted to deflect surprisingly sharp and severe criticism from commentators after Mahuta's remarks last month," said Geoffrey Miller, international analyst at the political website Democracy Project.

However, the comments do not change New Zealand's overall shift to a more China-friendly, or at least more neutral position, he said.

"Ardern and Mahuta are selling the new stance as New Zealand advancing an ‘independent foreign policy’ that is not loyal to any major bloc," he added.

SENSITIVE ISSUES

China, which takes almost one-third of New Zealand's exports, has accused the Five Eyes of ganging up on it by issuing statements on Hong Kong and the treatment of ethnic Muslim Uyhgurs in Xinjiang.

New Zealand's parliament on Tuesday is set to look at a motion put forward by a smaller party to declare the situation in Xinjiang as a genocide.

Ardern said New Zealand would continue to speak about these issues individually as well as through its partners, noting that managing the relationship with China is not always going to be easy.

China's Ambassador to New Zealand, Wu Xi, who also spoke at the event warned that Hong Kong and Xinjiang related issues were China's internal affairs.

"We hope that the New Zealand side could hold an objective and a just a position, abide by international law and not interfere in China's internal affairs so as to maintain the sound development of our bilateral relations," she said in her speech.

Beijing is engaged in a diplomatic row with Australia and has imposed trade restrictions after Canberra lobbied for an international inquiry into the source of the coronavirus. China denies the curbs are reprisals, saying reduced imports of Australian products are the result of buyers' own decisions.

Over the weekend, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said China had recently acted "more aggressively abroad" and was behaving "increasingly in adversarial ways."

When asked if New Zealand would risk trade punishment with China, as did Australia, to uphold values, Ardern said: "It would be a concern to anyone in New Zealand if the consideration was 'Do we speak on this or are we too worried of economic impacts?'"

(Reporting by Praveen Menon; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)

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2021-05-03 00:04:48Z
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India's COVID-19 cases near 20 million, peak seen nearing - CNA

BENGALURU, India: India on Monday (May 3) reported more than 300,000 new coronavirus cases for a 12th straight day to take its overall caseload to just shy of 20 million, as scientists predicted a peak in infections in the coming days.

With 368,147 new cases over the past 24 hours, India's total infections stand at 19.93 million, while total fatalities rose by 3,417 to 218,959, according to health ministry data.

Medical experts say real numbers across the country of 1.35 billion may be five to 10 times higher than the official tally.

But the health ministry offered a glimmer of hope, reporting that positive cases relative to the number of tests conducted fell on Monday for the first time since at least Apr 15.

READ: COVID-19 - Indian court urges government action as hospitals cry help

India's coronavirus cases may peak between May 3 to May 5, according to a mathematical model from a team of scientists advising the government, a few days earlier than a previous estimate as the virus has spread faster than expected.

Hospitals have filled to capacity, medical oxygen supplies have run short and morgues and crematoriums have been swamped as the country deals with the surge in cases.

At least 11 states and union territories have imposed some form of restrictions to try and stem infections, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government is reluctant to impose a national lockdown, concerned about the economic impact.

"In my opinion, only a national stay at home order and declaring (a) medical emergency will help to address the current healthcare needs," Bhramar Mukherjee, an epidemiologist with the University of Michigan said on Twitter.

"The # of active cases is accumulating, not just the daily new cases. Even the reported numbers state there are around 3.5M active cases."

READ: Indian industry body urges curbs to economic activity to save lives

CRISIS TESTS MODI

The spike in infections is India’s biggest crisis since Modi took office in 2014. Modi has been criticised for not taking steps earlier to curb the spread and for letting millions of largely unmasked people attend religious festivals and crowded political rallies in five states during March and April.

A forum of scientific advisers set up by the government warned Indian officials in early March of a new and more contagious variant of the coronavirus taking hold in the country, five scientists who are part of the forum told Reuters.

Despite the warning, four of the scientists said the federal government did not seek to impose major restrictions to stop the spread of the virus.

It remains to be seen how his handling of the crisis might affect Modi or his party politically. The next general election is due in 2024. Modi's party was defeated in India's West Bengal state in results declared on Sunday, although it won in the neighbouring state of Assam.

Leaders of 13 opposition parties on Sunday signed a letter urging Modi to immediately launch free national vaccination and to prioritise oxygen supply to hospitals and health centres.

Several states have postponed widening a vaccination drive for adults that was to start on Saturday due to a lack of vaccines. The national health ministry says states have 10 million vaccines stockpiled and 2 million more coming in the next three days.

READ: 'How will I cope if I fall sick?' - In India, COVID-19 spares no one

Despite being the world's biggest producer of vaccines, India does not have enough for itself - undermining a plan to ramp up and widen inoculation from Saturday. Only about 9 per cent of its 1.4 billion people have had a dose.

India has struggled to increase capacity beyond 80 million doses a month due to lack of raw materials and a fire at the Serum Institute, which makes the AstraZeneca vaccine.

International aid has been pouring into India.

Britain will send another 1,000 ventilators to India, the government said on Sunday. Prime ministers Boris Johnson and Modi are scheduled to talk on Tuesday.

The Indian COVID-19 variant has now reached at least 17 countries including Britain, Switzerland and Iran, leading several governments to close their borders to people travelling from India.

BOOKMARK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the coronavirus outbreak and its developments

Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram

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2021-05-03 06:33:45Z
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Minggu, 02 Mei 2021

India's COVID-19 death toll sets new daily record, another state goes into lockdown - CNA

NEW DELHI: India's COVID-19 death toll jumped by a record 3,689 deaths of Sunday (May 2), the highest single-day rise since the start of the pandemic, taking the country's death toll to more than 215,000.

Authorities reported 392,488 new infections in the previous 24 hours to push the total caseload to 19.56 million. So far, the virus has killed 215,542 people in India.

Indian hospitals, morgues and crematoriums have been overwhelmed as the country has reported more than 300,000 new cases a day for more than 10 days straight. Many families have been left on their own to scramble for medicines and oxygen.

Nearly 10 Indian states and union territories have imposed some form of restrictions, even as the federal government remains reluctant to impose a national lockdown.

The eastern state of Odisha became the latest to announce a two-week lockdown, joining Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka and West Bengal. Other states, including Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Assam, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan, have either imposed night curfews or weekend lockdowns.

The Indian Express newspaper reported on Sunday that the country's COVID-19 taskforce has advised the federal government to impose a national lockdown.

Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said all efforts should be made to avoid a lockdown.

READ: Fauci recommends India lockdown as COVID-19 cases surge

The federal government fears another lockdown will have a devastating impact on the economy. The lockdown imposed last year after the first COVID-19 outbreak led to job losses as economic output fell a record 24 per cent in April to June 2020, compared with the same period a year earlier.

Modi's government has been criticised for letting millions of largely unmasked people attend religious festivals and crowded political rallies in five states through March and April. Daily cases in these states have spiked since then.

READ: COVID-19: Indian court urges government action as hospitals cry help

Reuters reported on Saturday that the federal government has been accused of failing to respond to a warning in early March from its own scientific advisers that a new and more contagious variant was taking hold in the country.

Patient suffering from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) receives treatment inside the casualty wa — A patient suffering from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) receives treatment inside the casualty ward at a hospital in New Delhi, India, May 1, 2021. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

"IT'S OVERWHELMING"

The head of the Serum Institute of India - the world's largest vaccine maker - told The Times newspaper on Saturday during a business trip to Britain that he was being hounded by political and business leaders for more supplies.

"'Threats' is an understatement," Adar Poonawalla told the paper. "The level of expectation and aggression is really unprecedented. It's overwhelming. Everyone feels they should get the vaccine."

Experts have called on the government to allow more flexibility in India's vaccine rollout, particularly in poorer rural areas where there is lower Internet penetration.

"We should procure sufficient vaccines, then plan bottom-up through ... the primary health centre level," Bangalore-based public health expert Hemant Shewade told AFP.

"Take vaccines to the people the way we have implemented our polio and measles campaigns."

Alarm bells are also ringing in other countries in densely populated South Asia.

READ: India government ignored warnings on COVID-19 virus variant, scientists say

"Infections have surged beyond the capacity of the health system," Nepal's health ministry said on Friday as it warned that hospital beds were running out amid a spike in infections.

On Sunday, the Himalayan nation recorded 7,137 new cases, a record high.

Nearly 40 per cent of people tested returned a positive result, data from the ministry showed.

The government has enforced lockdowns or partial lockdowns in almost half of Nepal's 77 districts.

In Sri Lanka, daily infections hit a record 1,699 on Saturday, with authorities imposing further curbs on movement and activities in parts of the island nation.

"We could face an India-type crisis very soon unless we arrest the current trend of infections," chief epidemiologist Sudath Samaraweera said.

BOOKMARK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the coronavirus outbreak and its developments

Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram

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2021-05-02 14:10:11Z
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Seven reported killed as Myanmar protests aim to 'shake the world' - CNA

Myanmar's security forces opened fire on some of the biggest anti-coup protests in days on Sunday (May 2), killing seven people, media reported, three months after the coup plunged the country into crisis.

The protests, after a spell of dwindling crowds and what appeared to be more restraint by security forces, were coordinated with demonstrations in Myanmar communities around the world to mark what organisers called "the global Myanmar spring revolution".

"Shake the world with the voice of Myanmar people's unity," the organisers said in a statement.

Streams of demonstrators, some led by Buddhist monks, made their way through cities and towns across the country, including the commercial hub of Yangon and the second city of Mandalay, where two people were shot and killed, the Mizzima news agency reported.

The Irrawaddy news site earlier posted a photograph of a man it said was a security officer in plain clothes taking aim with a rifle in Mandalay.

Anti-coup protesters in Myanmar marched again despite a bloody crackdown by the military junta AFP/Handout

Two people were killed in the central town of Wetlet, the Myanmar Now news agency said, and two were killed in different towns in Shan State in the northeast, two media outlets reported. One person was also killed in the northern jade-mining town of Hpakant, the Kachin News Group reported.

Reuters could not verify the reports and a spokesman for the ruling junta did not answer calls seeking comment.

The protests are only one of the problems the generals have brought on with their Feb 1 ouster of the elected government led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

Wars with ethnic minority insurgents in remote frontier regions in the north and east have intensified significantly since the coup, displacing tens of thousands of civilians, according to United Nations estimates.

In some places, civilians with crude weapons have battled security forces, while in central areas military and government facilities that have been secure for generations have been hit by rocket attacks and a wave of small, unexplained blasts.

There have been no claims of responsibility for the explosions.

READ: Bomb blasts and flash protests as Myanmar enters fourth month under junta

"HANDMADE BOMBS"

Khit Thit media reported a blast outside a police barracks in Yangon early on Sunday. Vehicles were ablaze it said, but it gave no information on any casualties.

Later, it reported another blast in the city. A news portal in Shan State reported a blast outside the home of a prominent businessman.

The state-run broadcaster in its main evening news bulletin on Saturday gave details of at least 11 explosions over the previous 36 hours, mostly in Yangon. It reported some damage but no casualties.

"Some rioters who do not want stability of the state have been throwing and planting handmade bombs at government buildings and on public roads," the broadcaster said.

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners advocacy group says security forces have killed at least 759 protesters since the coup. Reuters is unable to confirm the toll.

READ: Thousands of Myanmar villagers poised to flee violence to Thailand, group says

The military, which ruled for almost 50 years until launching a tentative reform process a decade ago, acknowledged in April the death of 248 protesters, saying they were killed after they initiated violence.

The protests and a civil disobedience campaign of strikes have crippled the economy and raised the prospect of 25 million people sliding into poverty, the UN Development Programme has warned.

The military said it had to seize power because its complaints of fraud in a November election won by Aung San Suu Kyi's party were not addressed by an election commission that deemed the vote fair.

Aung San Suu Kyi, 75, has been detained since the coup along with many other members of her party.

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2021-05-02 12:22:30Z
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Malaysia to impose new Covid-19 movement curbs, with bazaars and schools to close: Sources - The Straits Times

PETALING JAYA (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Malaysia will announce a two-week movement control order (MCO) in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor and Sarawak from Monday (May 3) to curb the spread of Covid-19, according to sources, after the city and states saw a drastic spike in cases over the past two weeks.

Sources told The Star that the new MCO - its third so far - would be similar to the one that took place between Jan 11 and Jan 26 in parts of the country, in which economic activities were allowed but schools were closed and social and religious activities barred.

It is learnt that no dine-in would be allowed at eateries. One source said an announcement on the new MCO would be made on Sunday.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said on Saturday that the government was reviewing its current Covid-19 protocols, especially in badly-hit areas like financial capital Kuala Lumpur and its surrounding areas in the Selangor state.

He said that premises which had been visited by a big number of those found positive for Covid-19 would be asked to close.

In a statement on Saturday, he said the government had used an early warning system known as Hot-spots Identification for Dynamic Engagement (Hide) to identify areas and premises which were at high risk of transmitting the disease.

"This approach is in line with the government's decision to have a targeted approach in controlling and curbing Covid-19.

"Through this system, monitoring is done every day to identify high-risk public locations, " said Tan Sri Muhyiddin.

The source said the government will give careful considerations in the implementation of any MCO as it would impact the Hari Raya celebrations and Ramadan bazaars, which were allowed to operate across the country during the fasting month.

It is learnt that Ramadan bazaars in states where the movement curbs are imposed will have to close, with the exception of those located in the south-west district on Penang island.

"The MCO in five districts in Kedah yesterday (May 1) is part of the proposal which was presented to the National Security council on Friday. But we decided to impose it on Kedah earlier as the situation is alarming, " said a source.

Health Minister Adham Baba signed a gazette on Friday declaring MCO on five districts in Kedah, namely Kota Setar, Kuala Muda, Bandar Baru, Baling and Kulim.

"The government has agreed to implement MCO in these five districts in Kedah beginning today (May 1) until May 14, " he said. "This is a decision made for the safety of the people, " he said when contacted.

In explaining the MCO, one source said: "Economic activities will continue as people have to go to work, but those who can work from home will be encouraged to do so."

Schools in MCO states would also likely be closed this time due to many "education clusters", the source said.

"Furthermore, there are only five more school days before schools close for the Raya break, and another two weeks of online learning, as announced by the Education Ministry."

As for social and religious functions, he said such events would either be put on hold or permitted with a minimal number of people in attendance.

"We will most likely be having a Raya celebration similar to the one last year where only immediate family members in the same household were allowed. And no open houses.

"Interstate travel for balik kampung (annual homebound exodus) is not allowed, " he said, adding that the number of people in a vehicle could also be restricted.

Coronavirus cases has been rising consistently in Malaysia since breaching the 2,000 daily case mark on April 15.

On Friday, it logged 3,788 new infections - the highest in 2½ months - barely a month after the country managed to reel in its third wave to a low of 941 infections on March 29.

Active infections, meanwhile, have almost doubled since mid-April, climbing from 15,000 cases to almost 30,000 on Friday.

Malaysia on Saturday logged 2,881 new Covid-19 cases to raise the cumulative total to 411,594.

The country has, since late January, been in a state of emergency, which the government said will help it deal with the pandemic. The state of emergency will last until Aug 1.

Much of Malaysia was under the top-tier MCO between January and February this year.

Restrictions have been gradually lifted since then as concerns mount over the weak economy and job losses. A nationwide interstate travel ban has been retained.

Only the north-eastern state of Kelantan remains under the MCO, while several other states are in the mid-tier conditional MCO.

Senin, 03 Mei 2021

Minggu, 02 Mei 2021

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