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Minggu, 23 Mei 2021

Myanmar anti-coup insurgents seize police post, kill security forces - CNA

Fighters opposed to Myanmar's military junta seized a police station in the eastern town of Mobye on Sunday (May 23) and claimed to have killed at least 13 members of the security forces and captured four, local media said.

Videos shared on social media showed what appeared to be the dead bodies of security forces in the latest attack of a general upsurge of conflict in parts of Myanmar since the Feb 1 coup that overthrew elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

A gun battle also erupted near the Chinese border early on Sunday, while on Saturday an armed ethnic group opposed to the coup launched an attack on a jade mining town on the other side of Myanmar, near India.

Video from Mobye showed bodies in the uniforms of the security forces, while other pictures showed four men who were said to be police with their hands behind their backs and blindfolded with surgical masks.

A police vehicle was shown in flames as dozens of fighters milled at the scene.

Reuters was unable to reach a junta spokesman or to independently confirm the video or the accounts of the fighting.

READ: 100 days of the Myanmar coup: Why the military seized control and what happens next

The Irrawaddy news outlet quoted a fighter from the local People's Defence Force as saying the police station had been set on fire and that two civilians had been wounded in the fighting. Reports from other media said up to 15 members of the security forces had been killed.

Mobye is around 100km east of the capital Naypyidaw, but lies near territory held by some of the ethnic armed groups that have fought for greater autonomy for decades.

An alliance of four ethnic groups opposing the coup battled early on Sunday with security forces in Muse, one of the main border crossings to China, Myanmar media said.

READ: Myanmar activists say more than 800 killed by security forces since coup

Since the army took power, local People's Defence Forces have also sprung up to oppose the junta - often armed with shotguns and homemade weapons. The video from Mobye showed at least one fighter firing an assault rifle.

While the junta is struggling with renewed conflict on several fronts, it also faces daily protests and strikes that have paralysed hospitals, schools and much private business.

TEACHERS SUSPENDED

More than 125,000 school teachers - nearly a third of the total - have been suspended for joining a civil disobedience movement to oppose the coup, an official of the Myanmar Teachers' Federation said.

READ: More than 125,000 Myanmar teachers suspended for opposing coup: Educators' group

At least 815 people have been killed by security forces since the coup, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners activist group.

The junta disputes that figure. Its leader, Min Aung Hlaing, said in comments broadcast on Saturday that 300 people had been killed in addition to 47 police.

Protesters also demand the release of nearly 4,300 people who have been arrested since the coup, including Aung San Suu Kyi, 75.

Min Aung Hlaing said Aung San Suu Kyi was healthy and would soon appear in court. Her next hearing is on Monday on some of the many charges brought against her, which range from illegal possession of walkie-talkie radios to breaching a state secrets law.

READ: Myanmar junta leader says Aung San Suu Kyi will soon appear

The army seized power claiming fraud in a general election won by Aung San Suu Kyi's party in November. Its accusations had been dismissed by the former electoral commission, dozens of whose officials are now locked up.

In further comments from an interview released by Hong Kong-based Phoenix Television on Sunday, Min Aung Hlaing sought to reassure Chinese businesses after some factories were set ablaze recently in the commercial capital Yangon.

"Our citizens are not being anti-China but it's the politics that cause the hatred," he said.

Some opponents of the coup have accused China of supporting the junta, which has been condemned by Western countries that have introduced limited sanctions. China has been milder in its approach and has said it seeks stability in its neighbour.

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2021-05-23 10:15:13Z
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Two COVID-19 shots effective against B16172 variant from India: English health body - CNA

LONDON: A double dose of COVID-19 vaccines is almost as effective against the fast-spreading variant of the coronavirus first identified in India as it is against Britain's dominant strain, English health officials said on Saturday (May 22).

Britain's health minister said the data was groundbreaking and he was increasingly hopeful that the government would be able to lift more COVID restrictions next month.

A study by Public Health England found the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was 88 per cent effective against symptomatic disease from the B16172 variant two weeks after the second dose.

That compared with 93 per cent effectiveness against the B117 "Kent" strain which is Britain's dominant COVID variant.

Two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine were 60 per cent effective against symptomatic disease from the Indian variant compared with 66 per cent effectiveness against the Kent variant, PHE said.

"I'm increasingly confident that we're on track for the roadmap, because this data shows that the vaccine, after two doses, works just as effectively (against the Indian variant)," Health Secretary Matt Hancock told broadcasters.

Under the government's plans, a lifting of remaining coronavirus restrictions is due to take place from Jun 21.

Britain has rushed out Europe's fastest vaccination programme so far but it has faced a new challenge from the spread of the variant first found in India.

Data published on Saturday showed new COVID cases reported in Britain rose by 10.5 per cent in the seven days to May 22 although it remained a fraction of levels seen earlier this year.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson this month ordered an acceleration of remaining second doses to the over 50s and people who are clinically vulnerable.

PHE said a first dose of both vaccines was 33 per cent effective against symptomatic disease from B16172 after three weeks, lower than its 50 per cent effectiveness against B117.

Hancock said that showed that getting both doses of the vaccine was "absolutely vital."

Concern about rising cases in Britain of the variant first found in India prompted Germany to say on Friday that anyone entering the country from the United Kingdom would have to quarantine for two weeks on arrival.

Also on Friday, the head of Germany's public health institute said existing COVID-19 vaccines might be less effective against the B16172 variant.

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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2021-05-22 23:03:45Z
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Sabtu, 22 Mei 2021

Ship owner says Suez Canal was at fault over Ever Given grounding: Lawyer - CNA

CAIRO: The owner of a container ship that blocked the Suez Canal in March says the canal authority was at fault over its grounding as it disputes the vessel's detention and a compensation claim, a lawyer representing the owner said on Saturday (May 22).

The Ever Given, one of the world's largest container ships, became jammed across the canal in high winds on March 23, and remained grounded for six days, blocking traffic in both directions and disrupting global trade.

The vessel has since been held in a lake between two stretches of the canal as the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) pursues a US$916.5 million claim against Japanese owner Shoei Kisen.

An appeals chamber at Ismailia Economic Court held hearings on Saturday over the ship's detention, which the SCA is seeking to uphold following an appeal by the owner, as well as the SCA's financial claim.

Lawyers representing Shoei Kisen argued that the SCA had been at fault for allowing the ship to enter the waterway amid bad weather, Ahmed Abu Ali, a member of the legal team, told Reuters, adding that the authority failed to prove any fault by the ship.

Recordings from the ship that were presented to the court showed disagreements between SCA pilots and its control centre over whether it should enter the canal, Abu Ali said.

Lawyers for Shoei Kisen said the ship should have been accompanied by at least two tug boats suitable for the ship's size "but this didn't happen", he added.

The SCA did not immediately respond to requests for comment, but it has publicly denied being at fault.

Lawyers for Shoei Kisen also argued that the Ever Given's detention was legally flawed and that the work to release the ship was not "a salvage (operation) in the proper legal sense", meaning the SCA could not seek compensation for such an operation, Abu Ali said.

"This was one of the duties of the authority according to the traffic contract," he said.

Shoei Kisen is claiming US$100,000 in initial compensation for losses related to its detention, he said.

The court was expected to issue a decision on the case on Sunday, lawyers and witnesses said.

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2021-05-22 19:45:46Z
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Taiwan sees another rise in domestic COVID-19 cases but says trend 'stable' - CNA

TAIPEI: Taiwan reported another rise in domestic COVID-19 cases on Saturday (May 22), but the health minister said the trend remained stable with new infections concentrated in the northern part of the island in and around Taipei.

After months of keeping the pandemic under control, Taiwan is dealing with a surge in domestic infections, and the whole island is under a heightened state of alert with people asked to stay at home and many venues shut.

Health Minister Chen Shih-chung announced 321 new domestic cases, plus 400 infections over the past six days whose positive tests were not included in previous reports due to a delay following a spike in cases.

READ: Taiwan premier says no need to raise COVID-19 alert level for now

Chen said cases spiked on Monday and the trend remained "stable".

"There's no explosion in the pandemic development," he said, adding that cases were concentrated in the few hot spots in the capital and its neighbouring city New Taipei, though cases continue to be reported in other parts of the island.

"I hope everyone stays calm and makes active preparations in the war against the pandemic," Chen said.

He reported two new deaths, bringing the total to 17 since the pandemic began. Taiwan has reported an accumulated 3,862 infections, the majority of which are now domestic cases.

READ: Taiwan tightens restrictions after new domestic COVID-19 cases

People showing no or only light symptoms, which account for many of the new cases, are being told to stay at home or go to dedicated quarantine hotels.

The government is also urging its people not to spread fake news and rumours about the outbreak, saying they should only rely on official reports.

Deputy Minister of the Interior Chen Tsung-yen on Saturday accused China of spreading fake news about the COVID-19 situation on the island.

Taiwan, calling this weekend critical to breaking the chain of transmission, has urged people to stay at home. Many appeared to be doing that, with the streets around central Taipei unusually quiet.

The health ministry brought out its social media dog mascot, a Shiba Inu called Zongchai, to suggest songs about being alone people could sing at home to keep themselves entertained, like Taiwanese rocker Wu Bai's hit "Lonely Tree, Lonely Bird".

"At the weekend, don't go out unless absolutely necessary," the ministry said, showing Zongchai wearing glasses in front of a microphone.

BOOKMARK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic and its developments

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2021-05-22 08:39:43Z
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Jumat, 21 Mei 2021

Biden has 'no illusions' on difficulty of North Korea denuclearisation - CNA

WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden acknowledged Friday (May 21) there is no easy path to getting North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons but reaffirmed his "iron-clad" commitment to the US alliance with South Korea after talks with President Moon Jae-in.

"We're under no illusions how difficult this is - none whatsoever. The past four administrations have not achieved the objective. It's an incredibly difficult objective," Biden told reporters at a press conference with his South Korean counterpart at the White House.

The US leader also announced he had named veteran diplomat Sung Kim, the former US ambassador to Seoul, as his special envoy for North Korea.

Facing a nuclear-armed North Korea and an increasingly assertive China, Biden stressed his faith in traditional US alliances.

Biden called the US-South Korean partnership "the linchpin of peace, security" and promised a "shared approach" to the stand-off with North Korea.

READ: South Korea's Moon vows to work with US to denuclearise Korean peninsula

He said that during their talks at the White House he and Moon discussed "freedom of navigation" for international shipping in the South China Sea, as well as "peace and stability" around Taiwan, which has been subjected to growing Chinese sabre-rattling.

Moon called denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula "the most urgent common task".

US relations with historic allies in Asia and Europe suffered turbulence under Donald Trump, who recast long-standing partners as cutthroat business competitors and freeloaders. Biden has worked quickly to restore the previous balance, with an eye on the challenge from China.

Moon came to Washington as Biden's second foreign guest and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, who visited last month, was the first.

"It should send a clear message about the importance of these partnerships and alliances that the first bilateral meetings the president has had ... are with Japan and South Korea," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters Friday.

WAR HERO

Upon his arrival for the talks with Biden, Moon declared that South Korea and the United States share the "same soul," forged in their bloody Cold War-era conflict with North Korea at the start of the 1950s.

Symbolizing the deep, complex history behind those bonds, Moon was invited to witness Biden awarding the Medal of Honor - the highest US military decoration for bravery - to a 94-year-old US veteran of the Korean War.

READ: Biden vows to help 'rebuild' Gaza, insists on two-state solution

Then first lieutenant Ralph Puckett was wounded in 1950 while leading US and Korean soldiers in the desperate defense of a hill against an overwhelming force of Chinese troops - an early episode in Beijing's decisive entry into the war.

The White House said this was the first time any foreign leader had taken part in a Medal of Honor ceremony.

BIDEN-KIM MEETING UNLIKELY

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and her South Korean counterpart held separate talks involving a raft of CEOs with a focus on high-tech manufacturing - battery technology, semi-conductors and 5G wireless.

But the bulk of the Biden-Moon meeting was on China and the North Korean nuclear arsenal.

Reflecting the scale and complexity of both issues, however, it was no surprise that little concrete emerged - in public at least.

The White House says it is abandoning former attempts to reach a so-called "grand bargain" with Pyongyang or simply showing what diplomats termed "strategic patience".

Now the White House is touting "a calibrated practical approach" - diplomatic jargon, it seems, for being realistically low-key, while open-minded.

"We understand where previous efforts in the past had difficulties and we've tried to learn from those," a senior White House official said.

Asked if Biden would consider following up Trump's headline-grabbing but ultimately fruitless summits with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, the US president said it would have to be on entirely different terms.

Biden said he "would not meet" unless there was a concrete plan for negotiating on the nuclear arsenal.

And he made a clear criticism of Trump's chummy relationship with Kim, saying he "would not do what had been done in the recent past. I would not give him all he's looking for - international recognition."

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2021-05-21 23:58:49Z
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Expert says Thailand's surge in Covid-19 cases is 'failure of the winner' - The Straits Times

One week before Songkran, Thailand's traditional new year in mid-April, health officials in Bangkok detected the presence of the coronavirus B117 first identified in Britain. This highly contagious variant was found in a cluster of patients who had visited entertainment venues in the capital.

To reduce the risk of it spreading, the government banned the splashing of water - an annual ritual - and cancelled all public events which might cause people to gather.

But, wary of the economic costs of a lockdown before the long holiday, it did not stop people from travelling back to their home provinces for family gatherings.

Provincial governors were left to impose their own health control measures.

The number of Covid-19 cases spiked after Songkran. On Monday (May 17), Thailand logged an all-time high of 9,635 new infections, over 70 per cent of whom were prisoners across the country.

On Tuesday, it reported 35 fatalities - another all-time daily high. The total number of cases hit 119,585 as of Thursday, with 703 deaths.

The "double mutant" B1617 variant of the virus first detected in India was also logged on May 10.

On Friday (May 21), a government spokesman announced that 15 workers had tested positive for the B16172 variant that was first identified in India and is prevalent in Singapore's current outbreak.

Professor Vip Viprakasit from Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital at Mahidol University called the rising infections a "failure of the winner".

Speaking in his personal capacity, he noted that Thailand was hailed for its impressive performance during the first wave of the coronavirus last year.

At the end of November last year, the cumulative number of cases was still around 4,000, with 60 fatalities.

"However we kind of relaxed in terms of self-control, not just in policy but on a country-wide scale," the professor, who volunteers with the government's Covid-19 effort, told The Straits Times. "People became relaxed on personal hygiene measures, like wearing masks, using alcohol, and checking in. They had parties."

Added to these factors was a vaccination roll-out hampered by bureaucratic hurdles, he said.

"And such red tape led to a bottleneck," he said.

As of Wednesday, Thailand had fully vaccinated 819,961 people, less than 2 per cent of its population. Another 1.5 million people had received their first dose. Most are medical or other front-line workers who have received Sinovac, the Chinese vaccine.

Thailand's main vaccination programme will kick off only next month, after locally produced AstraZeneca vaccine doses are ready.

The government was criticised for placing most of its bets on the locally licensed vaccine instead of sourcing vaccines from a range of manufacturers. It also got flak for not joining the international Covax scheme aimed at ensuring equitable distribution of vaccines.

Under growing pressure, especially from the private sector, which wants to speed up the process, the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on May 13 granted emergency-use authorisation to the Moderna vaccine. This paves the way for private hospitals to provide the shots.

But there seems to be some hesitancy among the population to get inoculated. Beginning this month, anyone aged over 60 or suffering from conditions like cancer or diabetes can register in advance for vaccination.

As of Thursday, only 7.4 million of the 16 million in this priority group had signed up.

Prof Vip says Thailand needs a more sustained campaign to convince people that vaccines are safe.

One group which does not need convincing are the Americans in Thailand. While Thailand has said that foreigners in the country would be entitled to free vaccination, it has not said when this will take place.

On May 6, four American-led organisations, including Democrats Abroad Thailand, sent a letter to United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging the US government to vaccinate American citizens in Thailand.

Democrats Abroad Thailand chairman Paul Risley told ST that the costs of travelling back to the US to get vaccinated were prohibitive.

"This is a global pandemic, we can't stop Covid-19 until we can stop it in all countries; the sooner countries vaccinate their populations the better, before new variants emerge that might require new vaccines," he said.

China reports 10 new mainland COVID-19 cases, compared to 24 a day earlier - CNA

BEIJING: China reported 10 new COVID-19 cases on May 21, down from 24 cases a day earlier, the country's national health authority said on Saturday (May 22).

The National Health Commission said in a statement that nine of the new cases were imported infections. The number of new asymptomatic cases, which China does not classify as confirmed cases, dropped to 23 from 25 a day earlier.

Total confirmed COVID-19 cases in mainland China now stand at 90,954, while the death toll is unchanged at 4,636.

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2021-05-22 00:59:58Z
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Minggu, 23 Mei 2021

Sabtu, 22 Mei 2021

Jumat, 21 Mei 2021

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