The USS John Paul Jones "asserted navigational rights and freedoms," inside India's EEZ in line with international law by sailing about 130 nautical miles (241 km) west of India's Lakshadweep islands, the US Seventh Fleet said in a statement on Wednesday (April 8). But an Indian foreign ministry spokesman said in a statement that UN rules did not allow such passage without consent. "The Government of India's stated position on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea is that the Convention does not authorise other States to carry out in the Exclusive Economic Zone and on the continental shelf, military exercises or manoeuvres, in particular those involving the use of weapons or explosives, without the consent of the coastal state," the spokesman said. India's military monitored the movement of the John Paul Jones as it transited from the Persian Gulf towards the Malacca Straits, the foreign ministry said. The US Navy has previously conducted so-called freedom of ... » Learn More about India protests US Navy’s transit through its exclusive economic zone
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India bans Remdesivir exports as coronavirus rages on; rallies continue
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India on Sunday banned the export of anti-viral drug Remdesivir and its active pharmaceutical ingredients as demand rocketed due to a record surge in COVID-19 infections, leading to a crippling shortages in many parts. Authorities have blamed the ferocious resurgence of the virus mainly on crowding and a reluctance to wear masks. Still, religious gatherings have continued and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have themselves addressed election campaigns attended by tens of thousands of people, many without masks and hardly any following social distancing. As new COVID-19 cases surged to 152,879 on Sunday, the sixth record rise in seven days, harried relatives of patients made a kilometre-long queue to buy Remdesivir outside a big hospital in the western state of Gujarat, witnesses said. India, known as the pharmacy of the world, has already stalled major exports of coronavirus vaccines though its supply too has run short in some ... » Learn More about India bans Remdesivir exports as coronavirus rages on; rallies continue
China administers 164.47 million COVID-19 vaccinations as of April 10
China has administered 164.47 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines as of Saturday, the National Health Commission said on Sunday. This represents around 24.5 million doses in the past six days, as the country's vaccine rollout continues to accelerate. Last week a Chinese official said the country is expected to produce around 3 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines by the end of the year. Chinese health authorities on Sunday reported 10 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 22 asymptomatic cases, bringing the country's total to 90,410, while the death toll remained unchanged at 4,636. The National Health Commission, in a statement, said all the new cases were imported infections originating from overseas. The number of new asymptomatic cases, which China does not classify as confirmed cases, rose to 22 from 11 cases a day earlier. The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Mainland China now stands at 90,410, while the death toll remained unchanged at 4,636. Meanwhile, in ... » Learn More about China administers 164.47 million COVID-19 vaccinations as of April 10
Fretting over big exams in a time of Covid-19
When schools across Singapore put their students on full home-based learning (HBL) on April 8 as part of the circuit breaker measures, Ms Adele Leong remembers the wide-eyed look of hope in her daughter Carolyn's eyes. "Are they going to be postponing the PSLE or cancelling it? How are we going to sit the exams now schools are closed?" she recalls her 11-year-old asking. Ms Leong, 44, is one of many parents grappling with the unprecedented academic changes the coronavirus pandemic has brought. The Ministry of Education (MOE) cancelled all mid-year examinations, but is still proceeding with national ones such as the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE), as well as the N, O and A levels, as it says these are "major milestones" and it does not want to disadvantage graduating students. "Technically, it's not my first time doing the PSLE, but since the circumstances are so different, I might as well say it's my first time because it's hard to expect what's to come," says Ms ... » Learn More about Fretting over big exams in a time of Covid-19
Big boost from working crowd
HOTELS on Penang’s mainland are bouncing back faster ahead of their island counterparts after a period of downtime during the conditional movement control order (MCO). Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) Penang chapter chairman K. Raj Kumar said as more people were returning to offices for work, many factories on the mainland have resumed full operations. “On the mainland, all of the hotels are business hotels and rely a lot on factories. “We have factories in Juru and Batu Kawan and outstation workers need to come in to restart certain parts of them. “That’s the reason why we’ve been experiencing a good average occupancy over the last month, ” said Raj Kumar, who is also the general manager of The Light Hotel Penang in Seberang Jaya. Overall, mainland hotels have been enjoying an average of 70% weekday occupancy rate and 40% on weekends, with an overall daily average of a 55% occupancy rate in March. Commonly, business hotels experience better weekday occupancy over ... » Learn More about Big boost from working crowd
Minister’s insistence Thailand’s moon mission will go ahead sparks social media debate
Debate is raging on social media following a claim from the Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, that Thailand’s plan to orbit the Moon is going ahead. Anek Laothamatas adds that it will be “mission accomplished” within the next 7 years, costing, “only 3 billion baht”. A report in the Bangkok Post says that, according to Anek, Thailand will be producing satellites weighing 50–100 kilograms within 5 years, and in the following 3 years, will start building spaceships capable of going beyond the Earth’s orbit. He says we can all look forward to an official announcement on January 13. “The new economy of space travel will be a way for Thailand to overcome the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and then to escape the middle-income trap, and the ministry will embrace creativity and innovation.” Anek’s announcement has sparked debate on social media, with some saying the poverty and other social issues facing their fellow countrymen should take ... » Learn More about Minister’s insistence Thailand’s moon mission will go ahead sparks social media debate
Malaysia not seen as ‘strategic environmental partner’ by US, says DAP leader on climate summit snub
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is clearly not seen as a “strategic environmental partner on climate action” by the United States, said Democratic Action Party's secretary-general Lim Guan Eng on Thursday (Apr 8). This came after environment minister Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man explained that Malaysia is not involved in a US-led virtual leaders summit for climate change as it is not among top greenhouse gas emitters and those most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. In a statement, Mr Lim said: “Tuan Ibrahim’s explanation why Malaysia was not invited has shown him to be no different from former US President Donald Trump’s lack of knowledge and enthusiasm for climate change activism." Mr Lim stated that the reasoning by the minister was unacceptable. “Tuan Ibrahim’s rationale for Malaysia’s exclusion is that Malaysia is not climate-vulnerable like Vietnam and Indonesia, as well as not a big country contributor to 80 per cent of greenhouse gases (GHG) to limit global warming to 1.5 ... » Learn More about Malaysia not seen as ‘strategic environmental partner’ by US, says DAP leader on climate summit snub
Japan’s Matsuyama in control of Masters, leads by four shots
AUGUSTA, Ga.: Japan's Hideki Matsuyama stormed home in style to put himself in position to become the first Asian golfer to win the Masters as he held a four-shot lead after the rain-interrupted third round at Augusta National on Saturday. Matsuyama, who began the day three shots behind overnight leader Justin Rose, played eight holes after a 78-minute weather delay and went a sizzling six under over that stretch for a seven-under-par 65 that brought him to 11 under. "Before the horn blew I didn't hit a very good drive, but after the horn blew for the restart I hit practically every shot exactly how I wanted to," Matsuyama, whose last PGA Tour win came in 2017, said through an interpreter. "This will be a new experience for me being a leader going into the final round in a major. I guess all I can do is just relax tonight, prepare well and just do my best tomorrow." Rose (72), seeking his first Green Jacket after a pair of close calls, was in a four-way share of second ... » Learn More about Japan’s Matsuyama in control of Masters, leads by four shots
Indonesians ‘satisfied’ with govt’s performance: Survey
As President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s administration moves closer to beginning its second year in October, a new Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) poll indicates more Indonesians are satisfied with the government’s performance as they see improvements in four sectors, namely the economy, law, politics and maritime affairs. The number of Indonesians who reported they were satisfied with President Jokowi’s administration climbed from 50.6 percent in 2015 to 66.5 percent in 2016, the findings showed. “The economic sector remains a challenge for the government,” CSIS researcher Arya Fernandes told a press conference on Tuesday. Despite these positive results, confidence in the Indonesian economy is still lacking, with citizens unsure whether the government has managed to boost Indonesia’s economic growth and enhance the country’s investment climate. The number of Indonesians who reported that they were satisfied with the current economic situation stood only at ... » Learn More about Indonesians ‘satisfied’ with govt’s performance: Survey
Large coalition weakens checks and balances: Expert
A political expert has warned a large coalition supporting President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s administration will weaken the system of checks and balances within the government as political parties in such a coalition tend to neglect public concerns and instead fight for the sake of their own interests. “The presence of opposition parties is needed to ensure the system of checks and balances in the current government runs well,” Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) executive director Philips J. Vermonte said on Tuesday. He made the statement in response to the result of a recent CSIS survey that found 71 percent of 1,000 respondents believed Jokowi would be able to manage his supporting coalition, specifically after Indonesia’s second-biggest party, the Golkar Party, and the National Mandate Party (PAN) decided to support the government. With Golkar and PAN’s support, Jokowi has stronger support at the House of Representatives, with 386 out of 560 lawmakers ... » Learn More about Large coalition weakens checks and balances: Expert