China's Covid crisis: Half a million infections a day in Qingdao, Shanghai wants people to stay home

Today's headlines: US allocates billion in military loans for Taiwan; Thailand's tourism industry gains ground; Iran: Sunni cleric attacks government over protest crackdown; Rahul Gandhi's 'long march' ends in Delhi; Russia: Patriarch Kirill wants military exemption for clerics; Indian drug under indictment in Uzbekistan.

CHINA

The Covid-19 emergency is worsening with local authorities in Shanghai urging people to stay in their homes over the Christmas weekend. In Qingdao (Shandong), half a million infections per day are reported, local health sources say.

US-TAIWAN

Joe Biden signed the national budget bill yesterday, which provides for 8 billion in military spending in 2023. Two billion a year for the next five years will be borrowed to strengthen Taipei's defences against China's invasion threats. Overall, Washington is allocating USD 11.5 billion for defence and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific next year.

THAILAND

Southeast Asia's second largest economy counted 10.9 million foreign arrivals this year, with the forecast to end the year at 11.5 million. By 2023, the government expects 22 million entries. Before the pandemic, tourism accounted for 12% of the national GDP.

IRAN

A well-known Sunni dissident cleric condemned the government crackdown on the ongoing protests following the death of Mahsa Amini, the young Kurdish woman murdered by the morality police. In his sermon for Friday prayers in Zahedan, Molavi Abdolhamid called on the authorities not to beat up demonstrators, not to shoot them, and asked that the military remain in their barracks.

INDIA

Today in Delhi his mother Sonia and sister Priyanka joined Rahul Gandhi in the final stretch of his march from the south to the north of the country, which began on 7 September to revive the political fortunes of the Indian Congress: for years the historic party has been outclassed by Modi's BJP. The son of former Prime Minister Rajiv accused the current premier of spreading "fear" throughout India.

RUSSIA

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow has requested an exemption from military mobilisation for clergymen, priests and deacons, which has so far not been officially provided for. Even if they have not been called to arms, they could enter the next lists. The 'holy canons' prohibit them from taking an active part in military operations.

UZBEKISTAN

In the region of Samarkand 15 children have died in recent months after taking an Indian preparation against acute respiratory infection, 'Dok-1 Max'. It appears from a report by the director of the paediatric medical centre M. Azizov that the drug causes damage to the renal system. The Ministry of Health has opened an investigation. 

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