Measles kills 150, strikes tens of thousands in Afghanistan

Today's news: hundreds of Hong Kong residents queue for hours at the Shenzhen checkpoint to cross the border and flee the wave of infections in the territory; in Laos, one child in three experiences severe food insecurity; China will not renew passports for non-essential travel; Britain and mercenaries are blamed for riots in Almaty.

AFGHANISTAN

A huge measles outbreak has hit Afghanistan, affecting tens of thousands of people and killing over 150. Raising the alarm, the World Health Organisation (WHO) expressed fears that more will die also because of widespread malnutrition that makes children more vulnerable to the disease. Cases are rising in all provinces.

HONG KONG - CHINA

Hundreds of Hong Kong residents have gathered at the Shenzhen Bay checkpoint in an attempt to seek shelter in China. Rising COVID-19 cases in the former British colony is raising concerns among locals, many of whom are willing to spend two weeks in mandatory quarantine in government facilities. Entire families, seniors and even some Chinese students have been waiting in line for hours to get out.

JAPAN

Japanese princess Yoko, 38, has been hospitalised with COVID-19, after developing a moderate form of pneumonia. After testing positive and developing symptoms, she went to Tokyo University Hospital on Wednesday. She is the first member of the Imperial Household to have contracted the novel coronavirus since the start of the pandemic. It is not clear how she was infected.

IRAN

Despite US and Western sanctions against the Islamic republic, Iranian crude oil production reached 2.5 million barrels a day last month. Its heavy crude oil gained US$ 11 per barrel in January 2022, confirming a trend. Last year, oil prices topped US$ 54, up from US$ 40 dollars in 2020.

LAOS

Despite economic growth, one third of Laotian children and about 20 per cent of the population still experience severe food insecurity. According to the World Food Programme, Laos ranks 87th out of 117 countries on the Global Hunger Index. Floods, droughts, soil degradation, deforestation and migration have limited access to food.

CHINA

In an international context still affected by COVID-19 pandemic, China’s National Immigration Administration announced that it will not renew passports for non-essential travel in order to uphold the country’s zero contagion policy. In a statement released today, the agency confirmed that papers will be issued only for study, work or important business. Tourism is excluded.

RUSSIA

Despite opposition by local lawmakers and politicians, Chuvashia could be one of the first Russian republics to approve the municipal reform decided by Moscow, this according to its leader, Oleg Nikolayev. Under the new rules, the local government will lose all autonomy. Some see “the hand of Beijing behind this” given China’s interest in acquiring territories in Siberia and beyond the Volga.

KAZAKHSTAN

Speaking to Interfax, the special envoy of the Russian president in Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, said that recent unrest in Kazakhstan is not linked to Afghan issues or terrorist groups connected to them. Instead, a “British hand” is behind the actions of mercenaries who provoked riots in Almaty.