04/02/2022, 09.32
ASIA TODAY
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Yemen, UN sources: agreement on two-month nationwide truce

Today's headlines: a state of emergency declared in Sri Lanka to stem protests; Covid-19, all of Shanghai in lockdown (to greater or lesser intensity), first difficulties in hospitals; the Council of Ulemas launches an appeal not to attack restaurants open during the day during Ramadan; in Russia a pensioner is attacked and robbed by other women for sugar; Tokyo media caught between Russian gas and condemnation of the war in Ukraine. 

YEMEN

Yemen's waring parties have reached an agreement for a two-month truce. UN source say it is the first nationwide ceasefire since 2016. The country is experiencing one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world and the war has already claimed nearly 400,000 lives. Sixty per cent of these have died from hunger, lack of medical care and lack of drinking water. 

CHINA

The 25 million inhabitants of Shanghai are subjected to a more or less severe lockdown. Even those in the east remain confined, although the measure was due to end yesterday. The escalation of cases driven by the Omicron variant, which jeopardises the "zero-covid" policy, is worrying. First alarms also came from hospitals, fearing possible victims in nursing homes for the elderly. 

SRI LANKA

In Sri Lanka, a state of emergency has been declared by the authorities following violent protests outside the private home of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Yesterday, security forces arrested 53 protesters; five photojournalists were also detained and tortured in a police barracks. A curfew was in force for the second night, but protests continued. 

INDONESIA

The Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI), the country's most important Islamic institution, launched an appeal for Ramadan. The leaders ask that restaurants and street food vendors, which are open during the day - for non-Muslims - in the holy month of fasting and prayer, not be hit or damaged. Retailers, they say, "must not be forcibly closed" to respect "those who do not fast". 

RUSSIA

In the Tula region of Russia, a 73-year-old pensioner was attacked by other women as she was returning home. The aim of the attack was to take away 5 kg of sugar she had just bought at the supermarket. The woman had waited for hours for the entire load to be delivered, which was sold out in 30 seconds.

UZBEKISTAN

The authorities in Uzbekistan are expecting the return of at least 100,000 labour migrants from Russia. Their return is linked to the 'fall of the rouble', as Labour Minister Mikhitdinov explained. In response to the emergency, he promised to create new jobs for them in the local construction industry. 

JAPAN

Japan cannot give up the Russian gas and oil programme 'Sakhalin-2' as Prime Minister Fumio Kishida explained, but is trying to balance it with its clear opposition to the invasion of Ukraine. Shell, which held 27.5%, has withdrawn from the project; Japan's Mitsui&Co. controls 12.5%, Mitsubishi 10%. The remaining 50% is in the hands of the Russians of Gazprom.

ISRAEL

The Israeli digital hunters of Fake Reporter have identified the 'strong point' of the Kremlin's media operations against Ukraine. It is the website 'War on Fake', used by the Moscow leadership to spread propaganda messages in Russia and abroad via the social accounts of Russian diplomatic representations around the world.

 

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