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February
Ivermectin shows ‘antiviral effect’ against COVID, Japanese company says
Written by Nur Yasmin
Japanese trading and pharmaceuticals company Kowa Co Ltd (7807.T) on Monday said that anti-parasite drug ivermectin showed an "antiviral effect" against Omicron and other coronavirus variants in joint non-clinical research.
The company, which has been working with Tokyo's Kitasato University on testing the drug as a potential treatment for COVID-19, did not provide further details. The original Reuters story misstated that ivermectin was "effective" against Omicron in Phase III clinical trials, which are conducted in humans.
Clinical trials are ongoing, but promotion of ivermectin as a COVID-19 treatment has generated controversy.
Prominent vaccine sceptic Joe Rogan, whose podcast on Spotify has prompted protests by singers Joni Mitchell and Neil Young, has long stirred controversy with his views on the pandemic, government mandates and COVID-19 vaccines.
Rogan has questioned the need for vaccines and said he used ivermectin.
The drug is not approved for treatment of COVID-19 in Japan, and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, the World Health Organization, the EU drug regulator and Merck (MRK.N), which makes the drug, have warned against its use because of a lack of scientific evidence that it has therapeutic effect. read more
In guidance on its website dated September 2021, the FDA noted growing interest in the drug for preventing or treating COVID-19 in humans but said it had received multiple reports of patients who had required medical attention, including hospitalisation, after self-medicating with it.
The use of ivermectin to treat COVID-19 is currently being investigated in a UK trial run by the University of Oxford. The researchers said on Monday that it was still under way and they did not want to comment further until they have results to report. read more
Many potential COVID-19 treatments that showed promise in test tubes, including the antimalarial hydroxychloroquine promoted by former U.S. President Donald Trump, ultimately failed to show benefit for COVID-19 patients once studied in clinical trials. (reuters)
February
U.S., Britain, Canada issue new Myanmar sanctions one year after coup
Written by Nur Yasmin
The United States, Britain and Canada on Monday imposed sanctions against additional officials in Myanmar, in measures timed to mark one year since the military seized power and plunged the country into chaos.
A joint action by the three nations, who have all already imposed sanctions on Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing and other members of the junta, targeted judicial officials involved in prosecutions against deposed Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
Washington also slapped sanctions on a directorate responsible for buying weapons for the junta from overseas, an alleged arms dealer and a company it said provides financial support to the junta.
The military has detained Suu Kyi and members of her National League for Democracy (NLD) party since the Feb. 1, 2021, coup. The military complained of fraud in a November 2020 election that the NLD won in a landslide. Monitors said the vote reflected the will of the country's people.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the coordinated action demonstrated international support for Myanmar's people and would "further promote accountability for the coup and the violence perpetrated by the regime," citing nearly 1,500 people killed and 10,000 detained by a military seeking to consolidate control.
A U.N. team of investigators on Myanmar said on Monday it was preparing files that could facilitate prosecutions against those responsible for atrocities committed over the past year.
"Those who are considering committing crimes should be aware that serious international crimes have no statute of limitations," Nicholas Koumjian, head of the Geneva-based Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, said in a statement.
JUDICIAL OFFICIALS TARGETED
The U.S. Treasury said it added a total of seven individuals and two entities to its sanctions list on Monday. They included the junta's attorney general, Thida Oo, whose office it said had crafted politically motivated charges against Suu Kyi.
Suu Kyi is on trial in more than a dozen cases and has so far been sentenced to a combined six years in detention. She denies all charges.
The Treasury also listed the Myanmar Supreme Court's chief justice and the chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission, who it said were also involved in the prosecution of Suu Kyi and NLD leaders.
The action freezes any U.S. assets of those blacklisted and generally bars Americans from dealing with them.
"As long as the regime continues to deny the people of Burma their democratic voice, we will continue to impose further costs on the military and its supporters," U.S. President Joe Biden said in a statement on Monday condemning Myanmar's military rulers.
Canada announced it was adding the same three judicial officials to its sanctions list. Britain announced it was listing the attorney general and corruption commission chair as well as the junta-appointed chair of Myanmar's election commission.
Washington also added the army's procurement directorate, which it said buys weapons overseas; an alleged arms dealer, Tay Za, and his two adult sons; and KT Services & Logistics Company Ltd and its Chief Executive Jonathan Myo Kyaw Thaung.
That company, which Treasury said leases a port in Yangon from a military-owned company for $3 million a year, is part of KT Group, a conglomerate that has done business with companies from Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines.
Paul Donowitz, campaign leader at advocacy group Global Witness, said Monday's actions "have reminded Myanmar’s business community that there are consequences for facilitating the military’s arms purchases and business interests."
The measures fell short of targeting Myanmar's natural gas revenues, the junta's largest source of foreign currency, Donowitz said. (reuters)
February
Japanese cabinet approves nominating mines for UNESCO list, defying South Korea's protest
Written by Nur Yasmin
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s Cabinet formally approved nominating several mines for consideration as world heritage sites by UNESCO, the government's top spokesperson said on Tuesday, defying objection from South Korea.
The government will submit the endorsement to the United Nations cultural organisation by 5 p.m. on Tuesday GMT to meet the deadline, said Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno.
Seoul had objected to the move, saying it is inappropriate because Korean labourers were forced to work there during Japan's 1910-1945 colonisation of the Korean peninsula, including during World War Two. (reuters)
February
North Korea documentary shows limping Kim as he tackles 'worst-ever hardships'
Written by Nur Yasmin
A North Korean documentary broadcast on Tuesday showed a limping leader Kim Jong Un as he tackles the impoverished country's "worst-ever hardships" amid the coronavirus pandemic and sanctions over its weapons programmes.
Titled "The Great Year of Victory, 2021", the 110-minute film chronicled a series of achievements throughout the year including on missile development, construction and efforts to beat the pandemic.
The narrator repeatedly lauded such projects as signs of "victory" led by a noticeably thinner Kim, in line with previous such documentaries used by state media to craft a semi-divine personality cult around him.
The film did not elaborate on the hardships but reclusive North Korea, unlike rich, democratic South Korea, faces deepening food shortages amid the sanctions, drought and floods, according to U.N. agencies.
North Korea has not confirmed any COVID-19 cases, but has closed its borders. It has been steadily developing its weapons systems amid an impasse over talks aimed at dismantling its nuclear and ballistic missile arsenals in return for relief from U.N. and U.S. sanctions.
At one point in the film, Kim was seen struggling to walk down makeshift stairs during a visit to a rainy construction site.
"This video showed his motherly side where he completely dedicated his own body to realise people's dreams," the narrator said.
The film did not directly refer to Kim's weight loss, but he has appeared increasingly thinner in recent state media photos.
In June, state media said North Koreans were "heartbroken" to see an "emaciated" Kim, in a rare such dispatch, after he reappeared following absence from the public eye of almost a month.
International media, intelligence agencies and experts closely watch Kim's health due to his tight grip on power and the uncertainty over succession plans.
The documentary also showed Kim watching the sunrise alone while riding a white horse on a beach. On another ride, he was seen with military officials including Pak Jong Chon, chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army, followed by a clip of tanks staging live-fire drills.
The film included rare images of a new 80-storey skyscraper and a large apartment district, as well as some clips and images of a defence expo in October and previous missile tests.
In December, Kim said the ruling party had some success in implementing a five-year economic plan he unveiled early last year, but warned of a "very giant struggle" this year, citing the pandemic and economic difficulties. (reuters)
February
After volatile January, world stocks start February on firm note
Written by Nur Yasmin
World stocks looked set to leave a volatile January in the past on Tuesday, starting a new month on firmer ground as a slew of reassuring comments from Federal Reserve officials helped calm rate-hike jitters.
A pan-European equity index opened more than 1% higher, U.S. stock futures rallied and Japan's blue-chip Nikkei (.N225) rose 0.3%, buoyed by Wall Street's overnight gains.
Indeed, U.S. stocks closed higher on Monday, led by a 3.5% rise for the tech-heavy Nasdaq. It meant the Nasdaq ended January on a strong note after narrowly avoiding its worst ever start to the year.
The S&P 500 meanwhile recorded its weakest January performance since 2009 (.SPX).
Fed policymakers appeared to confirm on Monday that interest rates would rise in March, but spoke cautiously about what might follow.
In what sounded like a well-orchestrated chorus, four Fed officials said they felt it was time for the U.S. central bank to begin removing support from a strongly growing economy, where inflation is at its highest in four decades. read more
The Treasury's top economist said inflationary pressures should ease in 2022 due to weaker goods demand, easing supply bottlenecks and a receding coronavirus pandemic read more .
John Flahive, head of fixed income investments at BNY Mellon Wealth Management, said it was the scale of the pricing in of anticipated U.S. rate hikes that had unsettled markets.
"It was just a few months ago that everybody thought that the Federal Reserve would be relatively patient with monetary policy, might move three times, maybe four times," he said. "Now the markets begin to price in four, plus maybe even five (Fed rate moves). And so everyone was getting a little bit nervous."
PUSH BACK
Australia's central bank weighed in on Tuesday. It ended its A$275 billion ($194.40 billion) bond buying campaign as expected, but pushed back hard on market wagers for an early rate rise. read more
The U.S. Institute for Supply Management's activity index out later on Tuesday could provide some sense of whether price pressures are abating for firms.
World markets, which have been rattled by rate-hike expectations, appeared to take comfort from latest central bank commentary.
Risk assets struggled in January, with global equities seeing their worst monthly performance since March 2020, at the height of the initial wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, Deutsche Bank research showed.
Growing tensions between the West and Russia over Ukraine have also weighed on risk sentiment, although they lifted oil prices, pushing Brent futures roughly 17% higher so far this year.
Brent eased a touch on Tuesday at $89 a barrel while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude also slipped marginally at $88.08 a barrel.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will vow to uphold Ukraine's sovereignty on a visit to Kyiv on Tuesday as part of the West's diplomatic efforts to stop a possible Russian invasion which Moscow says there is no proof it is planning.
It comes as the United States said it is in active discussions with allies about possible U.S. troop deployments to NATO's eastern flank.
European sovereign borrowing costs were broadly steady, having shot up on Monday.
Still, Germany's 10-year Bund yield held just above 0% , while the 10-year U.S. Treasury yields were little changed around 1.78% .
In Asia, a number of markets are closed due to the Lunar New Year holidays, including in China and South Korea.
MSCI's world equity index (.MIWD00000PUS) touched its highest level in over a week, while major bourses from London to Paris and Frankfurt were up as much as 1.24%.
On currency markets, the Australian dollar was one of the biggest movers, rebounding 0.3% after an initial hit from the Reserve Bank of Australia's dovish message. It was last trading at $0.7083 .
The dollar was generally on the back foot against other major currencies as the edge came off aggressive Fed rate hike bets. The euro was last up 0.2% at $1.1258 , sterling was 0.25% firmer and dollar was down 0.13% at 115 yen. (reuters)
January
U.N. report says Taliban have killed scores of former Afghan officials, others
Written by Nur Yasmin
A U.N. report seen by Reuters says the Taliban and its allies are believed to have killed scores of former Afghan officials, security force members and people who worked with the international military contingent since the U.S.-led pullout.
U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ report to the U.N. Security Council paints a picture of worsening living conditions for Afghanistan’s 39 million people despite an end of combat with the Taliban's takeover in August.
"An entire complex social and economic system is shutting down," Guterres said.
The report sounds the latest in a series of warnings the U.N. chief has issued in recent months about the humanitarian and economic crises that accelerated after the Taliban seized Kabul as the last U.S.-led foreign troops left and international donors cut critical financial aid.
Guterres recommended the council approve a restructuring of the U.N. mission to deal with the situation, including the creation of a new human rights monitoring unit.
The U.N. mission "continues to receive credible allegations of killings, enforced disappearances and other violations" against former officials, security force members and people who worked for the U.S.-led international military contingent despite a general amnesty announced by the Taliban, the report said.
The mission has determined as credible reports that more than 100 of those individuals have been killed – more than two-thirds of them allegedly by the Taliban or their affiliates – since Aug. 15, it said.
There also are credible allegations of the extra-judicial killings of at least 50 people suspected of belonging to the local branch of the Islamic State militant group, according to the report.
"Human rights defenders and media workers continue to come under attack, intimidation, harassment, arbitrary arrest, ill-treatment and killings," it said. (reuters)
January
Taliban to reopen public universities, no word on female students
Written by Nur Yasmin
Afghanistan's public universities, closed since the Taliban seized power in August, will reopen in February, the Taliban acting higher education minister said on Sunday, without specifying whether female students would be able to return.
Universities in warmer provinces will reopen from Feb. 2, while those in colder areas would reopen on Feb. 26, the minister, Shaikh Abdul Baqi Haqqani, told a news conference in Kabul.
He did not say what arrangements if any would be made for female students. In the past, Taliban officials have suggested that women could be taught in separate classes.
So far, the Taliban government has reopened high schools for boys only in most parts of the country. Some private universities have reopened, but in many cases female students have not been able to return to class.
Western governments have made education for female students a part of their demands as the Taliban seek more foreign aid and the unfreezing of overseas assets.
The hardline group took over the country on Aug. 15 as foreign forces withdrew. (reuters)
January
U.K. PM Johnson cancels trip to Japan planned for mid-February -Kyodo
Written by Nur Yasmin
United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson cancelled a trip to Japan that was originally set for mid-February, news agency Kyodo reported on Monday, citing multiple Japanese government sources.
Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno denied reports that Johnson was planning to visit Japan in a regular briefing held on Monday morning. (reuters)
January
Taiwan tries hand at COVID diplomacy again with Somaliland vaccine gift
Written by Nur Yasmin
Taiwan's gift of 150,000 doses of its domestically developed Medigen COVID-19 vaccine has arrived in Somalia's breakaway Somaliland region, the Taiwanese foreign ministry said on Monday, part of the island's renewed pandemic diplomacy push.
Taiwan has donated millions of face masks and other goods around the world in what the government has called the "Taiwan can help, Taiwan is helping" programme to show the island is a responsible member of the international community, despite being locked out of most global bodies because of China's objections.
Taiwan's Foreign Ministry said the vaccine doses, made by Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corp (6547.TWO), arrived in Hargeisa on Sunday and were met at the airport by Somaliland Health Minister Hassan Mohamed Ali Gafadhi and Taiwan's de facto ambassador there, Allen Lou.
"On the basis of the shared values of democracy and freedom between Taiwan and Somaliland, our country's government will continue to steadily strengthen the cooperative relationship between the two sides and jointly fight the global pandemic and defend universal values," the ministry added.
Somaliland broke away from Somalia in 1991 but has not gained widespread international recognition for its independence. The region has been mostly peaceful while Somalia has grappled with three decades of civil war.
Taiwan and Somaliland set up representative offices in each other's capitals in 2020.
Both China, which claims Taiwan as its own, and Somalia have expressed their opposition to Taiwan and Somaliland's forging of ties. In Africa, only tiny Eswatini maintains full relations with Taiwan.
The Medigen vaccine has so far only received limited international recognition, but strong support from Taiwan's government, which backed its development partially over fears China could hamper its international purchase of vaccines.
The pandemic is well under control in Taiwan and most people have been vaccinated with shots made by AstraZeneca Plc (AZN.L), BioNTech SE (22UAy.DE) and Moderna Inc (MRNA.O), though some senior officials, including President Tsai Ing-wen, have chosen to take Medigen to show their confidence in it. (reuters)
January
Australia reports fewer COVID-19 deaths, infections as students return to schools
Written by Nur Yasmin
Australia reported its lowest daily COVID-19 deaths in two weeks on Monday while cases continued to trend lower as authorities braced for staff shortages in schools due to likely outbreaks as thousands of students return after their summer break.
Most states will go through a staggered school reopening exercise this week as Australia battles the worst outbreak of the pandemic, with the fast-moving Omicron coronavirus variant spiralling cases to record levels.
"There will be challenges and there will be bumps over these first few weeks," Victoria state Deputy Premier James Merlino said during a media briefing on Monday. Merlino said a pool of about 350 retired teachers have been set up to support schools when they have to furlough staff.
Masks are mandatory indoors for older children and millions of at-home antigen tests, still not readily available in many stores, are being rolled out to families free of cost, with children asked to undergo COVID-19 tests twice a week.
About 40% of children aged 5-11 years have been administered their first vaccine dose, while around two-thirds of eligible Australians have received their boosters.
Though Omicron appears to be less virulent than earlier variants, the sheer number of cases has overwhelmed hospitals and testing facilities. Supply chains have been also disrupted resulting in bare supermarket shelves, angering Australians and denting Prime Minister Scott Morrison's approval rating, just months out from a federal election. read more
Nearly 34,000 new infections were reported on Monday, the lowest tally in a month, while 44 deaths were registered.
Hospitalisations have remained steady at around 5,000 for the last few days, peaking at just under 5,400 last Tuesday. The number was at 4,869 on Monday after falling over the past five days.
Of the 2.5 million infections detected since the pandemic began, some 2.3 million have been reported since the first Omicron case was found in the country late November. Total deaths are at 3,754, far lower than many developed countries. (reuters)