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https://www.nationthailand.com/world/china/40023237

Funeral homes and crematoriums busy amid Covid-hit Beijing

MONDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2022

Mourners were seen at a funeral home in Beijing on Monday as the city battles a continuing wave of Covid-19 infections amid the easing of curbs.

Hearses were also seen queueing at a crematorium in the Chinese capital on Sunday. Reuters could not immediately establish if the deaths and increased demand for cremation were due to Covid-19.

“After you’re infected, it depends on the individual’s health to decide if you are well or not. We try as far as it’s possible to not spread it to the elderly and children,” one Beijing resident told Reuters.

China reported two new Covid-19 deaths for Sunday, compared with none the previous day, increasing the nation’s fatalities to 5,237, the National Health Commission said on Monday.

China carries out door-to-door Covid vaccinations for elderly

Chinese authorities scaled up door-to-door vaccinations for the elderly, as the country struggles to reopen amidst a surge of Covid-19 cases, state media reported on Sunday.

Vaccinating the vulnerable has long been seen as a crucial requirement in China’s plans to open up after disruptive and economically damaging zero-Covid restrictions.

Officially, China’s vaccination rate is above 90%, but the rate for bolstered adults drops to 57.9%, and to 42.3% for people aged 80 and above, according to government data, prompting warnings that the country could see over 1.5 million deaths after lifting curbs such as lockdowns and mass testing that held most virus spread at bay.

State broadcaster CCTV showed footage of health workers administering vaccine doses to the elderly at their homes in parts of southwest Sichuan and Guizhou provinces.

Chinese cities close schools and set up makeshift clinics

Major Chinese cities remained quiet on Monday as people stayed home to protect themselves from a surge in Covid-19 cases that have resulted in two deaths.

In Shanghai, traffic was sparse and schools were closed after authorities said most classes should be online. Beijing’s Guang’an Gymnasium had also been converted into a makeshift fever clinic, housing blue tents where people sought treatment for their symptoms.

China reported its first Covid-related deaths in weeks amid rising doubts over whether the official count was capturing the full toll of a disease that is ripping through cities after the government relaxed strict anti-virus controls.

Monday’s two deaths were the first to be reported by the National Health Commission (NHC) since Dec. 3, days before Beijing announced that it was lifting curbs which had largely kept the virus in check for three years but triggered widespread protests last month.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/world/asia-pacific/40023232

S Korea’s export growth to drop to 0% range in 2023: poll

MONDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2022

South Korea’s export growth is expected to fall to the zero-per cent range in 2023 amid high raw material prices and slowing major economies, a poll showed Monday.

The survey of 150 companies in the country’s 12 key export industries showed overseas shipments are forecast to expand by 0.5 % in the coming year from 2022.

By sector, exports of electric and electronics products are predicted to sink 1.9 % on-year, with those of petrochemicals likely to fall 0.5 %.

Outbound shipments of biopharmaceutical and health products are projected to grow by 3.5 %. Comparable growth rates are 0.2 % for steel, 0.9 % for cars, and 1.7 % for general machinery and ships.

Of the total firms, nearly 40 % projected outbound shipments of Asia’s fourth-largest economy to shrink in 2023 from this year due to weakening export competitiveness stemming from high costs and slowing demand from major export destinations.

Local pollster Mono Research conducted the survey, which was commissioned by the Federation of Korean Industries, the lobby for South Korea’s family-controlled conglomerates known as chaebol.

Exports, the mainstay of South Korea’s economic growth for the past two years, has been losing steam in recent months due to such external negatives as the US Fed’s rate hikes and the war in Ukraine.

The country’s overseas shipments shrank 14 % on-year in November, marking the second consecutive month of on-year decline.

It marks the first time since early 2020 that exports have dipped for two months in a row. South Korea last reported declining exports for more than two months from March through August 2020.

Major economic think tanks in South Korea, including the Korea International Trade Association, predict the country’s exports to increase by around 7 % in 2022 from a year earlier.

The survey also showed 53.3 % of the respondents predicting their 2023 export profitability to be similar to that of this year, with 28 % expecting a worsening condition. Some 19 % forecast an improvement.

As to the ways of strengthening the country’s export competitiveness, 38 % replied the government should put top policy priority on providing tax breaks regarding raw material purchases. 

The Korea Herald

Asia News Network

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https://www.nationthailand.com/world/asia-pacific/40023224

Winter storm blasts Sea of Japan coast, with heavy snow expected to continue

MONDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2022

A winter storm barraged across the nation along the Sea of Japan coast, hitting those areas hard on Sunday with heavy snowfall.

Heavy snow is expected through Monday on the Sea of Japan side of western and northern Japan. The Japan Meteorological Agency warns of severe snowstorms and icy road surfaces.

The snowfall as of Sunday evening in the village of Okura, Yamagata Prefecture, was 1.89 meters. In Aomori, it was 1.83 meters, and in Horokanai, Hokkaido, it was 1.47 meters.

Kanazawa Castle Park is covered with snow on Monday morning in Kanazawa. Courtesy of Shinji Kamoya

The heavy snowfall caused suspensions and delays on sections of the Yamagata Shinkansen line, which runs between Tokyo and Shinjo, Yamagata, according to the East Japan Railway Co.

In Kyushu, snow was also observed, accumulating 4 centimetres in Saga and 1 centimetre in Nagasaki, causing some expressways to temporarily close.

The Japan Times

Asia News Network

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https://www.nationthailand.com/world/asia-pacific/40023220

China makes first overseas delivery of homemade ARJ21 jetliner

MONDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2022

China on Sunday completed the first overseas delivery of its homemade regional ARJ21 jet, making a stride in fulfilling its ambitious goal to make inroads into the overseas aviation market.

At a handover ceremony held in Shanghai, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) issued the export airworthiness certificate to the state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), the manufacturer of the jetliner. Later, Comac handed over the commemorative keys to Indonesia’s TransNusa, marking the official delivery of the aircraft.

The ARJ21 aircraft has successfully handled more than 5.6 million passenger trips so far across an operation network that includes 300 routes between 100 cities.

The ARJ21, the country’s first turbofan regional jet, started development in 2002, made its maiden flight in Shanghai in 2009 and went into commercial service with Chengdu Airlines in June 2016.

By July 2022, a total of 68 ARJ21 aircraft had been delivered to nine operators including Air China, China Southern and Chengdu Airlines.

“This is the first time for a Chinese regional jet to enter the overseas market, which is of great historical significance for constructing the country’s new development paradigm based on the Belt and Road Initiative, and also important to the new economic development pattern of ‘dual-circulation’ that takes the domestic market as the mainstay while domestic and foreign markets complement each other. Comac will strive to integrate into the global civil aviation market, and adapt to the global operation philosophy, management philosophy and operating environment, so as to accelerate our construction of a world-class aviation enterprise,” said Zhang Xiaoguang, director of Comac Marketing Committee.

The ARJ21 is a self-developed short- and medium-range regional airliner with a range of 2,225-3,700 kilometres, featuring outstanding high-temperature resistance, cross-wind resistance and night flight operation performance. These characteristics will make it competitive in island-dotted Indonesia, where the broad market potential for regional aviation is still to be explored. ARJ21 can well meet the demand of branch routes from central cities to surrounding small and medium-sized cities, according to Comac.

“To our company, the management team, including all specialists, it’s full of enthusiasm, anticipation and confidence in ARJ21-700. Everyone is ready to meet her on the scene in Jakarta,” said Shazam, captain of TransNusa.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/world/asean/40023212

Buddha statue on Bokor will be world’s tallest, promises Cambodian hotelier

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2022

Cambodian businessman Sok Kong, who owns the Sokha Hotel Group, has said that his company plans to build a 108-metre-tall Buddha statue on Bokor mountain.

The statue covering 500 rice fields will be one of the tallest in the world.

“It will serve as a shrine for all Cambodian people and we will pray for happiness, prosperity and lasting peace for the region and across the kingdom,” Sok Kong said.

He added that apart from being a religious icon, it will also contribute to cultural tourism, attracting millions of local and international tourists.

“The company is seeking permission from the Environment Ministry to build this statue. We are also working with the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts on architectural design to ensure the huge Buddha statue is properly constructed according to our Cambodian style,” he said.

He said the project is expected to cost up to US$40 million (1.4 billion baht) and construction will begin as soon as the permits are received and the design finalised.

“We will continue working with the inter-ministerial committee to ensure the size and style of the statue represents Cambodian culture. Construction has not yet started, as we need to revise and redesign the statue and ask the committee for approval. We will accelerate this work as quickly as possible, and hope to begin construction soon,” Sok Kong said.

The Phnom Penh Post

Asia News Network