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Xi speaks with Biden on phone on eve of Lunar New Year

Feb 12. 2021

By China Daily

BEIJING – Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday morning took a phone call from US President Joseph R Biden on the eve of the Lunar New Year.

The two presidents wished each other good fortune in the Year of the Ox, and had an in-depth exchange of views on China-US relations and major international and regional issues.

The two presidents wished each other good fortune in the Year of the Ox, and had an in-depth exchange of views on China-US relations and major international and regional issues

Biden conveyed festive greetings to the Chinese people and wished the Chinese people a happy and prosperous New Year. Xi congratulated Biden once again on taking office as US president, and wished the people of China and the United States a happy and auspicious Year of the Ox.

Xi pointed out that the restoration and growth of China-US relations has been the most important development in international relations over the past half century and more.

Despite various twists and difficulties, he added, the relationship has on the whole kept moving forward and delivered enormous benefits to the Chinese and American peoples and contributed to global peace, stability and prosperity.

Xi stressed that China and the United States both gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation; cooperation is the only right choice for both sides.

ALSO READ: Biden: US, China need not be at odds 

When China and the United States work together, they can accomplish a great deal for the good of both countries and the world at large; confrontation between the two countries, however, will definitely be disastrous for both countries and the world, he added.

Emphasizing that the China-US relationship is currently at an important juncture, Xi said it is the common desire of both peoples and the wider international community to see the sound and stable development of China-US relations.

“You have said that America can be defined in one word: Possibilities. We hope the possibilities will now point toward an improvement of China-US relations,” Xi said to Biden.

Xi emphasized that confronting a highly uncertain international situation, China and the United States shoulder special international responsibilities and obligations as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council

The two countries, he suggested, should make joint efforts in the same direction, follow the spirit of no conflict, no confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, focus on cooperation, manage their differences, and work for the sound and stable development of China-US relations.

ALSO READ: Biden signals shift in US stance on bilateral ties with China

In this way, they can deliver more tangible benefits to people in both countries, and make their due contribution to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, promoting world economic recovery and maintaining regional peace and stability, Xi added.

Xi emphasized that while the two sides may differ on some issues, it is crucial to show mutual respect, treat each other as equals, and properly manage and handle the differences in a constructive fashion.

The foreign affairs departments of the two countries may have in-depth communications on wide-ranging matters in the bilateral relationship and major international and regional issues, and the economic, financial, law enforcement and military authorities of the two countries may also have more contacts, Xi said.

The two sides should re-establish the various dialogue mechanisms, read each other’s policy intentions accurately, and avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation, he said, adding that it is important to manage differences where they exist and jointly pursue cooperation where it is desirable to do so.

ALSO READ: Reset China-US relations through dialogue despite differences

The Taiwan question and issues relating to Hong Kong, Xinjiang, etc are China’s internal affairs and concern China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the US side should respect China’s core interests and act prudently, Xi stressed.

Xi emphasized that confronting a highly uncertain international situation, China and the United States shoulder special international responsibilities and obligations as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.

The two sides, he added, should act to conform to the trend of the world, jointly safeguard peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, and make historic contributions to promoting world peace and development.

Biden, for his part, noted that China has a long history and a great culture and the Chinese people are a great people.

The United States and China must avoid conflict and they may work together on climate change and many other issues, he added.

READ MORE: Keeping communication open seen as conducive to China-US ties

The US side, he said, is prepared to have candid and constructive dialogue with the Chinese side in the spirit of mutual respect and to improve mutual understanding and avoid miscommunication and miscalculation.

The two presidents agreed that their phone conversation today will send a positive signal to the world and the two sides will maintain close communication on China-US relations and issues of mutual interest.

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[India] Govt may soon bring ‘crypto bill’ to regulate cryptocurrencies

Feb 11. 2021

By The Statesman/ANN

The government has said that its Inter-Ministerial Committee on cryptocurrency has submitted its report on issues related to the virtual currencies and that a crypto bill to regulate it is being finalised.

Replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha on whether the government is planning to issue guideline on the virtual currency trading, the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, “A high-level Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) constituted under the Chairmanship of Secretary (Economic Affairs) to study the issues related to virtual currencies and propose specific actions to be taken in the matter recommended in its report that all private cryptocurrencies, except any virtual currencies issued by state, will be prohibited in India.”

She further said that the central government will take a decision on the recommendation of IMC and legislative proposal, if any would be introduced in the Parliament following the due process.

Earlier in Tuesday, Minister of State for Finance, Anurag Thakur had also said, “a bill (on cryptocurrencies) is being finalised and it will soon be sent to the Cabinet. We will soon be bringing a bill.”

He added that the regulatory bodies like RBI and Sebi do not have any legal framework to directly regulate cryptocurrencies as they are not currencies, assets, securities or commodities issued by identifiable users.

“The existing laws are inadequate to deal with the subject,” he said.

In 2018, the Reserve Bank of India had banned cryptocurrency trading and had banned banks from processing transactions related to cryptocurrency.

In view of the risks associated with Virtual Currencies (VCs), including Bitcoins, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) through a circular in April 2018, had advised all the entities regulated by it not to deal in VCs or provide services for facilitating any person or entity in dealing with or settling VCs.

However, Supreme Court, vide judgement dated March 4, 2020, had set aside the RBI’s circular.

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China’s Tianwen 1 probe enters Mars orbit

Feb 11. 2021This illustration shows China’s Tianwen 1 robotic probe entering the Martian orbit on Feb 10, 2021. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINADAILY.COM.CN)

By China Daily/ANN

BEIJING – China’s Tianwen 1 probe successfully entered the orbit around Mars on Wednesday after a nearly seven-month voyage from Earth.

A 3000N engine was ignited at 7:52 pm (Beijing time) to decelerate Tianwen 1, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

After about 15 minutes, the spacecraft, including an orbiter, a lander and a rover, had slowed enough to be captured by Mars’ gravity and entered an elliptical orbit around the red planet, with its closest distance from the Martian surface at about 400 kilometers. It will take Tianwen 1 about 10 Earth days to complete one circle.

The development marks China’s completion of a key step in its current Mars exploration program, which is designed to complete orbiting, landing and roving in one mission, said the CNSA.

After entering the Mars orbit, payloads aboard the orbiter, including cameras and various particle analyzers, will next start working and carry out surveys of the planet.

This illustration shows China’s Tianwen 1 robotic probe entering the Martian orbit on Feb 10, 2021. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINADAILY.COM.CN)

The Martian orbital insertion operation took place one day after the United Arab Emirates’ Hope probe, the first interplanetary mission by the Arab world, entered Mars’ orbit on Tuesday.

Tianwen 1, the country’s first independent Mars mission, was launched by a Long March 5 heavy-lift carrier rocket on July 23 from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province, kicking off the nation’s planetary exploration program.

The 5-metric-ton probe has been traveling in space for 202 days. It has carried out four orbital corrections and a deep-space maneuver to make sure it was always precisely aimed at Mars. 

It has flown 475 million km and was 192 million km from Earth when it reached the Mars orbit.

During its journey, the spacecraft conducted four midcourse corrections and a deep-space orbital maneuver to make sure it was always precisely aimed at Mars.

This illustration shows China’s Tianwen 1 robotic probe entering the Martian orbit on Feb 10, 2021. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINADAILY.COM.CN)

The Tianwen 1 mission’s ultimate goal is to soft-land a rover around May and June on the southern part of Mars’ Utopia Planitia – a large plain within Utopia, the largest recognized impact basin in the solar system – to conduct scientific surveys.

Tianwen 1 will now conduct multiple orbital corrections to enter a temporary Mars parking orbit, surveying potential landing sites. 

A steerable radio telescope with a 70-meter-diameter antenna in Wuqing District of northern China’s Tianjin city is a key facility receiving scientific data sent back by the Mars probe. The one-way communication delay is about 10.7 minutes.

The space administration published on Friday a black-and-white picture of Mars taken by Tianwen 1 when the probe was about 2.2 million kilometers from the red planet, the first snapshot of the red planet from the Chinese craft.

Tianwen 1 is the world’s 46th Mars exploration mission since October 1960, when the former Soviet Union launched the world’s first Mars-bound spacecraft. Only 18 of those missions were successful.

Zhao Lei contributed to this report

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Over 250,000 in Singapore have received first dose of Covid-19 vaccine: PM Lee

Feb 11. 2021In Singapore, most front-line and essential workers have been vaccinated, and seniors above 70 are starting to receive their jabs. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO

By Tham Yuen-C
The Straits Times/ANN

SINGAPORE – More than 250,000 people in Singapore have received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine and the entire population is on track to be inoculated within this year if supplies come in as scheduled, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

In his annual Chinese New Year message released on Wednesday (Feb 10), he also strongly encouraged people to get vaccinated when their turn comes, to protect themselves and their loved ones.

“Keeping our families safe from Covid-19 has been on all of our minds,” he said as families gathered for the start of a muted celebration amid the pandemic.

“This year, with Covid-19, it is perhaps more important than ever to show our appreciation to our family members. The warmth, comfort and support of our families have given all of us strength to get through the most trying times of Covid-19.”

The Year of the Ox brings new hope, PM Lee said, noting that countries with serious outbreaks that have started mass vaccinations have begun to bring down their cases.

In Singapore, most front-line and essential workers have been vaccinated, and seniors above 70 are starting to receive their jabs.

“If enough of us are vaccinated, our population will have herd immunity. But we are not there yet, so in the meantime please keep up our safe distancing precautions, even if you yourself have been vaccinated,” he said.

To curb the spread of Covid-19, people can receive no more than eight visitors a day to their homes.

Those who are out and about are also to visit only their relatives, limited to two homes a day.

While these restrictions will dampen the festive atmosphere somewhat and also inconvenience those with big, extended families, they are necessary to keep people safe as the virus is still spreading rapidly around the world, he said.

He cited the new waves of infection that hit many countries last month, after people had gathered and let their guard down for year-end celebrations, adding that it is something to learn from and avoid.

“I thank everyone for your continued support for the tough restrictions… I am sure you will find other ways to hold your reunions and connect with family members and friends, perhaps through video calls or teleconferencing,” he said.

“We can look forward to more carefree celebrations when the pandemic is over.”

PM Lee said protecting Singaporeans, especially seniors, has been the Government’s top priority in the pandemic.

Singapore has gone all out to control the spread of the virus, treat the infected and prevent the healthcare system from being overwhelmed, even at great economic cost, he added.

Through tremendous effort, the country has stabilised its Covid-19 situation, avoided the disastrous outbreaks experienced by many other countries and restarted most of its economy, he said.

“As we welcome the Year of the Ox, we can look back and give thanks that we have come through the Year of the Rat, not without trouble, but relatively unscathed.”

PM Lee wished all Singaporeans good health, and a very happy Chinese New Year.

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Tokyo taxi operator adopts L-shaped barrier for safety, better rider experience

Feb 11. 2021This Nihon Kotsu taxi is equipped with a plastic barrier that makes it easier to hear the driver while preventing airborne droplets. (The Yomiuri Shimbun)

By The Japan News/ANN

Major taxi operator Nihon Kotsu Co. is introducing a new type of plastic barrier for its fleet to prevent airborne droplets amid the prolonged novel coronavirus pandemic.

The Tokyo-based operator aims to protect passengers and drivers from infection by introducing an L-shaped barrier that encloses the driver’s seat.

The company had been using a plastic curtain since May last year to separate the front and rear seats. Some passengers complained about it, however, saying the curtain made it hard to see through the windshield and to hear the driver.

In response, the company looked into a barrier developed by Sanwa Kotsu Group, a Yokohama-based taxi company.

As it is easier to hear the drivers with the barrier, which also allows an unobstructed view of the windshield for passengers, Nihon Kotsu decided to install it in all 1,663 vehicles in its fleet.

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Korea open to Russian vaccine, GC Pharma rumored as CMO

Feb 11. 2021An ampoule containing component 2 of the Gam-COVID-Vac (Sputnik V) vaccine against COVID-19 is kept in one of the outpatient clinics in Vladivostok, Russia. (YNA)

By Lim Jeong-yeo
The Korea Herald/ANN

GC Pharma has once again risen as a potential contract manufacturer to a foreign vaccine, this time for Russia’s Sputnik V.

Company officials, however, refrained from commenting, citing the sensitivity of the issue.

The interest for Sputnik V in South Korea was ignited after Jeong Eun-kyung, head of Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, said Monday that the country was open to considering the Russian vaccine, citing uncertainties over virus variants and the supply of vaccines.

“We will continue to review the need to secure more vaccines,” Jeong said in a public briefing.

Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine — also known as Gam-COVID-Vac after its developer Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology — was once scorned for a seemingly hasty authorization by the Russian authorities.

The distrust dissipated as of Feb. 2, after the Lancet medical journal published a successful interim report for a phase 3 clinical trial of Sputnik V. Sputnik V was found to have efficacy of 91.6 percent protection against COVID-19, especially with an impressive 91.8 percent for those aged over 60.

This is a point of appeal for Korea, where the first vaccination will begin with AstraZeneca jabs, whose efficacy for seniors has been disputed.

Sputnik V also has affordable pricing and favorable storage requirements.

The Russian Direct Investment Fund that promotes the vaccine had announced in November that one dose of the Sputnik V for international markets will be less than $10. The lyophilized, dry version of the vaccine can be stored at refrigerated temperatures of 2 to 8 degrees Celsius.

What stands out for Sputnik V is that the vaccine uses two different human adenoviral vectors for its first and second doses, to be given 21 days apart.

This is intended to counter any pre-existing adenovirus immunity in the population, according to the scientists behind the research.

Sputnik V is the only one among the major COVID-19 vaccines in development to date, that uses this approach.

“The development of the Sputnik V vaccine has been criticized for unseemly haste, corner cutting, and an absence of transparency. But the outcome reported here is clear and the scientific principle of vaccination is demonstrated, which means another vaccine can now join the fight to reduce the incidence of COVID-19,” the Lancet said.

Russia is negotiating to include Sputnik V in the list of vaccines provided globally by the COVAX facility. In Europe, Sputnik V has applied for European Medicines Agency’s emergency use approval.

But it remains uncertain whether a Korean CMO will be appointed for the production.

GC Pharma continues to resurface as a potential candidate due to its contract with the global Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, to exclusively reserve its fill finish facility for at least a 500 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines designated by CEPI from March 2021 to May 2022.

It is the immediacy of this contract initiation that is pushing the industry insiders to speculate about GC Pharma’s imminent role in the fight against the pandemic. Which vaccine CEPI will require GC Pharma to bottle is a matter still unknown to the public.

GC Pharma was previously rumored to be in talks with Moderna for mRNA vaccine contract manufacturing. The company later reiterated that it only has the fill finish CMO capacity, meaning it can only bottle the already-made drug substance.

Since the rumor with Moderna, however, GC Pharma inked a memorandum of understanding with Binex, a professional CMO in Korea that is believed to have the ability to manufacture the active ingredient in the vaccine.

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Thai expert named UN rapporteur

Feb 10. 2021Vitit Muntarbhorn will replace Rhona Smith as UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights. Jean-Marc Ferre/UN

By Niem Chheng
The Phnom Penh Post/ANN

Thai national Vitit Muntarbhorn is set to be the replacement for Briton Rhona Smith when the latter completes her five-year mandate as UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Cambodia, according to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

In a letter dated February 8, UNHRC president Nazhat Shameem Khan said that following her thorough consultation with all of the relevant stakeholders, she decided to follow the first recommendation of the consultative group.

The consultative group was formed to recommend candidates to fill six vacancies for various human rights related offices around the world, including Cambodia.

“For the position of Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights in Cambodia, I propose for appointment Mr Vitit Muntarbhorn,” she wrote.

The position has been held by Smith since March 2015, and Vitit’s takeover will be formally announced in March during the 46th session of the UNHRC.

In his application for the position, Vitit said he currently holds some positions with UN-related bodies including membership on the International Labour Organisation’s Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations, serving on the UN Secretary General’s Civil Society Advisory Board on the prevention of sexual exploitation and also serving on the Advisory Board of the UN Independent Expert for the study on children deprived of liberty.

Vitit has been teaching international law, human rights and a variety of other subjects for over four decades in Thailand. He has also taught in the UK, Canada, France, Japan and South Korea.

He is the recipient of the 2004 UNESCO Human Rights Education Prize and in 2018 he was bestowed a knighthood, or KBE, for his services to international human rights.

KBE stands for Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. If Vitit was a citizen of the UK, he could therefore use the title “Sir” before his name if he wished, but as a citizen of Thailand he is instead permitted to append KBE after his name should he choose to.

In his application statement, Vitit wrote that Cambodia has made impressive progress on many fronts since the Paris Peace Agreements in 1991, noting that the country is a party to most of the core human rights treaties.

He pointed out that Cambodia has made much progress in socio-cultural and economic terms with an average of seven per cent GDP growth year after year until the Covid-19 pandemic. He said positive gains in children’s access to education and an overall reduction in poverty in Cambodia should especially be lauded.

“Thirty years on in 2020-2021, there are key challenges interconnected with the issue of the quality of human rights implementation in the country in keeping with international standards. A key consideration is democratisation and the call for fuller and more substantive enjoyment of civil and political rights and freedoms, especially the need to ensure and strengthen democratic space, civil society participation and checks and balances in the country,” he wrote.

His plan for helping Cambodia will be based on a constructive, principled and respectful approach which would be both synchronised and strategic, he added.

Once confirmed in the position, Vitit said he will focus on the impact of Covid-19 from a human rights perspective; expansion of democratic space and pluralism; and checks and balances in government power.

He will also focus also on the concerns of vulnerable groups; land, environment and resources allocation and conservation; and the judicial system.

“It is my fervent wish to see the concretisation of human rights, democracy, peace and sustainable development in concert – in this land blessed with great hospitality and culture,” he wrote.

Chin Malin, vice-president of the Cambodian Human Rights Committee (CHRC), said the government always cooperates with all international bodies regarding human rights.

“No matter who [the Special Rapporteur] is, we are prepared to happily work with them based on international principles and laws and mutual respect for sovereignty, equality, and non-interference into the internal affairs of other states,” he said.

Political analyst Lao Mong Hay said Vitit is a human rights heavyweight of global repute with a long list of accomplishments under his belt.

“Perhaps being a Thai scholar and more knowledgeable about cultures similar to the Thai culture, especially about Khmer political culture, he would get better consideration and cooperation from the Cambodian government.

“More consideration and increased cooperation from the government will be critical to the success of any UN special rapporteur’s mission in Cambodia,” he said.

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Household income from work for poor families in Singapore fell 69% last year due to Covid-19: Study

Feb 10. 2021The study surveyed over 1,000 applicants of Beyond Social Services’ Financial Assistance Fund. ST PHOTO: ONG WEE JIN

By Malavika Menon
The Straits Times/ANN

SINGAPORE – The median household income of families who sought help from local charity Beyond Social Services fell from $1,600 before the Covid-19 pandemic to $500, a study by a charity which helps people from low-income backgrounds has found.

The study, released on Tuesday (Feb 9), was conducted between April and September last year to assess the economic impact of Covid-19.  It surveyed more than 1,000 applicants of Beyond’s Financial Assistance Fund (FAF).

It revealed that the median household income from work dropped 69 per cent.

With a majority of the FAF applicants – 80 per cent – living in public rental housing, the study also found that rent as a percentage of their household income more than doubled due to the Covid-19 crisis, creating additional financial strain for these families.

The median per capita income (PCI) – calculated by taking total household income from work and dividing it by the number of people in the household – was $425 before the pandemic and fell to $113.

Case studies in the report included a single mother, named only as B, who worked as a wait staff in the food and beverage sector to support her three children. When her children fell sick, she had to stay home and look after them. Once, when she also fell sick and was given five days of medical leave, she was not paid.

When her company reduced work hours for all staff due to Covid-19, B had to work fewer days than before.

Her situation was made more difficult when she was sent to work at another location far away from where she lived, costing her more in transport.

She had to borrow money from her family during this period, and also fell behind on her rent, electricity and Wi-Fi payments.

The report also highlighted the plight of another case study, a 35-year-old man named as K, who lived in a household of eight people. K was a sole proprietor who started a small transport company, but business was affected by Covid-19 and disruptions in the tourism sector.

K lost more than half his income, which affected his ability to pay instalments on his van, forcing him to sell it. As his wife was pregnant, he also had to pay for her regular prenatal check-ups as his income fell.

Even after he found a new job, he was still in debt, paying off loans from running his previous business and other bills, including his mortgage.

The study’s lead author Dr Stephanie Chok said: “The financial impact of Covid-19 has been devastating for many. It has been especially brutal for low-income families, who grappled not just with economic hardship but multiple forms of insecurity as everyday life was disrupted in unforeseen ways.

“Recovery efforts need to pay heed to the differential impacts of this pandemic, so that our new normal does not replicate or further exacerbate inequalities for vulnerable communities.”

To alleviate the financial toll on low-income families and ensure better support for low-wage workers, the report suggested strengthening employment rights and social protection schemes for such workers, extending rent waivers for public rental flat residents and debt relief schemes.

A report released on Monday by the Department of Statistics (DOS), giving the economic impact of the pandemic, showed that the overall median household income of Singapore families fell for the first time since the global financial crisis more than a decade ago

It found that the lower-income households were the hardest hit, with those in the bottom 10 per cent seeing a 6.1 per cent real decline in income.

In contrast, the rest of the households recorded real declines of 1.4 per cent to 3.2 per cent.

Resident households – including those with no working individuals – received $6,308 per household member on average from various government schemes last year, compared with the $4,684 received in 2019.

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Seoul-Tokyo relations at lowest, affecting three-way cooperation with US: CRS

Feb 10. 2021

The captured image from the website of US cable news network C-Span shows US President-elect Joe Biden speaking at a press conference in Wilmington, Delaware, on Nov. 16. (C-Span)

By The Korea Herald/ANN

WASHINGTON — Bilateral relations between South Korea and Japan have dipped to their lowest ebb, also affecting the countries’ three-way cooperation with the United States, a congressional report said.

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) report noted the new Biden administration may be mulling ways to rebuild trust between the two US allies.

“Japan’s relations with South Korea are perennially fraught due to sensitive historical issues from Japan’s colonization of the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945,” said the report, updated last Tuesday.

“Since 2018, these relations marked their lowest levels in decades,” it added.

Seoul-Tokyo relations quickly began to deteriorate in mid-2019 when Japan placed restrictions on South Korea-bound exports of three key materials used to produce semiconductors and display panels.

Japan also removed South Korea from its list of trusted trade partners.

Many in Seoul believe the measures were aimed at retaliating against a Seoul court decision that ordered Japanese firms to pay compensation to Koreans forced into free labor during Japan’s colonial rule of Korea.

Tokyo denies any link between its trade actions and the Seoul court decision, but continues to demand South Korea nullify the court decision.

The report said the deterioration in the bilateral relations may undermine the United States’ three-way cooperation with the two Asian allies.

“A series of actions and retaliatory countermeasures by both governments involving trade, security, and history-related controversies in 2018 and 2019 caused bilateral relations to plummet, eroding US-South Korea-Japan policy coordination,” the report said.

US President Joe Biden has repeatedly highlighted the importance of US allies, especially those in Asia, to deal with China, as well as North Korea.

The report suggested the new US administration may work to help mend ties between the two US allies.

“The Biden Administration has pledged to rejuvenate US alliances and may be considering how to facilitate trust between the two US allies to foster more effective trilateral cooperation,” it said. (Yonhap)

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Around 40 protestors arrested in Mandalay

Feb 10. 2021

By YIN MYO THWE
Eleven Media/ANN

Police have started arresting anti-military coup protestors at about 10 am today and around 40 have been arrested in Mandalay Region. 

Of those arrestees, a DVD reporter by the name of Ba Gyi Aung was released by the police station concerned that said he was mistakenly arrested. 

Police arrested the protestors in 38th Street between 73rd and 74th Streets in Mandalay city after making an announcement that gatherings will not be allowed. 

Initially, one man and two women were arrested in the street. After their arrests, the protestors were staging a sit-in protest at the corner of 73rd Street and 38th Street and at the corner of 74th Street and 38th Street. 

Then, a team from the general administration department announced that the protestors were to disperse, and started firing water cannons and arresting them at around 11.30 am.  

“Around 40 protestors were arrested on 38th Street. They are being detained temporarily,” said a police officer. 

“The reporter was among the protestors when he was arrested. He told us he is a reporter, but we could not release him immediately. So we put him into a prison van. But now, he has been released,” the officer added.