Friday, January 13, 2023

Taiwan's concerns for Honduras, Probe Myanmar Junta's links with criminal underworld, Satellite images expose CCP’s lies

 Research, editing : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

News on Taiwan, Honduras, Paraguay, CCP, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, disease control, U.S., Japan

News (1)

CCP China is poaching Taiwan's allies, and the United States invites Taiwan to join the aid plan for Honduras

Image : President of Honduras Xiomara Castro (Photo/Dazhi Video Associated Press) 

宏都拉斯總統卡蕬楚(圖/達志影像美聯社) 傳中國大陸挖台友邦 美邀台加入援助宏都拉斯計畫

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that in order to assist the friendly country Honduras in coping with the impact of the epidemic, the Republic of China (Taiwan) government will participate in the "Honduras School Building Reconstruction Project" promoted by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Hongguo government. This is the first time that Taiwan and the United States have joined hands to promote the tripartite cooperation plan to aid Honduras.

Recently, the issue of changes in Taiwan-Honduras diplomatic relations has once again attracted public attention. Honduran media Paradigma reported on 8 January 2023 that Manuel Zelaya, the husband of Honduran President Xiomara Castro, said that Honduran should resume diplomatic relations with mainland China. Honduras Foreign Minister Eduardo Enrique Reina also met and consulted with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng on 31 December 2022 in order to seek financial assistance for the Patuca hydroelectric power station project.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press release stating that on 11 January 2023 Ambassador Zhang Junfei, on behalf of Taiwan, was invited to meet with U.S. Under Secretary of State Uzra Zeya, U.S. Ambassador to Honduras Laura Dogu, Honduras Foreign Minister Reina and Minister of Education ( Daniel Sponda and others) and co-hosted the launch ceremony of the project in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out that the plan of this case was proposed by the U.S. government at the US-Macro Strategy and Human Rights Dialogue on 10 January, with the purpose of assisting Honduras to rebuild the infrastructure of 12,000 schools and create a safer learning space, in order to improve the popularization rate of Honduran basic education and educational environment.

The program will be implemented with US$33 million from the United States Agency for International Development and Taiwan will be invited to participate. The government considers that this plan will help Honduras progress and develop as a whole, and benefit young students and Honduran family livelihood. So it donated 2 million U.S. Dollars in response to the U.S. initiative.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Honduras is an important friend of Taiwan in Central America. Over the years, Taiwan has promoted various cooperation projects that benefit the national economy and people's livelihood in Honduras, which has won the support and affirmation of all circles in Honduras. In the future, Taiwan will continue to combine the power of countries with similar ideas to jointly assist Honduras's national development. (Central News Agency)

News (2) to (4) / Reporter : Yang Chengyu / https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/world/breakingnews/4183614

News (2)

Encouraged by CCP's lures, Honduras media warns: High cost for the people may lead to political crisis
Image :  Honduran President Xiomara Castro. (Taken from the Presidential Palace of Honduras)
宏都拉斯總統卡蕬楚(Xiomara Castro)。(取自宏都拉斯總統府)

According to media reports in Honduras, the Republic of China (Taiwan)'s Central American diplomatic ally, the country’s foreign minister, Eduardo Enrique Reina, claimed to seek financial aid for the Patuca hydroelectric power station project. On 31 December 2022, he met with CCP Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng to discuss trade and diplomatic matters. The Honduras “Tribune” reported that Tang Heng, the CCP ambassador to Costa Rica in charge of Honduras’ affairs, claimed that the only obstacle to the establishment of diplomatic relations between Honduras and CCP China is the diplomatic relationship with Taiwan and Honduras should "follow the trend of history and make the right decision as soon as possible.” The report quoted analysts as saying that the construction of the dam can only be repaid through "political exchange". However, it will not only be costly for the people of Honduras, but may also trigger a political crisis.
The Tribune also reported that Honduran President Xiomara Castro will visit Argentina on 24 January 2023 to participate in the summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). The host, Argentine President Alberto Fernandez, also invited CCP President Xi Jinping to the meeting. If Xi confirms his attendance, whether the leaders of CCP China and Honduras will contact will also attract attention.
News (3)
Taiwan on alert: Honduras enjoys trade surplus with Taiwan but flirts with the idea of diplomatic switch to CCP
The Republic of China and Honduras have 81 years of friendship. According to the Republic of China government statistics, from January to November last year, Honduras' exports to the Republic of China reached US$114.851 million, mainly aquatic products; imports amounted to US$58.262 million, and Honduras enjoyed a trade surplus. Last year, Honduras's export volume to CCP China was less than US$10 million, but its import volume was as high as nearly US$1.8 billion. Honduras had a serious trade deficit.
When the left-wing "Liberty Reconstruction Party" (LIBRE)'s Xiomara Castro ran for president in the previous year (2021), she said that if she were elected president, she would establish diplomatic relations with CCP China. Castro defeated the ruling party candidate Nasry Asfura at the end of November that year and was successfully elected. However, with the efforts of the Republic of China diplomats and the intervention of the United States, her staff changed their tune and stated that they would maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
Republic of China (Taiwan) President Tsai Ing-wen appointed Vice President Lai Ching-te as a special envoy in January 2022 to participate in the inauguration ceremony of Castro. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Brian Andrew Nichols revealed in February of the same year that Kamala Harris personally expressed concern about Taiwan's diplomatic relations with Castro at that time. U.S. Ambassador to Honduras Farnsworth Dogu also promised to strengthen Taiwan-Honduras diplomatic relations during the hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Looking at Taiwan's international participation last year, when the Executive Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) held a "main meeting" in January, Honduras voiced support for Taiwan'ss meaningful participation in the World Health Assembly (WHA). However, after CCP unilaterally escalated tensions in the Taiwan Strait in August, the permanent representatives of Taiwan's allies to the United Nations jointly wrote a statement expressing serious concern over CCP's deliberate escalation of military threats against Taiwan, undermining the status quo across the Taiwan Strait and endangering peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the region. Durres is not among the signatures. Honduras did not show solidarity for the Republic of China at the triennial General Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) held at the end of September 2022
Before his visit to Mexico in November 2022, Reina stated that establishing relations with CCP China was not a priority and that relations with the Republic of China would be maintained. However, more than a month later, he met with CCP Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng. "Notícias" reported that Reina was accompanying Castro to attend the inauguration ceremony of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on the 1st, and met with CCP officials. Honduras hopes that CCP will finance the expansion of the hydroelectric power station and seek trade opportunities. When the media asked about relations with the Republic of China, Reina said that Honduras's foreign policy is based on Honduras's interests, and the government will establish necessary relationships and hold necessary meetings to advance the goals of the Castro administration.
"Criterio" analyst Rodier believes that the recent ice breaking between Honduras and CCP high-level officials may become a starting point for the establishment of formal relations between the two countries in terms of business and future diplomatic affairs. Analysts believe that Honduras can negotiate with CCP China to obtain support that the United States has not provided so far, such as ports, airports, and highways. He also believes that the United States will not sever diplomatic relations because of the establishment of relations with CCP China, "Why not?"
The Tribune's analysis pointed out that Honduras has been "flirting" with CCP China recently. The third phase of the Patuca Hydropower Station, which started construction in 2011, has become a financial and engineering nightmare. Not only is the project contracted by the CCP side, but also a loan of 300 million U.S. Dollars from CCP. Now Honduras wants to expand the second phase of the project, and it is scheduled to start this year . Analyst Martinez bluntly stated that the construction of the dam is not financially feasible. Honduras has to borrow a debt from China that it cannot repay at all, so it can only repay the debt through "political exchange"; The only affordable price is to sever diplomatic relations with the Republic of China. However, such a move would not only be costly for the people of Honduras, but could also trigger a domestic political crisis.
Another commentator, Perez, criticized that the Castro administration's visit to Brazil claimed that it was seeking investment with Brazil, not with CCP China. The government kept everyone in the dark, and the foreign minister’s statement was also inconsistent. The behaviour of the current government is based on its own leftist ideology, rather than considering the interests of the country and the people.
News (4)
Paraguay may switch diplomatic ties to CCP China if the ruling party lost in the April 2023 election
In addition to Honduras, Taiwan's only diplomatic relationship with South America, Paraguay, will hold a presidential election in April 2023. Reuters reported that opposition candidate Efraín Alegre threatened that if elected president, he would sever diplomatic relations with Taiwan and switch to CCP China, "opening up a bigger market for Paraguay's agricultural and livestock products." The ruling party candidate, Santiago Peña, emphasized that if he wins the general election on 30 April 2023, the relationship with Taiwan will remain unchanged. He clearly stated that he will defend the long-standing friendship with Taiwan.
According to statistics, in 2021, Paraguay's exports to China will only be 30 million U.S. Dollars, but its imports from China will be as high as 4 billion U.S. Dollars. During the same period, Paraguay's exports to Taiwan reached US$175.117 million, while imports from Taiwan amounted to US$21.966 million. Paraguayan beef and soybeans are the bulk of exports, and the producers' association put pressure on the government to explore business opportunities in the Chinese market.
The Republic of China (Taiwan) currently has 14 diplomatic relations, namely Tuvalu, Marshall Islands, Palau, Nauru in Oceania; the Holy See in Europe; Eswatini in Africa; Paraguay in South America; St. Lucia, St. Vincent & The Grenadines, Haiti, Guatemala, Belize, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Honduras.
News (5) to (10) / Source : The Irrawaddy

News (5)

Thailand asked to probe Myanmar Junta boss's links to criminal underworld

Image synthesis : Min Aung Hlaing (top left), his son Aung Pyae Sone, his daughter Khin Thiri Thet Mon (top right) and the arms broker arrested by Thai police, Tun Min Latt (The Irrawaddy)


The ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) have called on the Thai government to probe junta chief Min Aung Hlaing’s ties with a Myanmar crony arms broker who was arrested in September in Bangkok.

Tun Min Latt, 53, an arms broker for Myanmar’s junta, was arrested along with three Thais in dawn raids in Bangkok on 17 September 2022 and indicted on 13 December 2022 on charges of drug trafficking, money laundering and transnational organized crime.

“The Thai authorities should conduct an investigation into the ties of Min Aung Hlaing and his family with the underworld, and make its findings public. If it is found that they have broken Thai laws, they should be charged in a Thai court,” APHR chairman Charles Santiago said in a statement on 11 January 2023.

“Myanmar generals have been engaging in illicit businesses for decades. Senior officers like Min Aung Hlaing not only plunder Myanmar’s natural resources paying close to no taxes, but are also involved in the narcotics trade, or at the very least turn a blind eye to it and are paid for doing so,” he added.

Over 200 million Baht (US$5.4 million) worth of drugs and other items were confiscated from Tun Min Latt and his accomplices, the Thai police said.

Based on the seizure records, Justice for Myanmar (JFM), a covert activist group tracking the junta’s businesses, said items confiscated from the arms broker’s Bangkok home included the title document for a Bangkok four-bedroom condo worth nearly US$1 million belonging to Min Aung Hlaing’s son Aung Pyae Sone.

Other items seized included two Siam Commercial Bank passbooks belonging to Khin Thiri Thet Mon, Min Aung Hlaing’s daughter.

Tun Min Latt runs the Star Sapphire Group of companies, which brokered imports of Israeli reconnaissance drones and aircraft parts for the Myanmar Air Force, according to sources.

Star Sapphire Group is partnered with two military-owned business conglomerates – Myanma Economic Holdings Ltd (MEHL) and Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC) – in numerous ventures, sources said.

Thai authorities have however not yet confiscated the assets of Min Aung Hlaing’s children in Bangkok despite their links to Tun Min Latt.

News (6)

Assets belonging to Min Aung Hlaing's children among items seized from arms broker in Bangkok

The discovery of bankbooks and the title document of a luxury condominium owned by the adult children of Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing among items confiscated during the arrest of a Myanmar crony arms broker in Bangkok in September spotlights the link between him and the regime chief’s family. At the same time, it reveals that Min Aung Hlaing’s family has used Thailand as a location to squirrel away their assets.

Based on the seizure records, Justice for Myanmar (JFM), a covert activist group tracking the junta’s businesses, said that among the items confiscated from arms broker Tun Min Latt was the title document of a four-bedroom condo worth nearly US$1 million in the Belle Rama 9 complex belonging to Min Aung Hlaing’s son Aung Pyae Sone.

Other items include two Siam Commercial Bank passbooks belonging to Khin Thiri Thet Mon, Min Aung Hlaing’s daughter.

Myanmar national Tun Min Latt, 53, and three of his associates were arrested in dawn raids in Bangkok on 17 September 2022 and indicted on 13 December 2022 on drug trafficking, money laundering and transnational organized crime charges. Over 200 million baht ($5.4 million) worth of drugs and other items were confiscated from them, the Thai police said.

Dr. Tun Min Latt runs the Star Sapphire Group of companies, which brokered imports of Israeli reconnaissance drones and aircraft parts for the Myanmar Air Force, according to sources.

Star Sapphire Group is partnered with two military-owned business conglomerates — Myanma Economic Holdings Ltd (MEHL) and Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC) — in numerous ventures, sources said.

Min Aung Hlaing grabbed power from the country’s elected National League for Democracy (NLD) in 2021 and his rule has faced nationwide resistance. He has responded by ordering air strikes and the torching of villages while killing more than 2,600 people, mostly anti-regime activists.

Min Aung Hlaing and his two children are sanctioned by the US and Canada. The junta chief has maintained a close personal relationship with Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

JFM said that Thai authorities have not seized the assets of Aung Pyae Sone and Khin Thiri Thet Mon, despite evidence linking them to Tun Min Latt’s alleged criminal activities.

The group said that while the junta continues waging its campaign of terror against the people of Myanmar, the families of junta members are hiding their stolen assets offshore, as they benefit from the military’s genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

JFM spokesperson Yadanar Maung urged Thai authorities to “seize the assets of Aung Pyae Sone and Khin Thiri Thet Mon and investigate whether they have benefited from the proceeds of crime, and to block junta members, their families and enablers from accessing Thai banks and purchasing assets in Thailand.”

News (7)

Indonesia and ASEAN set up new office to deal with Myanmar crisis
Image of Retno Marsudi : AFP
Indonesia’s foreign minister Retno Marsudi announced on 11 January 2023 that she will lead a newly-set up office of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) special envoy on Myanmar, to engage with all stakeholders to address the post-coup crisis in the ASEAN member state.

Indonesia holds the ASEAN chair for 2023. During a Wednesday event in the Indonesian capital Jakarta outlining Indonesia’s foreign policy for 2023, foreign minister Retno Marsudi said that as ASEAN chair, and in accordance with the mandate of the Five-Point Consensus adopted by ASEAN in 2021, Indonesia will make every effort to help Myanmar out of its political crisis and will not allow the Myanmar issue to hold the bloc’s development hostage.

“Only through engagement with all stakeholders can the agreement’s mandate to facilitate the creation of national dialogue be fulfilled,” the foreign minister was quoted as saying in a report in the Jakarta Post newspaper.

The last two ASEAN chairs, Brunei and Cambodia, largely failed to push Myanmar’s military regime to implement the agreed Five-Point Consensus, a peace plan that calls for an immediate end to violence in the country, dialogue among all parties concerned, the appointment of a special envoy, provision of humanitarian assistance by ASEAN, and a visit by the ASEAN’s special envoy to Myanmar to meet with all parties.

Daw Zin Mar Aung, the foreign minister for the parallel National Unity Government (NUG), said in a recent exclusive interview with The Irrawaddy that she expects Indonesia, as ASEAN chair, to engage with all stakeholders and to listen to the voices of not only the military regime but Spring Revolution forces, political groups, ethnic revolutionary organizations, the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw and the NUG.

The NUG foreign minister added that she thinks Indonesia will take a more active approach to resolving the Myanmar crisis, as the country has relevant experience of transforming itself from a military-dominated parliament into a democracy and that will be helpful in the case of Myanmar.

“It [Indonesia] has learned lessons over the past two years, while other countries were the ASEAN chair. So we expect more active engagement from them,” said Daw Zin Mar Aung.

The Myanmar military led by Min Aung Hlaing staged a coup on 1 February 2021. Since then the junta has committed widespread atrocities against civilians including torture, massacres, burning people alive, using people as human shields, air and artillery strikes on residential areas and the looting and torching of houses, which United Nations representatives have called war crimes and crimes against humanity.

News (8)

Myanmar Civilian Government, Revolutionary Organizations discuss forging greater cooperation

Images of NUG Acting President Duwa Lashi La (left) and Prime Minister Mahn Win Khaing Than (right) : The Irrawaddy
Myanmar’s civilian National Unity Government (NUG) discussed possible responses to the ongoing arrests of anti-regime protesters and activists, as well as ways of forging greater connections between the country’s various revolutionary forces on 10 January 2023.

NUG Acting President Duwa Lashi La, Prime Minister Mahn Win Khaing Than and ministers held an online meeting attended by a dozen revolutionary organizations, both armed and political, from around the country.

“When we reported on and asked [for their ideas] about the current situation we face on the ground, including the arrests of protesters, Minister of Home Affairs and Immigration U Lwin Ko Latt answered our questions and suggested ways they could help,” a young member of a revolutionary organization who attended the meeting told The Irrawaddy.

During the meeting, the acting president emphasized the need for mutual trust between the NUG and anti-regime activist groups, saying it was evident the young revolutionary generation had many new ideas. He said he was amazed by their innovative protest methods, which consistently captured the attention of the public and the entire international community, according to a statement released on the acting President’s Facebook page.

“My respect and esteem for young people involved in various revolutionary protest groups have never wavered,” Duwa Lashi La told the representatives of revolutionary organizations.

The ethnic Kachin leader invited open criticism of his government, saying it welcomed public input and would respectfully listen to the opinions of the anti-regime activists.

“When a mistake is made, we never hesitate to correct it,” the President said.

He added that the various political activist organizations are expected to be a key force in establishing a federal democratic country.

At the meeting, the questions regarding the political protesters and activists were fielded by the relevant ministers, and their recommendations and suggestions recorded and accepted, according to the chairman of the Octopus Youth Organization.

“Through this meeting, we saw more intimacy and openness, more unity. I think that will make the movement stronger,” he told The Irrawaddy.

A young member of a revolutionary organization said the meeting was positive, and revolutionary forces were encouraged to directly criticize the government.

“It would be good to hold more such meetings,” he said.

Ko Nan Lin from Anti-junta Alliance Yangon, who attended the meeting, said he hoped such open discussion with the NUG would make the opposition to the junta more harmonious, coordinated and cooperative.

Anti-coup protests erupted around the country after the military seized power on Feb. 1, 2021, ignoring the desire of the people, who turned out strongly to elect the National League for Democracy in the November 2020 poll despite peak pandemic conditions.

The NUG acting president said that the protests were the first step in the Spring Revolution, as important as the diplomatic struggle, prison strikes and armed resistance, according to the Octopus Youth Organization chairman.

Young protesters and members of revolutionary forces continue to be arrested by the regime around the country. Regime forces have raided safe houses and violently arrested pro-democracy activists. Therefore, the number of protests against the military dictatorship in large cities such as Yangon and Mandalay has decreased, but bold young protesters have managed to carry out occasional flash mob protests and use other creative methods to voice opposition to the regime.

News (9)

Myanmar Junta troops burn elderly men alive

Myanmar junta troops have burned 12 villages in the west of Depayin Township, Sagaing Region, this month and burned alive two men in their 80s, according to a rescue team.

On Monday, junta troops torched 72 homes in Sat Pyar Kyin village and U Phoe Tar, 84, died because he could not escape.

Troops also torched homes in Taing Lay and Chaung Nar villages.

The Depayin Brothers rescue team and resistance fighters entered Taing Lay after the troops left and found the burned body of U Wun Mya, 85.

They saved a pregnant woman and an elderly woman who were trapped by fire, according to residents.

At least six Taing Lay and Chaung Nar villagers are missing, according to the Depayin Brothers.

“We found an old man alive in Taing Lay. He said he and his son were hiding while the troops were setting fire to houses and catching chickens and other livestock to eat. The soldiers saw his son and detained him,” said Ko Gyi Phyo, a Depayin Brothers leader.

He said they did not know about the other five people.

Junta troops have torched villages in western Depayin since 3 January 2023 almost every day and around 10,000 residents have fled, according to the Depayin Brothers. The group said troops torched 62 villages in Depayin Township before January, burning an estimated 47,000 houses.

Ko Gyi Phyo said junta troops had carried out arson attacks in the east of the township in December after clashes with resistance groups but there had been no fighting this month.

“The situation is terrible. The troops are targeting civilians and torching their houses almost every day. It is hard for people to live. We can no longer help them effectively,” he said.

News (10)

Myanmar's Revolutionary Forces prepare to go on the offensive in 2023

Myanmar’s resistance forces have evolved into a People’s Army over the past year. Now, as 2023 starts, the resistance is preparing to speed up the revolution and go on the offensive to hammer the junta.

It has been almost two years of resistance since the Myanmar military seized power on February 1, 2021. The revolution started with homemade rifles in Kalay Town in Sagaing Region in late March 2021, when regime troops crushed an anti-coup protest camp. From Kalay, armed resistance spread across the whole country.

The parallel National Unity Government (NUG) organized resistance forces nationwide into the People’s Defense Forces (PDF) three months after the coup. There are now more than 300 PDF battalions, according to the NUG, while there are still some resistance forces that operate independently. Moreover, there were around 401 Local Defense Forces (LDF) as of April 2022.

Currently, resistance forces are fighting the military regime in northern Kachin State, western Chin State, eastern Kayah State, southeastern Karen State, the central Anyar region – which comprises Mandalay, Sagaing and Magwe regions – and southern Tanintharyi Region.

PDF goals and requirements for 2023

News (11)

Scarlet fever cases on the rise in the UK in 2022

Source : Daily Mail / https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-11622587/UK-suffers-worst-year-scarlet-fever-1950s.html

In 2022, England and Wales  logged their most scarlet fever cases since the 1950s, Government figures have revealed.

Leading experts told MailOnline Covid lockdowns are partly to blame for the surge, with children having less immunity against Strep A — the usually-mild bacteria that causes the illness.

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) bosses recorded 54,430 scarlet fever cases in 2022 in England and Wales.

It was more than 20 times the 2,659 seen in the previous year — and the highest on record since 1953, when 61,180 infections were posted. 

Cases exploded towards the end of the year, fuelling panic across Britain as an unusually high number of children were killed by Strep A.

Scarlet fever cases peaked at 9,482 in the week ending 18 December 2022 in England and Wales but rates appear to have no slowed down in 2023, which experts said appear to have plunged five-fold over the past few weeks.

Cases have started to fall off since mid December, with 2,036 recorded in the week ending 1 January 2023.

MailOnline analysis today shows the North West was the worst-hit region, recording close to 3,000 cases in December.

It was followed by the East Midlands (2,890), South East (2,701) and London (2,405). The North East — the least affected area — recorded 769 over the same period.

On a more local level, Caerphilly in south Wales saw the most cases during the period with 282.

It was followed by County Durham in England (250), as well as Cardiff (250) and Swansea (188) — both in Wales. 

Some 109 local authorities did not record a single case during the four weeks. However, not all local authority data is up to date, the UKHSA said. 

Scarlet fever is a notifiable disease, meaning all doctors must inform local health protection teams of suspected cases.

Health bosses yesterday said Strep A alerts issued in early December may have encouraged those infected to come forward, leading to a sharp rise in cases followed by reduced transmission. 

Dr Sarah Anderson, UKHSA incident director, said: 'The number of scarlet fever notifications we are seeing each week has fallen.

'But we are continuing to monitor the data closely as the school term gets underway, and children mix more. 

'The bacteria that cause scarlet fever are still circulating at high levels so it is important that we continue to do our bit to stop the spread of germs to vulnerable groups, including the elderly by washing our hands regularly and thoroughly, catching coughs and sneezes in a tissue, and keeping our homes well ventilated.'

Scarlet fever is caused by Strep A, which usually causes a mild bacterial infection.

While the vast majority of infections are treatable with antibiotics, in exceptionally rare cases the bacteria can cause invasive Group A Streptococcal (iGAS).

This occurs when the bacteria it gets into parts of the body where it is not normally found, such as the lungs or bloodstream.

Two of the most severe forms of this invasive disease are necrotising fasciitis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. Both can kill.

Strep A bacteria can cause a range of other infections, including impetigo, scarlet fever and strep throat. 

There is usually a surge in iGAS cases every three to four years but social distancing during the Covid pandemic is thought to have interrupted this cycle.

High rates of other respiratory viruses — including flu, RSV and norovirus — may be putting children at higher risk of co-infections with Strep A, leaving them more susceptible to severe illness, the UKHSA suggested. 

Thirty-eight deaths have been confirmed among children across the UK, including two in Scotland, five in Wales and one in Northern Ireland. For comparison, 27 died in the last bad year.

Victims include Muhammad Ibrahim Ali, a four-year-old boy from Buckinghamshire, and Jax Albert Jefferys, five, from Hampshire.

Professor Alastair Sutcliffe, a paediatrician based at University College London, told MailOnline last year's surge was the worst seen since before he started practicing more than 30 years ago.

Explaining why the outbreak was so bad, he said, "Our immune systems need priming — think booster vaccines. 

"Whilst during the lockdown our children were safe, the well-known aphorism 'there are only two things young children share with others, their bugs and their Mother's age' holds some truth.

"So an unintentional consequence of the lockdown was less priming, less exposure, and now we face the upswing. 

"Things should return to more average levels after this winter."

Despite the unusually high levels of deaths seen so far this winter, he insisted the bacteria is usually not dangerous if children are diagnosed and treated quickly.

Previous outbreaks have also peaked later in the season, making the comparisons skewed. 

Professor Sutcliffe, who is also a consultant at Greet Ormond Street Hospital in London, said, "If group A streptococcus infections are recognised promptly and treated accordingly they are not a threat to any child. 

"Alas, a few of the children who get this infection get an invasive form which can be very scary for families, and their doctors to treat. 

"If left it can be fatal or cause permanent tissue injury.

"This bacterium fortunately tends to be sensitive to common antibiotics which is good news. 

"And perhaps this reflects well on national antibiotic stewardship policies, which have resulted in Group A strep resistance being rare."

News (12)

Peking University studies 900 million people infected with the epidemic, China CDC claims to have detected local XBB

Reporter : Li Zhaoxi / Editor : Lin Qing / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2023/01/13/a103624126.html / Image : A crowd fills the emergency room of a hospital in Beijing, China, 2 January 2023. (Getty Images)

北大研究9亿人染疫 中疾控宣称测出本土XBB

In December 2022, the CCP suddenly abandoned the zero-covid policy and reopened the border on 8 January 2023 but the domestic epidemic situation continued to be serious. According to a study by Peking University, as of the 11th, about 900 million people in China have been infected with covid. On 13 January, there was another bad news from China CDC, as local XBB cases had been detected.

According to a study by Peking University, as of 11 January, about 900 million people in China were infected with covid, with Gansu province topping the list with 91% of people infected, followed by Yunnan (84%) and Qinghai (80%).

The CCP’s epidemic data has been seriously falsified. At present, Henan Province in China is the only province that provides details on the infection rate. Earlier this month, a health official in the province said that nearly 90% of the population received covid treatment. Infection rates were similar.

The peak of China's covid wave is expected to last two to three months, according to Zeng Guang, former director of the Chinese Center for Disease Control. At an event earlier this month, he warned it was "time to focus on rural areas". Many experts predict a spike in cases in rural China during the Lunar New Year period.

XBB may also contribute to the wave of epidemics in China. In the afternoon of the 13th, at the press conference of the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council of the Communist Party of China, Chen Cao, a researcher at the Institute of Viral Diseases of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the Communist Party of China, said in response to questions from reporters from China Youth Daily that from 1 December last year to 12 January 2023, one local case of Omicron subvariant XBB was detected, and 33 imported cases of XBB variant and its subtype were detected during the same period.

However the CCP’s official data is not credible, and CCP China has stopped large-scale nucleic acid testing.

After causing a wave of infections in Singapore in 2022, XBB made headlines for its ability to evade the human immune system using a mutation at a site on its spike protein known as 486.

In October 2022, a new variant of Omicron——XBB.1.5—was discovered. It has an informal nickname—Kraken, which has the same name as the giant sea monster in Norse mythology. The defining feature of XBB.1.5, i.e. the main difference between it and XBB, is that it has a spike protein mutation called F486P, which gives XBB.1.5 a distinct advantage, retaining XBB infiltration while enhancing infectivity capabilities into the human defense system.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that XBB.1.5, along with its companion XBB variant and BQ.1 variant, all belong to the Omicron "family" and are "by far the most antibody-resistant variants".

So far, at least 38 countries have reported cases of XBB.1.5, including the UK, and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has warned that CH.1.1 and XBB.1.5 are currently the most likely to replace BQ.1 as the next dominant change in the UK. variants of the body, unless newer variants appear. None of the strains have been designated as variants of concern and are being "continuously tested," the health agency added.

Lawrence Young, a professor of molecular oncology at the University of Warwick Medical School in the United Kingdom, said the mechanism behind XBB. ACE2, the key receptor of covid virus in human body.

So far, the severity of symptoms reported in cases caused by XBB.1.5 does not differ significantly from previous variants. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) previously said XBB.1.5 accounted for 41% of sequenced cases in the week ended 31 December. 

The CDC notes on its website that reporting can be inconclusive when variants are just beginning to spread. When the XBB.1.5 infection rate was 41%, "the prediction range is wide, about 23% to 61%".

News (13)

Satellite images expose the CCP’s lies. Data model: Over 20,000 people die every day
Reporter : Yu Ting / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2023/01/13/a103623904.html / Images : Video Screenshot

The CCP tried its best to cover up the truth of the epidemic, but compared with satellite images, funeral homes all over the country became busy after the CCP suddenly lay down. Data analysis shows that more than 20,000 people die every day.
Comparing satellite images, from the capital Beijing to Chengdu, Nanjing, Tangshan and other places, as the CCP suddenly lay down, there was a long queue near the funeral home, and the number of vehicles increased significantly. Beijing Tongzhou funeral home even expanded the parking lot.
A staff member of a funeral home in Shantou, Guangdong: "Now the whole of Shantou is like this, and the whole of China is like this. There are so many remains now."
Ms. Ye, a Shanghai villager: "The crematoriums in rural areas are also queuing up. It takes more than a month to queue up, and there are corpses everywhere. The rural areas are experiencing an outbreak for a while, and all around us are sunburned. There is no medicine, no medical conditions, and we are waiting to die."
But the official data of the CCP is unbelievably low. In the past month, a total of 120,000 cases have been diagnosed, and 30 cases have died. Netizens laughed at the data, saying that the 120,000 cases were "all in our town."
However, Airfinity, a British health data analysis company, updated its estimates on January 12 that there were about 3.37 million new cases in China every day, and the daily death toll exceeded 20,000.
Mainland China's "Caixin" reported on the 12th that an official CCP expert, Zeng Guang, revealed that it is estimated that the peak of the country's cases will last for 2 to 3 months, and the peak of severe cases will last longer.
In the face of the turbulent epidemic, the CCP first rejected the good intentions of the European Union, the United States, and Germany to donate vaccines, and then excluded Pfizer's special drug "Paxlovid" from the medical insurance. The logic behind this behavior is quite suspicious.
International affairs commentator Tang Hao: "If you accept vaccine aid from Europe and the United States, it is tantamount to admitting that domestic vaccines are inferior to foreign countries, and admitting that the vaccines that the CCP has given people in the past three years are inferior products, and it also punctures the so-called "system confidence" that the CCP used to boast about. "It's all lies and empty words. In addition, if foreign drugs are included in the medical insurance, they will be widely used by the people. If they are really effective, they will not only lose the market appeal of the latest domestic drug VV116 developed by the CCP, but also seriously impact the powerful interests of the group."
News (14)
Joint Statement by U.S. and Japanese leaders: Peace across the Taiwan Strait Is an indispensible element for international security
Image : Dazhi Image Associated Press
圖/達志影像美聯社 美日領袖聯合聲明 台海和平是國際安全不可或缺要素
U.S. President Joe Biden holds bilateral talks with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The joint statement after the meeting pointed out that the US and Japan's position on Taiwan remains unchanged, reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as an indispensable element for the security and prosperity of the international community, and encouraged the peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues.
Biden held a leadership meeting with Fumio Kishida in Washington, where the two sides exchanged views on issues such as the US-Japan alliance, security and the economy.
News (15)
U.S. and Japan oppose attempts to change the status quo anywhere in the world
After the meeting, the two issued a joint statement pointing out that the Indo-Pacific region is facing more and more challenges, from mainland China’s behaviour that does not comply with the rules-based international order to North Korea’s provocations; in addition, in Europe, Russia continues to launch unfair and cruel aggression against Ukraine war. The United States and Japan strongly oppose attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force or coercion anywhere in the world.
News (16)
The status quo of Taiwan remains unchanged: Peace and stability of priority
When referring to Taiwan, the statement pointed out that the basic positions of the United States and Japan on the Taiwan issue remain unchanged, reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as an indispensable element for the security and prosperity of the international community, and encouraged the peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues.
News (17)
U.S. and Japan are facing common challenges beyond their regions
The two leaders pointed out that the United States and Japan have deepened cooperation in the fields of national security and emerging technologies, and reiterated their commitment to realize the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions. The two also realized that the challenges they are facing now go beyond the region, unite the Atlantic and the Pacific, the United States and Japan are united, resolutely oppose Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and will continue to impose sanctions on Russia, unswervingly support Ukraine, and emphasize that Russia’s use of any act of nuclear weapons is an act of hostility to humanity.
News (18)
U.S. and Japan on strengthening economic security
In terms of economic issues, the two sides talked about strengthening their common advantages in economic security, protecting and promoting key and emerging technologies including semiconductors, strengthening cooperation through a bilateral space framework agreement, and clean energy and energy security. The United States and Japan will strengthen social and supply chain resilience among like-minded partners to respond to threats such as economic coercion, non-market policies and practices, and natural disasters, accelerate global efforts to address climate change, and promote the free flow of digital through trust. The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) is central to achieving these goals.
News (19)
U.S. and Japan called on CCP to demonstrate the spread of covid with sufficiently transparent epidemiological and viral genetic sequence data 
The statement also called on China to demonstrate the spread of covid with sufficiently transparent epidemiological and viral genetic sequence data to enable public health officials around the world to prepare to reduce transmission and identify potential new variants.
News (20)
The continuous support for ASEAN and Pacific
Biden and Kishida also talked about the "Quad", continued support for the centrality and unity of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and their commitment to strengthening cooperation among Japan, South Korea, and the United States in security and other fields, as well as through the "The Blue Pacific Partnership (Partners in the Blue Pacific, PBP) strengthens cooperation with Pacific island countries. (Central News Agency)


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