As the United States and Europe ramped up their COVID-19 vaccination programs, the Asia-Pacific region, once lauded for its pandemic response, struggled to get them off the ground. Now, many of those laggards are speeding ahead, lifting hopes of a return to normality in nations resigned to repeated lockdowns and onerous restrictions.

The turnabout is as much a testament to the region’s success in securing supplies and working out the kinks in their programs as it is to vaccine hesitancy and political opposition in the United States.

South Korea, Japan and Malaysia have even pulled ahead of the U.S. in the number of vaccine doses administered per 100 people — a pace that seemed unthinkable in the spring. Several have surpassed the United States in fully vaccinating their populations or are on track to do so, limiting the perniciousness of the delta variant of the coronavirus.

In South Korea, the authorities said vaccines had helped keep most people out of the hospital. About 0.6% of fully vaccinated people who contracted COVID had severe illness and about 0.1% died, according to data collected by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency from May to August.

In Japan, serious cases have fallen by half over the last month, to a little over 1,000 a day. Hospitalisations have plummeted from a high of just over 230,000 in late August to around 31,000 on Tuesday.

“It’s almost like the tortoise and the hare,” said Jerome Kim, director general of the International Vaccine Institute, a nonprofit organisation based in Seoul and focused on vaccine research for the developing world. “Asia was always going to use vaccines when they became available.”

Risks remain for the region. Most of the countries do not manufacture their own vaccines and could face supply problems if their governments approve boosters.

In Southeast Asia, the rollout has been slow and uneven, dragging down economic prospects there. The Asian Development Bank recently lowered its 2021 growth outlook for developing Asia to 7.1% from 7.3%, in part over vaccination issues.

But for much of the region, the shift has been striking, success that is rooted in its different worldviews and governance structures.

In a contrast with the United States, vaccines were never a polarising issue in Asia-Pacific.

Although each country has had to contend with its own anti-vaccine movements, they have been relatively small. They have never benefited from an ecosystem — sympathetic media, advocacy groups and politicians — that has allowed misinformation to influence the populace.

Overall, most Asians have trusted their governments to do the right thing, and they were willing to put the needs of the community over their individual freedoms.

Reuben Ng, an assistant professor at the National University of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy who has studied vaccine hesitancy globally for the past decade, said that pre-COVID, the discussion around immunisation had always been mixed in Asia because of some skepticism about the safety. But Ng and his team, who have been analysing media reports, have found that the region now holds mostly positive views on vaccines.

There is widespread belief in Asia that vaccines are the only way out of the pandemic. This month, when a vaccination center in Tokyo offered 200 walk-in shots for young people, hopefuls queued from the early morning hours, and the line extended for blocks.

In South Korea, when the authorities opened vaccinations to people in their 50s, roughly 10 million simultaneously logged on to a government website to sign up for shots. The system, which was designed to process up to 300,000 requests at a time, temporarily crashed.

People in poorer nations whose lives were upended by extended lockdowns felt they had no choice but to get vaccinated. Indonesia and the Philippines are home to thousands of daily-wage workers who cannot rely on unemployment benefits to survive.

Arisman, 35, a motorcycle taxi driver in Jakarta, Indonesia, said he got his second shot of the Chinese-made Sinovac vaccine in July because his job involved contact with many people.

“If I get sick, I don’t get money,” said Arisman, who like many Indonesians goes by one name. “If I don’t work, I don’t get money.”

The lack of social safety nets in many Asian countries motivated many governments to roll out the vaccines quickly, said Tikki Pangestu, a co-chair of the Asia-Pacific Immunisation Coalition, a group that assesses COVID-19 vaccine preparedness. “At the end of the day, if they don’t do it, they’re going to end up with social unrest, which is the last thing they want,” he added.

When the United States and European nations were rushing to vaccinate their people late last year, many Asian countries felt they had the luxury of time. They had kept the coronavirus under control by masking, testing and keeping their borders shut. Many nations wanted to wait until the clinical trials were completed before they placed orders.

Then came the delta variant. Despite keeping their countries largely sealed off, the virus found its way in. And when it did, it spread quickly. In the summer, South Korea battled its worst wave of infections; hospitals in Indonesia ran out of oxygen and beds; and in Thailand, health care workers had to turn away patients.

With cases surging, countries quickly shifted their vaccination approach.

Sydney announced a lockdown in June after an unvaccinated limousine driver caught the delta variant from an American aircrew. Then, Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who had previously said vaccination “was not a race,” called in July on Australians to “go for gold” in the country’s inoculation drive.

He moved to overcome a supply shortage, compounded by the slow regulatory approval. In August, Australia bought 1 million Pfizer doses from Poland; this month, Morrison announced a purchase of 1 million Moderna shots from Europe.

When the delta outbreak emerged, fewer than 25% of Australians over age 16 had received a single shot. In the state of New South Wales, which includes Sydney, 86% of the adult population has now received a first dose, and 62% of adults are fully vaccinated. The country expects to fully inoculate 80% of its population over 16 by early November.

“There was great community leadership — there were people from across the political divide who came out to support vaccination,” said Greg Dore, an infectious-disease expert at the University of New South Wales. “It really helped us turn around a level of hesitancy that was there.”

Many governments have used incentives to encourage inoculations.

In South Korea, the authorities eased restrictions in August on private gatherings for fully vaccinated people, allowing them to meet in larger groups while maintaining stricter curbs for others. Singapore, which has fully vaccinated 82% of its population, previously announced similar measures.

Researchers there have also analysed the pockets of people who refuse to be inoculated and are trying to persuade them.

Ng from the National University of Singapore and his team recently found out that a group of seniors who lived alone were worried about possible adverse effects from the vaccine, fearing they could die in solitude. The volunteers promised they would visit after the vaccinations, a strategy that worked.

“This targeted approach does make a difference, because at the end of the day, the mass communications campaign can only take you so far,” Ng said.

Once countries were able to order vaccines, many had to scramble to set up the infrastructures needed to immunise the masses and quell public anger over the initially slow rollouts.

Miharu Kuzuhara, 26, a graphic illustrator in Tokyo, got her Pfizer shots in July and August but was frustrated that she had to wait that long. “We were losing to our other Asian neighbors, like Taiwan and South Korea,” Kuzuhara said. “I had this feeling of disappointment, like Japan is really the worst.”

The Japanese government dispatched the country’s military to run vaccination centers in Tokyo and Osaka and authorised companies to give shots to their employees. Local governments offered payments to doctors and nurses to administer the shots during their days off.

The share of people inoculated against COVID-19 in Japan, at 69.6%, recently overtook that of the United States. In some rural areas, vaccination rates are already close to 100%.

“Normally, people are hesitant, they’re not very enthusiastic about vaccines,” said Dr. Takashi Nakano, a professor of infectious diseases at Kawasaki Medical School. But “there was strong political commitment, a real feeling in the nation that because this is an infectious disease, we need to take steps to prevent it.”

As the United States and Europe ramped up their COVID-19 vaccination programs, the Asia-Pacific region, once lauded for its pandemic response, struggled to get them off the ground.

As the United States and Europe ramped up their COVID-19 vaccination programs, the Asia-Pacific region, once lauded for its pandemic response, struggled to get them off the ground. Now, many of those laggards are speeding ahead, lifting hopes of a return to normality in nations resigned to repeated lockdowns and onerous restrictions. The turnabout is as much a testament to the region’s success in securing supplies and working out the kinks in their programs as it is to vaccine hesitancy and political opposition in the United States. South Korea, Japan and Malaysia have even pulled ahead of the U.S. in the number of vaccine doses administered per 100 people — a pace that seemed unthinkable in the spring. Several have surpassed the United States in fully vaccinating their populations or are on track to do so, limiting the perniciousness of the delta variant of the coronavirus. In South Korea, the authorities said vaccines had helped keep most people out of the hospital. About 0.6% of fully vaccinated people who contracted COVID had severe illness and about 0.1% died, according to data collected by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency from May to August. In Japan, serious cases have fallen by half over the last month, to a little over 1,000 a day. Hospitalisations have plummeted from a high of just over 230,000 in late August to around 31,000 on Tuesday. “It’s almost like the tortoise and the hare,” said Jerome Kim, director general of the International Vaccine Institute, a nonprofit organisation based in Seoul and focused on vaccine research for the developing world. “Asia was always going to use vaccines when they became available.” Risks remain for the region. Most of the countries do not manufacture their own vaccines and could face supply problems if their governments approve boosters. In Southeast Asia, the rollout has been slow and uneven, dragging down economic prospects there. The Asian Development Bank recently lowered its 2021 growth outlook for developing Asia to 7.1% from 7.3%, in part over vaccination issues. But for much of the region, the shift has been striking, success that is rooted in its different worldviews and governance structures. In a contrast with the United States, vaccines were never a polarising issue in Asia-Pacific. Although each country has had to contend with its own anti-vaccine movements, they have been relatively small. They have never benefited from an ecosystem — sympathetic media, advocacy groups and politicians — that has allowed misinformation to influence the populace. Overall, most Asians have trusted their governments to do the right thing, and they were willing to put the needs of the community over their individual freedoms. Reuben Ng, an assistant professor at the National University of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy who has studied vaccine hesitancy globally for the past decade, said that pre-COVID, the discussion around immunisation had always been mixed in Asia because of some skepticism about the safety. But Ng and his team, who have been analysing media reports, have found that the region now holds mostly positive views on vaccines. There is widespread belief in Asia that vaccines are the only way out of the pandemic. This month, when a vaccination center in Tokyo offered 200 walk-in shots for young people, hopefuls queued from the early morning hours, and the line extended for blocks. In South Korea, when the authorities opened vaccinations to people in their 50s, roughly 10 million simultaneously logged on to a government website to sign up for shots. The system, which was designed to process up to 300,000 requests at a time, temporarily crashed. People in poorer nations whose lives were upended by extended lockdowns felt they had no choice but to get vaccinated. Indonesia and the Philippines are home to thousands of daily-wage workers who cannot rely on unemployment benefits to survive. Arisman, 35, a motorcycle taxi driver in Jakarta, Indonesia, said he got his second shot of the Chinese-made Sinovac vaccine in July because his job involved contact with many people. “If I get sick, I don’t get money,” said Arisman, who like many Indonesians goes by one name. “If I don’t work, I don’t get money.” The lack of social safety nets in many Asian countries motivated many governments to roll out the vaccines quickly, said Tikki Pangestu, a co-chair of the Asia-Pacific Immunisation Coalition, a group that assesses COVID-19 vaccine preparedness. “At the end of the day, if they don’t do it, they’re going to end up with social unrest, which is the last thing they want,” he added. When the United States and European nations were rushing to vaccinate their people late last year, many Asian countries felt they had the luxury of time. They had kept the coronavirus under control by masking, testing and keeping their borders shut. Many nations wanted to wait until the clinical trials were completed before they placed orders. Then came the delta variant. Despite keeping their countries largely sealed off, the virus found its way in. And when it did, it spread quickly. In the summer, South Korea battled its worst wave of infections; hospitals in Indonesia ran out of oxygen and beds; and in Thailand, health care workers had to turn away patients. With cases surging, countries quickly shifted their vaccination approach. Sydney announced a lockdown in June after an unvaccinated limousine driver caught the delta variant from an American aircrew. Then, Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who had previously said vaccination “was not a race,” called in July on Australians to “go for gold” in the country’s inoculation drive. He moved to overcome a supply shortage, compounded by the slow regulatory approval. In August, Australia bought 1 million Pfizer doses from Poland; this month, Morrison announced a purchase of 1 million Moderna shots from Europe. When the delta outbreak emerged, fewer than 25% of Australians over age 16 had received a single shot. In the state of New South Wales, which includes Sydney, 86% of the adult population has now received a first dose, and 62% of adults are fully vaccinated. The country expects to fully inoculate 80% of its population over 16 by early November. “There was great community leadership — there were people from across the political divide who came out to support vaccination,” said Greg Dore, an infectious-disease expert at the University of New South Wales. “It really helped us turn around a level of hesitancy that was there.” Many governments have used incentives to encourage inoculations. In South Korea, the authorities eased restrictions in August on private gatherings for fully vaccinated people, allowing them to meet in larger groups while maintaining stricter curbs for others. Singapore, which has fully vaccinated 82% of its population, previously announced similar measures. Researchers there have also analysed the pockets of people who refuse to be inoculated and are trying to persuade them. Ng from the National University of Singapore and his team recently found out that a group of seniors who lived alone were worried about possible adverse effects from the vaccine, fearing they could die in solitude. The volunteers promised they would visit after the vaccinations, a strategy that worked. “This targeted approach does make a difference, because at the end of the day, the mass communications campaign can only take you so far,” Ng said. Once countries were able to order vaccines, many had to scramble to set up the infrastructures needed to immunise the masses and quell public anger over the initially slow rollouts. Miharu Kuzuhara, 26, a graphic illustrator in Tokyo, got her Pfizer shots in July and August but was frustrated that she had to wait that long. “We were losing to our other Asian neighbors, like Taiwan and South Korea,” Kuzuhara said. “I had this feeling of disappointment, like Japan is really the worst.” The Japanese government dispatched the country’s military to run vaccination centers in Tokyo and Osaka and authorised companies to give shots to their employees. Local governments offered payments to doctors and nurses to administer the shots during their days off. The share of people inoculated against COVID-19 in Japan, at 69.6%, recently overtook that of the United States. In some rural areas, vaccination rates are already close to 100%. “Normally, people are hesitant, they’re not very enthusiastic about vaccines,” said Dr. Takashi Nakano, a professor of infectious diseases at Kawasaki Medical School. But “there was strong political commitment, a real feeling in the nation that because this is an infectious disease, we need to take steps to prevent it.”

How Asia, once a vaccination laggard, is revving up inoculations

China is swelling into a military superpower. India, Vietnam and Singapore are spending more on defense. Japan is leaning to do the same. Now Australia, backed by the United States and Britain, has catapulted the military contest with Beijing in Asia into a tense new phase.

Their deal last week to equip Australia with stealthy, long-range nuclear-powered submarines better able to take on the Chinese navy could accelerate an Asian arms buildup long before the submarines enter service.

In response, China may step up its military modernisation, especially in technology able to stymie the submarines. And by confirming the Biden administration’s determination to take on Chinese power in Asia, the new weapons deal may tilt other big military spenders like India and Vietnam into accelerating their own weapons plans.

Countries trying to stay in the middle, like Indonesia, Malaysia and others, face a potentially more volatile region and growing pressure, as Australia did, to choose sides between Washington and Beijing.

“The picture is one of three Anglo-Saxon countries drumming up militarily in the Indo-Pacific region. It plays to the narrative offered by China that ‘outsiders’ are not acting in line with the aspiration of regional countries,” said Dino Patti Djalal, a former Indonesian ambassador to the United States. “The worry is that this will spark an untimely arms race, which the region does not need now, nor in the future.”

The submarines will not hit the water for at least a decade. But the geopolitical waves from their announcement have been instant, while giving Beijing time to marshal opposition among Asian neighbours and plot military countermoves.

Japan and Taiwan, both strong US allies, quickly endorsed the security agreement.

Other Asian governments have, through their remarks or silence, signified misgivings or apprehension about riling China. Many leaders in Southeast Asia want the United States to remain a security mainstay, said Ben Bland, director of the Southeast Asia program at the Lowy Institute in Sydney.

“But they also fear that the increasingly strident approach taken by the U.S. and allies such as Australia will push China to respond in kind,” he said, “driving a cycle of escalation that is centred on Southeast Asia but disregards Southeast Asian voices.”

Even before the deal, some governments had deployed new ships, submarines and missiles, at least partly out of worry about China’s rapid military buildup and contentious territorial claims. China accounts for 42% of all military spending across Asia, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Japanese policymakers have begun to publicly consider increasing military spending beyond 1% of its gross domestic product, a cap that the country has maintained since the 1970s. South Korea, focused on the threat from North Korea, has increased its defence budget by 7% a year on average since 2018.

India has ratcheted up military spending as tensions with China have risen, though the economic hit from the coronavirus may slow that trend.

Indian plans to acquire another 350 locally assembled military aircraft in the next two decades, its air force chief said this month. Japan is working on hypersonic missiles that could threaten Chinese naval ships in a conflict. Taiwan, the self-governed island that China regards as its own territory, has proposed a $16.8 billion military budget for next year, including $1.4 billion for more jet fighters.

The Biden administration promises to help Asian nations counter China’s military buildup, something the new agreement with Australia highlights. That agenda is likely to be discussed in the White House this week when President Joe Biden hosts other leaders from the “Quad,” the grouping that includes Australia, Japan and India.

“China is the pacing threat that we have to be concerned about, not only today, but also in the near term and in the long term,” Gen. John Hyten, vice chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at an event for the Brookings Institution last week.

But many governments across Asia, especially in Southeast Asia, hope to avoid having to make the same choice that Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia made last week in declaring a “forever partnership” with the United States.

India, which has veered between border clashes with China and efforts to patch up ties with its neighbour, has been muted about the agreement. So has South Korea, which wants to keep steady relations with Beijing while it focuses on potential conflict with North Korea.

Indonesia’s foreign ministry said it was “deeply concerned over the continuing arms race.” Malaysia has voiced worry.

Lee Hsien Loong, the prime minister of Singapore, a city-state with good ties to both Beijing and Washington, diplomatically told Morrison that he hoped “the partnership would contribute constructively to the peace and stability of the region,” the Straits Times reported.

Outwardly, Australia’s plan to eventually build at least eight nuclear-powered submarines might seem to make little difference to China’s calculus. With about 360 vessels, the Chinese navy is the biggest in the world by number, and has around a dozen nuclear-powered submarines. Its nuclear submarine fleet is likely to grow to 21 by 2030, according to the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence.

The US Navy has about 300 vessels, including 68 submarines, all of them nuclear. Even if Australia is relatively swift and efficient, not traits that have marked its submarine acquisitions over the decades&nbsp;its first nuclear-powered submarines may not be commissioned until later in the 2030s.

Positioning the hard-to-track submarines closer to seas near China, Japan and the Korean Peninsula could be a powerful deterrent against China’s military, said Drew Thompson, a former Pentagon official responsible for relations with China.

“The Middle East wars have ended,” said Thompson, now a visiting senior research fellow at the National University of Singapore. “We are in an interwar period, and the next one will be a high-end, high-intensity conflict with a near-peer competitor, probably involving China, and most likely in northeast Asia.”

After condemning the submarine agreement last week, the Chinese government has said little else. But China’s leaders and military planners are sure to consider military and diplomatic countermoves, including new ways to punish Australian exports, already hit by bans and punitive tariffs as relations soured in the past few years.

Beijing can also accelerate efforts to develop technologies for finding and destroying nuclear-powered submarines well before Australia receives them. Most experts said a technological race was more likely than a generalised arms race. China’s output of new naval ships and fighter planes is already rapid. Its anti-submarine technology is less advanced.

Nearer term, Chinese officials may step up efforts to marshal regional opposition to the submarine plan and the new security grouping, called AUKUS, for Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

“If you’re China, this also makes you think, ‘Well, I better get ahead of this,’” said Elbridge Colby, a former deputy assistant secretary of defence in the Trump administration. “If Australia takes this big step, then Japan could take a half step, and Taiwan takes a half step, and then India and then maybe Vietnam.”

But Beijing has created its own high barriers to winning support from neighbours. China’s expansive, uncompromising claims to waters and islands across the South China Sea have angered Southeast Asian countries. Beijing is also locked in territorial disputes with Japan, India and other countries.

“This AUKUS agreement very vividly shows that East Asia has become the focus of United States global security strategy,” said Zhu Feng, a professor of international relations at Nanjing University in east China. “It’s a reminder to China that if we can’t ease tensions with neighbours over the South China Sea and East China Sea, the US&nbsp;will continue trying to take advantage of this tension.”

China is swelling into a military superpower. India, Vietnam and Singapore are spending more on defense. Japan is leaning to do the same. Now Australia, backed by the United States and Britain, has catapulted the military contest with Beijing in Asia into a tense new phase.

China is swelling into a military superpower. India, Vietnam and Singapore are spending more on defense. Japan is leaning to do the same. Now Australia, backed by the United States and Britain, has catapulted the military contest with Beijing in Asia into a tense new phase. Their deal last week to equip Australia with stealthy, long-range nuclear-powered submarines better able to take on the Chinese navy could accelerate an Asian arms buildup long before the submarines enter service. In response, China may step up its military modernisation, especially in technology able to stymie the submarines. And by confirming the Biden administration’s determination to take on Chinese power in Asia, the new weapons deal may tilt other big military spenders like India and Vietnam into accelerating their own weapons plans. Countries trying to stay in the middle, like Indonesia, Malaysia and others, face a potentially more volatile region and growing pressure, as Australia did, to choose sides between Washington and Beijing. “The picture is one of three Anglo-Saxon countries drumming up militarily in the Indo-Pacific region. It plays to the narrative offered by China that ‘outsiders’ are not acting in line with the aspiration of regional countries,” said Dino Patti Djalal, a former Indonesian ambassador to the United States. “The worry is that this will spark an untimely arms race, which the region does not need now, nor in the future.” The submarines will not hit the water for at least a decade. But the geopolitical waves from their announcement have been instant, while giving Beijing time to marshal opposition among Asian neighbours and plot military countermoves. Japan and Taiwan, both strong US allies, quickly endorsed the security agreement. Other Asian governments have, through their remarks or silence, signified misgivings or apprehension about riling China. Many leaders in Southeast Asia want the United States to remain a security mainstay, said Ben Bland, director of the Southeast Asia program at the Lowy Institute in Sydney. “But they also fear that the increasingly strident approach taken by the U.S. and allies such as Australia will push China to respond in kind,” he said, “driving a cycle of escalation that is centred on Southeast Asia but disregards Southeast Asian voices.” Even before the deal, some governments had deployed new ships, submarines and missiles, at least partly out of worry about China’s rapid military buildup and contentious territorial claims. China accounts for 42% of all military spending across Asia, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Japanese policymakers have begun to publicly consider increasing military spending beyond 1% of its gross domestic product, a cap that the country has maintained since the 1970s. South Korea, focused on the threat from North Korea, has increased its defence budget by 7% a year on average since 2018. India has ratcheted up military spending as tensions with China have risen, though the economic hit from the coronavirus may slow that trend. Indian plans to acquire another 350 locally assembled military aircraft in the next two decades, its air force chief said this month. Japan is working on hypersonic missiles that could threaten Chinese naval ships in a conflict. Taiwan, the self-governed island that China regards as its own territory, has proposed a $16.8 billion military budget for next year, including $1.4 billion for more jet fighters. The Biden administration promises to help Asian nations counter China’s military buildup, something the new agreement with Australia highlights. That agenda is likely to be discussed in the White House this week when President Joe Biden hosts other leaders from the “Quad,” the grouping that includes Australia, Japan and India. “China is the pacing threat that we have to be concerned about, not only today, but also in the near term and in the long term,” Gen. John Hyten, vice chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at an event for the Brookings Institution last week. But many governments across Asia, especially in Southeast Asia, hope to avoid having to make the same choice that Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia made last week in declaring a “forever partnership” with the United States. India, which has veered between border clashes with China and efforts to patch up ties with its neighbour, has been muted about the agreement. So has South Korea, which wants to keep steady relations with Beijing while it focuses on potential conflict with North Korea. Indonesia’s foreign ministry said it was “deeply concerned over the continuing arms race.” Malaysia has voiced worry. Lee Hsien Loong, the prime minister of Singapore, a city-state with good ties to both Beijing and Washington, diplomatically told Morrison that he hoped “the partnership would contribute constructively to the peace and stability of the region,” the Straits Times reported. Outwardly, Australia’s plan to eventually build at least eight nuclear-powered submarines might seem to make little difference to China’s calculus. With about 360 vessels, the Chinese navy is the biggest in the world by number, and has around a dozen nuclear-powered submarines. Its nuclear submarine fleet is likely to grow to 21 by 2030, according to the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence. The US Navy has about 300 vessels, including 68 submarines, all of them nuclear. Even if Australia is relatively swift and efficient, not traits that have marked its submarine acquisitions over the decades its first nuclear-powered submarines may not be commissioned until later in the 2030s. Positioning the hard-to-track submarines closer to seas near China, Japan and the Korean Peninsula could be a powerful deterrent against China’s military, said Drew Thompson, a former Pentagon official responsible for relations with China. “The Middle East wars have ended,” said Thompson, now a visiting senior research fellow at the National University of Singapore. “We are in an interwar period, and the next one will be a high-end, high-intensity conflict with a near-peer competitor, probably involving China, and most likely in northeast Asia.” After condemning the submarine agreement last week, the Chinese government has said little else. But China’s leaders and military planners are sure to consider military and diplomatic countermoves, including new ways to punish Australian exports, already hit by bans and punitive tariffs as relations soured in the past few years. Beijing can also accelerate efforts to develop technologies for finding and destroying nuclear-powered submarines well before Australia receives them. Most experts said a technological race was more likely than a generalised arms race. China’s output of new naval ships and fighter planes is already rapid. Its anti-submarine technology is less advanced. Nearer term, Chinese officials may step up efforts to marshal regional opposition to the submarine plan and the new security grouping, called AUKUS, for Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. “If you’re China, this also makes you think, ‘Well, I better get ahead of this,’” said Elbridge Colby, a former deputy assistant secretary of defence in the Trump administration. “If Australia takes this big step, then Japan could take a half step, and Taiwan takes a half step, and then India and then maybe Vietnam.” But Beijing has created its own high barriers to winning support from neighbours. China’s expansive, uncompromising claims to waters and islands across the South China Sea have angered Southeast Asian countries. Beijing is also locked in territorial disputes with Japan, India and other countries. “This AUKUS agreement very vividly shows that East Asia has become the focus of United States global security strategy,” said Zhu Feng, a professor of international relations at Nanjing University in east China. “It’s a reminder to China that if we can’t ease tensions with neighbours over the South China Sea and East China Sea, the US will continue trying to take advantage of this tension.”

Australia’s submarines make waves in Asia long before they go to sea

According to reports, Google underpaid thousands of international contract workers, violating pay-parity laws in several countries and delayed correcting the pay rates for more than two years as it attempted to cover up the problem.

The tech giant’s compliance department discovered that it had been underpaying workers in UK, Europe and Asia since May 2019, but chose not to immediately compensate the underpaid temporary staff.

Instead, they only corrected rates for new employees in the hopes of avoiding legal, financial, and reputational damage, the Guardian reported citing access to internal Google documents and emails.

According to the New York Times, Alan Barry, a Google manager based in Ireland, feared that the dramatic pay increase would cause employees to “connect the dots” and "give rise to a flurry of noise/frustration."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/apple-google-and-a-deal-that-controls-the-internet-337885">Apple, Google and a deal that controls the internet</a>

“I'm also not keen to invite the charge that we've allowed this situation to persist for so long that the correction required is significant,” Barry wrote in an email, per the NYT.

Google admitted the failures and said it would conduct an investigation after being contacted by the Guardian.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/google-executives-see-cracks-in-their-companys-success-393029">Google executives see cracks in their company’s success</a>

“While the team hasn’t increased the comparator rate benchmarks for some years, actual pay rates for temporary staff have increased numerous times in that period,” said Spyro Karetsos, Google’s chief compliance officer, in a statement.

“Most temporary staff are paid significantly more than the comparator rates.

“Nevertheless, it’s clear that this process has not been handled consistent with the high standards to which we hold ourselves as a company. We’re doing a thorough review, and we’re committed to identifying and addressing any pay discrepancies that the team has not already addressed.

“And we’ll be conducting a review of our compliance practices in this area. In short, we’re going to figure out what went wrong here, why it happened, and we’re going to make it right.”

According to The Guardian, Google employs over 900 temporary workers throughout the UK, Ireland, India, Germany, the Netherlands, France, and Poland - all of which enforce local pay-parity laws.

Meanwhile, a whistleblower represented by Whistleblower Aid has filed a complaint about the alleged violations with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

(With inputs from agencies)

According to reports, Google underpaid thousands of international contract workers, violating pay-parity laws in several countries and delayed correcting the pay rates for more than two years as it attempted to cover up the problem.

According to reports, Google underpaid thousands of international contract workers, violating pay-parity laws in several countries and delayed correcting the pay rates for more than two years as it attempted to cover up the problem. The tech giant’s compliance department discovered that it had been underpaying workers in UK, Europe and Asia since May 2019, but chose not to immediately compensate the underpaid temporary staff. Instead, they only corrected rates for new employees in the hopes of avoiding legal, financial, and reputational damage, the Guardian reported citing access to internal Google documents and emails. According to the New York Times, Alan Barry, a Google manager based in Ireland, feared that the dramatic pay increase would cause employees to “connect the dots” and "give rise to a flurry of noise/frustration." Also read | Apple, Google and a deal that controls the internet “I'm also not keen to invite the charge that we've allowed this situation to persist for so long that the correction required is significant,” Barry wrote in an email, per the NYT. Google admitted the failures and said it would conduct an investigation after being contacted by the Guardian. Also read | Google executives see cracks in their company’s success “While the team hasn’t increased the comparator rate benchmarks for some years, actual pay rates for temporary staff have increased numerous times in that period,” said Spyro Karetsos, Google’s chief compliance officer, in a statement. “Most temporary staff are paid significantly more than the comparator rates. “Nevertheless, it’s clear that this process has not been handled consistent with the high standards to which we hold ourselves as a company. We’re doing a thorough review, and we’re committed to identifying and addressing any pay discrepancies that the team has not already addressed. “And we’ll be conducting a review of our compliance practices in this area. In short, we’re going to figure out what went wrong here, why it happened, and we’re going to make it right.” According to The Guardian, Google employs over 900 temporary workers throughout the UK, Ireland, India, Germany, the Netherlands, France, and Poland - all of which enforce local pay-parity laws. Meanwhile, a whistleblower represented by Whistleblower Aid has filed a complaint about the alleged violations with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. (With inputs from agencies)

Google underpaid thousands of contract workers across dozens of countries: Report

As production contracted for the first time in 12 months and slowed demand due to rising COVID-19 infections, South Korea's factory activity has slowed in August, also impacted by the supply chain disruptions across the region.

World Business Watch: South Korea's factory activity growth slows as output shrinks

Indonesia passed the sad milestone of 100,000 deaths from COVID-19, according to data from the country's health ministry, with the Southeast Asian nation responsible for one in every five deaths globally.&nbsp;

For the last month, Indonesia has been fighting a wave of coronavirus illnesses and deaths caused by the extremely infectious Delta strain, as it has swiftly become Asia's coronavirus hotspot.&nbsp;

Indonesia has surpassed Brazil and India as the country with the newest COVID-19 cases and deaths, establishing itself as the pandemic's new epicentre.

Indonesia is the second country in Asia after India to reach this grim milestone.&nbsp; 
 
Watch | Gravitas: Indonesia: Scientist leading Sinovac trial dies of suspected COVID-19

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The tidal wave is part of a larger third wave that is sweeping Southeast Asia.&nbsp;

While Indonesia is adding fewer cases per day than the United States, the country's poor vaccination coverage and under-equipped healthcare system have resulted in greater virus-related death rates.

According to Bloomberg's vaccination tracker, just 8% of Indonesia's 270 million people are completely vaccinated, compared to more than half in the United States.

Indonesia has been struggling to treat critically ill patients due to a significant lack of oxygen.

Because hospitals throughout the country are running out of beds, many of these people are dying at home or while waiting for urgent care. &nbsp;

Hospitals, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), require additional isolation rooms, oxygen supply, medical and personal equipment, as well as body bags and mobile field hospitals.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Indonesia passed the sad milestone of 100,000 deaths from COVID-19, according to data from the country's health ministry, with the Southeast Asian nation responsible for one in every five deaths globally.

Indonesia passed the sad milestone of 100,000 deaths from COVID-19, according to data from the country's health ministry, with the Southeast Asian nation responsible for one in every five deaths globally. For the last month, Indonesia has been fighting a wave of coronavirus illnesses and deaths caused by the extremely infectious Delta strain, as it has swiftly become Asia's coronavirus hotspot. Indonesia has surpassed Brazil and India as the country with the newest COVID-19 cases and deaths, establishing itself as the pandemic's new epicentre. Indonesia is the second country in Asia after India to reach this grim milestone. Watch | Gravitas: Indonesia: Scientist leading Sinovac trial dies of suspected COVID-19 The tidal wave is part of a larger third wave that is sweeping Southeast Asia. While Indonesia is adding fewer cases per day than the United States, the country's poor vaccination coverage and under-equipped healthcare system have resulted in greater virus-related death rates. According to Bloomberg's vaccination tracker, just 8% of Indonesia's 270 million people are completely vaccinated, compared to more than half in the United States. Indonesia has been struggling to treat critically ill patients due to a significant lack of oxygen. Because hospitals throughout the country are running out of beds, many of these people are dying at home or while waiting for urgent care. Hospitals, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), require additional isolation rooms, oxygen supply, medical and personal equipment, as well as body bags and mobile field hospitals. (With inputs from agencies)

Indonesia becomes epicentre of Asia's COVID-19 outbreak, second in region to top 100000 deaths

Asia is sliding into a dangerous arms race as smaller nations that once stayed on the sidelines build arsenals of advanced long-range missiles, following in the footsteps of powerhouses China and the United States, analysts say. 
 
China is mass producing its DF-26, a multipurpose weapon with a range of up to 4,000 kilometres, while the United States is developing new weapons aimed at countering Beijing in the Pacific. 
 
Other countries in the region are buying or developing their own new missiles, driven by security concerns over China and a desire to reduce their reliance on the United States. 
 
Before the decade is out, Asia will be bristling with conventional missiles that fly farther and faster, hit harder, and are more sophisticated than ever before - a stark and dangerous change from recent years, analysts, diplomats, and military officials say. 
 
"The missile landscape is changing in Asia, and it’s changing fast," said David Santoro, president of the Pacific Forum. 
 
Such weapons are increasingly affordable and accurate, and as some countries acquire them, their neighbours don't want to be left behind, analysts said. Missiles provide strategic benefits such as deterring enemies and boosting leverage with allies, and can be a lucrative export. 
 
The long-term implications are uncertain, and there is a slim chance that the new weapons could balance tensions and help maintain peace, Santoro said. 
 
"More likely is that missile proliferation will fuel suspicions, trigger arms races, increase tensions, and ultimately cause crises and even wars," he said.

Asia is sliding into a dangerous arms race as smaller nations that once stayed on the sidelines build arsenals of advanced long-range missiles, following in the footsteps of powerhouses China and the United States, analysts say.

Asia is sliding into a dangerous arms race as smaller nations that once stayed on the sidelines build arsenals of advanced long-range missiles, following in the footsteps of powerhouses China and the United States, analysts say. China is mass producing its DF-26, a multipurpose weapon with a range of up to 4,000 kilometres, while the United States is developing new weapons aimed at countering Beijing in the Pacific. Other countries in the region are buying or developing their own new missiles, driven by security concerns over China and a desire to reduce their reliance on the United States. Before the decade is out, Asia will be bristling with conventional missiles that fly farther and faster, hit harder, and are more sophisticated than ever before - a stark and dangerous change from recent years, analysts, diplomats, and military officials say. "The missile landscape is changing in Asia, and it’s changing fast," said David Santoro, president of the Pacific Forum. Such weapons are increasingly affordable and accurate, and as some countries acquire them, their neighbours don't want to be left behind, analysts said. Missiles provide strategic benefits such as deterring enemies and boosting leverage with allies, and can be a lucrative export. The long-term implications are uncertain, and there is a slim chance that the new weapons could balance tensions and help maintain peace, Santoro said. "More likely is that missile proliferation will fuel suspicions, trigger arms races, increase tensions, and ultimately cause crises and even wars," he said.

Caught between China and US, Asian countries stockpile powerful new missiles

A new research has revealed that coronavirus may have swept across East Asia more than 20,000 years ago, leaving traces in the DNA of people in modern China, Japan and Vietnam.

A new research has revealed that coronavirus may have swept across East Asia more than 20,000 years ago, leaving traces in the DNA of people in modern China, Japan and Vietnam. The research found evidence of genetic adaptation to the coronavirus family of viruses in 42 genes in modern populations in the above regions. The coronavirus family also consists of related MERS and SARS viruses. Both of these have caused significant deadly outbreaks in the past 20 years. Also Read | UK's former finance minister Javid appointed as health minister after Matt Hancock quits In few decades, geneticists have devised powerful tools to uncover genetic traces of historical adaptation events that remain present within the genomes of people living today. These tools are now helping scientists to discover genes that mark adaptations for high-altitude living and the adult consumption of milk. As a part of the research, the team applied cutting-edge computational analyses to the genomes of more than 2,500 people from 26 populations around the world. The researchers then signatures of adaptation in 42 different human genes that encode VIPs. These VIP signals were present in only five populations. All of them came from East Asia. This is how the researchers concluded that the ancestors of modern East Asians were initially exposed to coronaviruses around 25,000 years ago. After further tests, it was revealed that the 42 VIPs are primarily expressed in the lungs. This is also the tissue most affected by COVID-19 symptoms. The researchers also confirmed that these VIPs interact directly with the SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for the current pandemic.

Coronavirus outbreak may have swept east Asia 20,000 years ago, reveals study

Bitcoin regained some ground on Tuesday, a day after touching a two-week low after China's central bank reaffirmed a crackdown on cryptocurrencies and restricted trading channels for Chinese residents. 
 
The world's largest crypto currency was last up 4.58% at $33,000, having dropped more than 10% on Monday. Ether, the second-biggest crypto currency, was up 5.05% at $1,983 after hitting a five-week low the day before. 
 
Monday's sell-off was sparked by an announcement from the Peoples Bank of China saying it had summoned China's largest banks and payment firms urging them to crack down harder on cryptocurrency trading. 
 
"It basically says now OTC transactions are not legitimate... we are not allowed by the banks to transfer money for cryptocurrency purchases and sales," said Bobby Lee, founder and CEO of Ballet, a cryptocurrency wallet app, and formerly CEO of BTC China, China's first bitcoin exchange. 
 
Crypto exchanges were effectively pushed out of China by a 2017 rule change, but over the counter (OTC) platforms based-overseas sprung up to act as middlemen, receiving payment from people based in China and buying cryptocurrencies on their behalf. 
 
"Essentially this puts all the OTC platforms out of business," Lee said. 
 
However, Tuesday's price moves suggested Asian traders thought markets overnight had overreacted to the news. 
 
"A Chinese ban on cryptocurrencies isn't something new. The one that came out yesterday was almost a copy of a previous announcement, earlier this year," said Justin d'Anethan, head of exchange sales at crypto exchange operator EQONEX. 
 
"As always, leverage, large participants and fundamental events mean crypto can move dramatically," he said. Last month, three industry associations issued a ban on crypto-related financial services, but these bodies have much less clout than the PBOC.&nbsp;

Market participants said at the time that the earlier ban would be hard to enforce as banks and payment firms would struggle to identify crypto-related payments. However, following Monday's PBOC statement, banks including Agricultural Bank of China and Alipay, the ubiquitous payment platform owned by fintech giant Ant Group, said they would step up monitoring to root out crypto transactions. 
 
China's crackdown has also had a dramatic effect on bitcoin mining. The hashrate, which measures the processing power of the bitcoin network and shows how much mining is taking place, on Monday hit its lowest level since late 2020. 
 
Cryptomining is a big business in China, which accounts for over half of global bitcoin production. However, since the State Council's statement, bans on cryptomining have been issued in major bitcoin mining hubs, including Sichuan, Xinjiang, and Inner Mongolia.

Bitcoin regained some ground on Tuesday, a day after touching a two-week low after China's central bank reaffirmed a crackdown on cryptocurrencies and restricted trading channels for Chinese residents.

Bitcoin regained some ground on Tuesday, a day after touching a two-week low after China's central bank reaffirmed a crackdown on cryptocurrencies and restricted trading channels for Chinese residents. The world's largest crypto currency was last up 4.58% at $33,000, having dropped more than 10% on Monday. Ether, the second-biggest crypto currency, was up 5.05% at $1,983 after hitting a five-week low the day before. Monday's sell-off was sparked by an announcement from the Peoples Bank of China saying it had summoned China's largest banks and payment firms urging them to crack down harder on cryptocurrency trading. "It basically says now OTC transactions are not legitimate... we are not allowed by the banks to transfer money for cryptocurrency purchases and sales," said Bobby Lee, founder and CEO of Ballet, a cryptocurrency wallet app, and formerly CEO of BTC China, China's first bitcoin exchange. Crypto exchanges were effectively pushed out of China by a 2017 rule change, but over the counter (OTC) platforms based-overseas sprung up to act as middlemen, receiving payment from people based in China and buying cryptocurrencies on their behalf. "Essentially this puts all the OTC platforms out of business," Lee said. However, Tuesday's price moves suggested Asian traders thought markets overnight had overreacted to the news. "A Chinese ban on cryptocurrencies isn't something new. The one that came out yesterday was almost a copy of a previous announcement, earlier this year," said Justin d'Anethan, head of exchange sales at crypto exchange operator EQONEX. "As always, leverage, large participants and fundamental events mean crypto can move dramatically," he said. Last month, three industry associations issued a ban on crypto-related financial services, but these bodies have much less clout than the PBOC. Market participants said at the time that the earlier ban would be hard to enforce as banks and payment firms would struggle to identify crypto-related payments. However, following Monday's PBOC statement, banks including Agricultural Bank of China and Alipay, the ubiquitous payment platform owned by fintech giant Ant Group, said they would step up monitoring to root out crypto transactions. China's crackdown has also had a dramatic effect on bitcoin mining. The hashrate, which measures the processing power of the bitcoin network and shows how much mining is taking place, on Monday hit its lowest level since late 2020. Cryptomining is a big business in China, which accounts for over half of global bitcoin production. However, since the State Council's statement, bans on cryptomining have been issued in major bitcoin mining hubs, including Sichuan, Xinjiang, and Inner Mongolia.

Bitcoin recoups some losses in Asia after plunging on Chinese crackdown

The nominee to be the top US&nbsp;diplomat for East Asia said on Tuesday that Washington should develop its relationship with Taiwan in every sector, hours after China's largest reported incursion to date into the island's air defence identification zone. 
 
Daniel Kritenbrink said it was important for Washington to demonstrate its resolve to meet its 'rock-solid obligations' towards Taiwan in the face of pressure from China, which claims the self-governing island as its own territory. 
 
"It's ... incumbent upon us to further develop our robust relationship with Taiwan in every sector," Kritenbrink told a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on his nomination to be assistant secretary of state for East Asia. 
 
Earlier, Taiwan said 28 Chinese aircraft, including fighters and nuclear-capable bombers, entered its air defense identification zone. 
 
The Group of Seven leaders issued a statement on Sunday scolding China for a series of issues and underscoring the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, comments that China called 'slander'. 
 
Kritenbrink, a career foreign service officer, who was most recently ambassador to Vietnam and a former deputy head of mission in China, was asked if Washington should switch from a long-standing stance of 'strategic ambiguity' to make a clear commitment to defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack. 
 
He said the US&nbsp;'one-China' policy that formally recognises Beijing and not Taipei had ensured cross-strait stability and Taiwan's security for many decades. 
 
He added: "I do think that maintenance of that status quo and of that security is a dynamic situation. As the threat from (China) grows, as Beijing`s aggressive and bullying behavior vis-a-vis Taiwan grows, I think that our response has to be calibrated as well." 
 
Responding to a request for comment, Chinese Embassy spokesman Liu Pengyu said Washington should 'stop elevating its relationship with the Taiwan region in any substantive way ... so as to avoid serious damage to China-US&nbsp;relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait." 
 
Kritenbrink described China as the 'major challenge the United States faces today' and said new guidelines adopted by the Biden administration for Taiwan relations were 'significantly liberalized' and 'explicitly designed to further develop our relationships and our partnership'.&nbsp;He said Washington should continue to take steps to hold to account Chinese leaders responsible for what it calls genocide against Uyghurs and other Muslims in China's Xinjiang region. 
 
"The ongoing genocide in Xinjiang shocks the conscience," he said. "We estimate more than 1 million Uyghurs have been forcibly detained, put into re-education camps, forced to provide labor, and many other disturbing allegations about how they are being treated," he said. 
 
"We need to continue to take steps using all the tools that the US&nbsp;government has at its disposal to hold to account the leaders who are carrying out these atrocities," Kritenbrink said. 
 
Liu repeated Chinese denials of abuses in Xinjiang, saying: "Facts have proved that there has never been any genocide in Xinjiang." 
 
In a tweet, Sophie Richardson, China director for Human Rights Watch, called Kritenbrink's Xinjiang remarks a 'strong pledge',&nbsp;while adding: "Follow through critical." 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

The nominee to be the top US diplomat for East Asia said on Tuesday that Washington should develop its relationship with Taiwan in every sector, hours after China's largest reported incursion to date into the island's air defence identification zone.

The nominee to be the top US diplomat for East Asia said on Tuesday that Washington should develop its relationship with Taiwan in every sector, hours after China's largest reported incursion to date into the island's air defence identification zone. Daniel Kritenbrink said it was important for Washington to demonstrate its resolve to meet its 'rock-solid obligations' towards Taiwan in the face of pressure from China, which claims the self-governing island as its own territory. "It's ... incumbent upon us to further develop our robust relationship with Taiwan in every sector," Kritenbrink told a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on his nomination to be assistant secretary of state for East Asia. Earlier, Taiwan said 28 Chinese aircraft, including fighters and nuclear-capable bombers, entered its air defense identification zone. The Group of Seven leaders issued a statement on Sunday scolding China for a series of issues and underscoring the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, comments that China called 'slander'. Kritenbrink, a career foreign service officer, who was most recently ambassador to Vietnam and a former deputy head of mission in China, was asked if Washington should switch from a long-standing stance of 'strategic ambiguity' to make a clear commitment to defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack. He said the US 'one-China' policy that formally recognises Beijing and not Taipei had ensured cross-strait stability and Taiwan's security for many decades. He added: "I do think that maintenance of that status quo and of that security is a dynamic situation. As the threat from (China) grows, as Beijing`s aggressive and bullying behavior vis-a-vis Taiwan grows, I think that our response has to be calibrated as well." Responding to a request for comment, Chinese Embassy spokesman Liu Pengyu said Washington should 'stop elevating its relationship with the Taiwan region in any substantive way ... so as to avoid serious damage to China-US relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait." Kritenbrink described China as the 'major challenge the United States faces today' and said new guidelines adopted by the Biden administration for Taiwan relations were 'significantly liberalized' and 'explicitly designed to further develop our relationships and our partnership'. He said Washington should continue to take steps to hold to account Chinese leaders responsible for what it calls genocide against Uyghurs and other Muslims in China's Xinjiang region. "The ongoing genocide in Xinjiang shocks the conscience," he said. "We estimate more than 1 million Uyghurs have been forcibly detained, put into re-education camps, forced to provide labor, and many other disturbing allegations about how they are being treated," he said. "We need to continue to take steps using all the tools that the US government has at its disposal to hold to account the leaders who are carrying out these atrocities," Kritenbrink said. Liu repeated Chinese denials of abuses in Xinjiang, saying: "Facts have proved that there has never been any genocide in Xinjiang." In a tweet, Sophie Richardson, China director for Human Rights Watch, called Kritenbrink's Xinjiang remarks a 'strong pledge', while adding: "Follow through critical." (With inputs from agencies)

Biden's Asia nominee says US should develop Taiwan ties in every sector

The ‘Hobbit’ species that lives in Southeast Asia 50,000 years ago may be closer to modern humans than previously thought, a new research reveals.

Published in Nature Ecology and Evolution, the new research suggests that the ‘Hobbits’ are closely related to Denisovans and Neanderthals, and based on this, also&nbsp;human beings. Fossils recovered of 'Homo Floresiensis'&nbsp;(‘Hobbits’) and another species 'Homo Luzonensis' revealed that both the species&nbsp;stood at 3 feet, 7 inches (109 cms).&nbsp;

Scientists say this dwarfism was a product of evolutionary processes over time which shrank the species due to unavailability of resources. Now, they have found that there was no inter-breeding among the two species.&nbsp;

The new research, led by João Teixeira from the University of Adelaide claims that interbreeding took place between Denisovans and modern human beings especially in Southeast Asia.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/residents-of-pompeii-suffocated-within-15-minutes-after-volcanic-eruption-finds-study-372466" hreflang="en">Residents of Pompeii suffocated within 15 minutes after volcanic eruption, finds study</a>

Denisovans are closely related to Neanderthals who roamed the Earth 50,000 to 60,000 years ago. But no fossil remains of this species has been found, even though genetic similarities link them to the region.

The new study, co-authored by National History Museum’s Chris Stringers claims that moderns humans actually interbred with the Denisovans, but not the ‘Hobbit’ species. This suggests that both the ‘Hobbit’ species are closer to contemporary humans than previous thought, Gizmodo reported.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/science/new-findings-rewrite-time-frame-for-neanderthals-disappearance-from-europe-369291" hreflang="en">New findings rewrite time frame for Neanderthals' disappearance from Europe</a>

Turns out... Denisovans’ fossils have not been found so far because they’re in fact the so-called ‘Hobbit’ species!

Upon study, researchers also ascertained that humans interbred with Denisovans, which means humans inhabiting those areas may possess the DNA of these 'Hobbit' species.

The ‘Hobbit’ species that lives in Southeast Asia 50,000 years ago may be closer to modern humans than previously thought, a new research reveals. Published in Nature Ecology and Evolution, the new research suggests that the ‘Hobbits’ are closely related to Denisovans and Neanderthals, and based on this, also human beings.

The ‘Hobbit’ species that lives in Southeast Asia 50,000 years ago may be closer to modern humans than previously thought, a new research reveals. Published in Nature Ecology and Evolution, the new research suggests that the ‘Hobbits’ are closely related to Denisovans and Neanderthals, and based on this, also human beings. Fossils recovered of 'Homo Floresiensis' (‘Hobbits’) and another species 'Homo Luzonensis' revealed that both the species stood at 3 feet, 7 inches (109 cms). Scientists say this dwarfism was a product of evolutionary processes over time which shrank the species due to unavailability of resources. Now, they have found that there was no inter-breeding among the two species. The new research, led by João Teixeira from the University of Adelaide claims that interbreeding took place between Denisovans and modern human beings especially in Southeast Asia. Also read: Residents of Pompeii suffocated within 15 minutes after volcanic eruption, finds study Denisovans are closely related to Neanderthals who roamed the Earth 50,000 to 60,000 years ago. But no fossil remains of this species has been found, even though genetic similarities link them to the region. The new study, co-authored by National History Museum’s Chris Stringers claims that moderns humans actually interbred with the Denisovans, but not the ‘Hobbit’ species. This suggests that both the ‘Hobbit’ species are closer to contemporary humans than previous thought, Gizmodo reported. Also read: New findings rewrite time frame for Neanderthals' disappearance from Europe Turns out... Denisovans’ fossils have not been found so far because they’re in fact the so-called ‘Hobbit’ species! Upon study, researchers also ascertained that humans interbred with Denisovans, which means humans inhabiting those areas may possess the DNA of these 'Hobbit' species.

Scientists discover true origins of 'Hobbit' species that roamed Asia 50,000 years ago!

After a horrifying gun shooting at a spa in Atlanta which left six Asian women dead, the former US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/barack-obama">Barack Obama</a> has condemned the rising hatred towards the Asian community in the US.

"Although the shooter's motive is not yet clear, the identity of the victims underscores an alarming rise in anti-Asian violence that must end," Obama tweeted.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-eyes-next-stage-of-covid-19-fight-slams-attacks-on-asian-americans-during-pandemic-369816">Biden eyes next stage of Covid-19 fight, slams attacks on Asian-Americans during pandemic</a>

He also reminded people about the rising cases of gun violence in the country, which had been earlier an important topic in the US politics before the pandemic hit.

"Even as we’ve battled the pandemic, we’ve continued to neglect the longer-lasting epidemic of gun violence in America," he tweeted.

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Michelle and I pray for the victims, their families, everyone grieving these needless and devastating killings—and we urge meaningful action that will save lives.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) <a href="https://twitter.com/BarackObama/status/1372191748554952714?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2021</a></blockquote>
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"Yesterday's shootings are another tragic reminder that we have far more work to do to put in place commonsense gun safety laws and root out the pervasive patterns of hatred and violence in our society."

Eight people were killed in gun shootings that took place at three different spas and massage parlors on Tuesday around Georgia's largest city.

Although it has not been confirmed that the shootings were racially motivated, people have raised concerns about the issue, especially as the country has been battling with increasing anti-Asian sentiment in the recent weeks.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-fineprint-8-people-killed-at-3-massage-parlors-in-atlanta-suspect-arrested-371221">Watch |</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-fineprint-8-people-killed-at-3-massage-parlors-in-atlanta-suspect-arrested-371221/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

As of now, a 21-year-old white man has been taken into custody on suspicion of carrying out the shootings.

"This is still early, but (the suspect) does claim it was not racially motivated," Captain Jay Baker of the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office said.

After a horrifying gun shooting at a spa in Atlanta which left six Asian women dead, the former US President Barack Obama has condemned the rising hatred towards the Asian community in the US.

After a horrifying gun shooting at a spa in Atlanta which left six Asian women dead, the former US President Barack Obama has condemned the rising hatred towards the Asian community in the US. "Although the shooter's motive is not yet clear, the identity of the victims underscores an alarming rise in anti-Asian violence that must end," Obama tweeted. Also read | Biden eyes next stage of Covid-19 fight, slams attacks on Asian-Americans during pandemic He also reminded people about the rising cases of gun violence in the country, which had been earlier an important topic in the US politics before the pandemic hit. "Even as we’ve battled the pandemic, we’ve continued to neglect the longer-lasting epidemic of gun violence in America," he tweeted. Michelle and I pray for the victims, their families, everyone grieving these needless and devastating killings—and we urge meaningful action that will save lives. — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) March 17, 2021 × "Yesterday's shootings are another tragic reminder that we have far more work to do to put in place commonsense gun safety laws and root out the pervasive patterns of hatred and violence in our society." Eight people were killed in gun shootings that took place at three different spas and massage parlors on Tuesday around Georgia's largest city. Although it has not been confirmed that the shootings were racially motivated, people have raised concerns about the issue, especially as the country has been battling with increasing anti-Asian sentiment in the recent weeks. Watch | As of now, a 21-year-old white man has been taken into custody on suspicion of carrying out the shootings. "This is still early, but (the suspect) does claim it was not racially motivated," Captain Jay Baker of the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office said.

Obama condemns rising anti-Asian violence after Atlanta shooting

Threats from China and North Korea will loom large over the Biden administration's first Cabinet-level trip abroad, part of a larger effort to bolster US influence and calm concerns about America's role in Asia.&nbsp;

A senior administration said on Saturday that US officials have tried to reach out to North Korea through multiple channels since last month, but are yet to receive a response, making consultations with the reclusive country's neighbours, Japan, South Korea and China, all the more critical.&nbsp;

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin are heading to Japan and South Korea for four days of talks starting on Monday as the administration seeks to shore up partnerships with the two key regional treaty allies.&nbsp;

Blinken and Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, will then meet with senior Chinese officials in Anchorage, Alaska. Their first official overseas visits are intended to restore what Biden hopes will be a calming and even-keeled approach to ties with Tokyo and Seoul after four years of transactional and often temperamental relations under the previous president, Donald Trump.&nbsp;

He had upended diplomatic norms by meeting not once, but three times, with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.&nbsp;

In addition to their official talks, Blinken and Austin plan virtual meetings with journalists, civil-society members and others. After reassuring their counterparts of US commitments to Japanese and South Korean security, they plan to focus their talks on cooperating to confront an increasingly assertive China, the nuclear challenge from North Korea and the coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp;

In his first months in office, Biden has already signaled his desire to return the Asia-Pacific - or Indo-Pacific, as has become more common in officialese - to the top of the US foreign policy agenda.&nbsp;

In keeping with his broader America is back diplomatic theme, Biden has pledged to keep stability in the region at the core of his international initiatives.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Threats from China and North Korea will loom large over the Biden administration's first Cabinet-level trip abroad, part of a larger effort to bolster US influence and calm concerns about America's role in Asia.

Threats from China and North Korea will loom large over the Biden administration's first Cabinet-level trip abroad, part of a larger effort to bolster US influence and calm concerns about America's role in Asia. A senior administration said on Saturday that US officials have tried to reach out to North Korea through multiple channels since last month, but are yet to receive a response, making consultations with the reclusive country's neighbours, Japan, South Korea and China, all the more critical. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin are heading to Japan and South Korea for four days of talks starting on Monday as the administration seeks to shore up partnerships with the two key regional treaty allies. Blinken and Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, will then meet with senior Chinese officials in Anchorage, Alaska. Their first official overseas visits are intended to restore what Biden hopes will be a calming and even-keeled approach to ties with Tokyo and Seoul after four years of transactional and often temperamental relations under the previous president, Donald Trump. He had upended diplomatic norms by meeting not once, but three times, with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. In addition to their official talks, Blinken and Austin plan virtual meetings with journalists, civil-society members and others. After reassuring their counterparts of US commitments to Japanese and South Korean security, they plan to focus their talks on cooperating to confront an increasingly assertive China, the nuclear challenge from North Korea and the coronavirus pandemic. In his first months in office, Biden has already signaled his desire to return the Asia-Pacific - or Indo-Pacific, as has become more common in officialese - to the top of the US foreign policy agenda. In keeping with his broader America is back diplomatic theme, Biden has pledged to keep stability in the region at the core of his international initiatives. (With inputs from agencies)

China, North Korea loom as Blinken, Austin head to Asia 

South China Sea is all set to welcome a new visitor. Germany will dispatch a warship to Asia. It will sail through the region when it returns. What role can the European power play in taming China's aggression in South China Sea? WION's Palki Sharma brings you a report.

Gravitas: Why Germany is sending a warship to Asia

Asian shares rose to a record high and US stock futures gained on Wednesday as investors tracked positive news on COVID-19 vaccines and ongoing efforts to launch more fiscal stimulus.

World Business Watch: Asia shares hit record high on vaccine progress

A survey of nearly 20,000 people in 17 Asian countries titled “Global Corruption Barometer for Asia” recently measured corruption and the degree of bribery in Asian countries.&nbsp;In India alone, 89 per cent respondents said that government corruption remains a big problem. This included bribes for the use of personal connections, sextortion, vote-buying.

The latest Barometer results shed light on the patterns of corruption across Asia and people’s awareness. Turns out, 74 per cent of the 20,000 participants were well aware of the corruption in their country and referred to the corrupt elements in their governments as a big problem.

Additionally, one out of every five claimed to have bribed officials in the last 12 months to use public services.

Key takeaways from the survey

Nearly one out of three people believed that majority or all members of their country’s parliaments are corrupt.

In terms of elections, one in seven people offered bribes in exchange of voters. At least 62 per cent of the surveyed people claimed that ordinary people can make a difference in the fight against corruption.

Country wise degree of bribery

India topped the list of countries where bribery is rampant with 39 per cent respondents in India claimed to have paid public officials to access services in the last 12 months.&nbsp;

Trailing closely is Cambodia with 37 per cent, Indonesia at 30 per cent, South Korea with 10 per cent, Japan and the Maldives at 2 per cent.

Personal connections for personal gains

In terms of people using personal connections to get their way for public services, India topped the list too, with 46 per cent Indian respondents saying that they had to use personal connections to get things done in the last 12 months.

This was followed closely by Indonesia at 36 per cent, and China at 32 per cent.

Corruption by institution 
 
Nearly 32 per cent respondents claimed that members of parliament and senators are corrupt, while 30 per cent claimed that local government officials are corrupt. 26 per cent people said that the presidents or the prime ministers office is corrupt, while only 14 per cent said that religious leaders are corrupt.

When asked if the corruption levels have changed in the last 12 months, 47 per cent respondents claimed that it has increased, while 27 per cent said that it had decreased. 23 per cent respondents claimed that it remained unchanged.

Check out the survey <a href="https://www.transparency.org/en/gcb/asia/asia-2020/press-and-downloads#">here</a>

A survey of nearly 20,000 people in 17 Asian countries titled “Global Corruption Barometer for Asia” recently measured corruption and the degree of bribery in Asian countries.

A survey of nearly 20,000 people in 17 Asian countries titled “Global Corruption Barometer for Asia” recently measured corruption and the degree of bribery in Asian countries. In India alone, 89 per cent respondents said that government corruption remains a big problem. This included bribes for the use of personal connections, sextortion, vote-buying. The latest Barometer results shed light on the patterns of corruption across Asia and people’s awareness. Turns out, 74 per cent of the 20,000 participants were well aware of the corruption in their country and referred to the corrupt elements in their governments as a big problem. Additionally, one out of every five claimed to have bribed officials in the last 12 months to use public services. Key takeaways from the survey Nearly one out of three people believed that majority or all members of their country’s parliaments are corrupt. In terms of elections, one in seven people offered bribes in exchange of voters. At least 62 per cent of the surveyed people claimed that ordinary people can make a difference in the fight against corruption. Country wise degree of bribery India topped the list of countries where bribery is rampant with 39 per cent respondents in India claimed to have paid public officials to access services in the last 12 months. Trailing closely is Cambodia with 37 per cent, Indonesia at 30 per cent, South Korea with 10 per cent, Japan and the Maldives at 2 per cent. Personal connections for personal gains In terms of people using personal connections to get their way for public services, India topped the list too, with 46 per cent Indian respondents saying that they had to use personal connections to get things done in the last 12 months. This was followed closely by Indonesia at 36 per cent, and China at 32 per cent. Corruption by institution Nearly 32 per cent respondents claimed that members of parliament and senators are corrupt, while 30 per cent claimed that local government officials are corrupt. 26 per cent people said that the presidents or the prime ministers office is corrupt, while only 14 per cent said that religious leaders are corrupt. When asked if the corruption levels have changed in the last 12 months, 47 per cent respondents claimed that it has increased, while 27 per cent said that it had decreased. 23 per cent respondents claimed that it remained unchanged. Check out the survey here

39% Indians bribed their way around public services, reveals new comprehensive survey

Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller announced Tuesday that the US will withdraw thousands more US troops from Afghanistan and Iraq

U.S. troops to be withdrawn form Iraq and Afghanistan

Fifteen Asia-Pacific economies formed the world’s largest free trade bloc on Sunday, a China-backed deal that excludes the United States, which had left a rival Asia-Pacific grouping under President Donald Trump.

Asia forms world's biggest trade bloc, a China-backed group excluding US

Nikkei rises 1.1 per cent to nine-month top, South Korean index gains 1.5 per cent.

Asian shares rally to near 3-year high

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has kicked off his four-nation tour, starting with India while&nbsp;the Communist Party of China is holding its plenary.

The next five days could fundamentally cement new policies, alliances and set the foundation for India's future foreign policy. With just a week to go for the presidential election, it's rare for top US Leaders to travel abroad at this time. But China's aggression in the region has pushed Washington to reach out to its Asian allies.

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India 2+2 dialogue

Two ministers from each side - The foreign and defence ministers of India and the US will sit down and participate in talks. In New Delhi, the American leaders have landed. In Beijing, China's Communist Party is holding its plenary session.

India and the US have made an announcement to sign BECA - The Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement. It's a military pact which will give India access to advanced American map and satellite imagery, which in turn would help automated weapons, drones and missiles.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-to-sign-beca-military-pact-with-us-338112" hreflang="en">India to sign BECA military pact with US</a>

The agreement will also pave the way for the US to ship sophisticated missile technology to India. Reports say US Defence Secretary Mike Esper could also discuss ways to increase cooperation between American and Indian forces.

Esper's wishlist could include intelligence sharing, stepping up joint exercises and arms sales.

Meanwhile in Beijing, the Communist Party has a four-day-long plenary in which they are expected to lay out long term plans. This includes approving new rules for the Central Committee: a political body of the top leadership in China.

More powers could be given to the Central Committee, which in turn would give more power to Xi Jinping. 
 
What does it mean for the world?

Beijing is already upping the ante against Washington. China has sanctioned American defence companies like Lockheed Martin, Boeing Defense and Raytheon for selling weapons to Taiwan. The United States is arming Taiwan as threats from China grow.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/rajnath-singh-mark-esper-discuss-joint-service-cooperation-in-bilateral-meet-338063" hreflang="en">Rajnath Singh, Mark Esper discuss joint service cooperation in bilateral meet</a>

The PLA has raised the threat of war by stepping up drills and activities near Taiwan, at the border with India, and in the South China Sea. The United States is building an alliance to counter China. Mike Pompeo will visit more allies on his trip to Asia including Sri Lanka and the Maldives, followed by Indonesia. One of the six countries contesting China's expansive claims in the South China Sea.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has kicked off his four-nation tour, starting with India while the Communist Party of China is holding its plenary. The next five days could fundamentally cement new policies, alliances and set the foundation for India's future foreign policy.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has kicked off his four-nation tour, starting with India while the Communist Party of China is holding its plenary. The next five days could fundamentally cement new policies, alliances and set the foundation for India's future foreign policy. With just a week to go for the presidential election, it's rare for top US Leaders to travel abroad at this time. But China's aggression in the region has pushed Washington to reach out to its Asian allies. India 2+2 dialogue Two ministers from each side - The foreign and defence ministers of India and the US will sit down and participate in talks. In New Delhi, the American leaders have landed. In Beijing, China's Communist Party is holding its plenary session. India and the US have made an announcement to sign BECA - The Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement. It's a military pact which will give India access to advanced American map and satellite imagery, which in turn would help automated weapons, drones and missiles. Also read: India to sign BECA military pact with US The agreement will also pave the way for the US to ship sophisticated missile technology to India. Reports say US Defence Secretary Mike Esper could also discuss ways to increase cooperation between American and Indian forces. Esper's wishlist could include intelligence sharing, stepping up joint exercises and arms sales. Meanwhile in Beijing, the Communist Party has a four-day-long plenary in which they are expected to lay out long term plans. This includes approving new rules for the Central Committee: a political body of the top leadership in China. More powers could be given to the Central Committee, which in turn would give more power to Xi Jinping. What does it mean for the world? Beijing is already upping the ante against Washington. China has sanctioned American defence companies like Lockheed Martin, Boeing Defense and Raytheon for selling weapons to Taiwan. The United States is arming Taiwan as threats from China grow. Also read: Rajnath Singh, Mark Esper discuss joint service cooperation in bilateral meet The PLA has raised the threat of war by stepping up drills and activities near Taiwan, at the border with India, and in the South China Sea. The United States is building an alliance to counter China. Mike Pompeo will visit more allies on his trip to Asia including Sri Lanka and the Maldives, followed by Indonesia. One of the six countries contesting China's expansive claims in the South China Sea.

Eventful week in Asia: US' message to China

The International Monetary Fund slashed this year's economic forecast for Asia, reflecting a sharper-than-expected contraction in countries like India, a sign the coronavirus pandemic continues to take a heavy toll on the region.

World Business Watch: IMF cuts Asia's growth forecast; Pandemic-driven risks for Asian nations

According to a new report by the Asian Development Bank, due to the devastating and extended effects of COVID-19, the Asian economies are expected to end the year in negative territory for the first time since the 1960s.

Asian  Economies to contract first time in 60 years

A study conducted by researchers of the United Kingdom&nbsp;has rvealed that chemicals present in insect spray can kill the novel coronavirus.

The preliminary study has been conducted by scientists&nbsp;at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL).

The scientists found that an ingredient commonly found in insect repellent —&nbsp;Citriodiol — may have the power to kill&nbsp;anti-viral properties, if mixed with the virus in the liquid phase.

"Mixing a virus suspension with Mosi-guard spray or selected constituent components resulted in a reduction in SARS-CoV-2," said the study.

At a high concentration, "Mosi-guard gave a significant decrease... resulting in no recoverable virus," it added.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/worlds-first-coronavirus-reinfection-case-confirmed-in-hong-kong-322896">Also read:&nbsp;World’s 'first' coronavirus reinfection case confirmed in Hong Kong</a>

The ingredient,&nbsp;Citriodiol, is known to kill other forms of coronavirus, and is found in&nbsp;Asia, South America and Africa, and is made&nbsp;made from oil in the leaves and twigs of the eucalyptus citriodora tree.

The study has not been externally peer-reviewed and has been released as a foundation basis for other scientists around the world who are&nbsp;researching for possible solutions for COVID-19.

"DSTL is hopeful that the findings in this research can be used as a springboard for other organizations to expand and develop the research, as well as to confirm the findings in this publication," the Minsitry of Defence&nbsp;said.

This is&nbsp; not the first time the use of this ingredient is being mentioned for killing the virus. In May,&nbsp;Britain's Defence Secretary Ben Wallace had revealed that the British armed forces were being given the insect repellent as an&nbsp;"additional layer of protection" against exposure to the virus after the&nbsp;Surgeon General had assured that it would cause no harm to the soldiers.

A study conducted by researchers of the United Kingdom has rvealed that chemicals present in insect spray can kill the novel coronavirus. The preliminary study has been conducted by scientists at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL).

A study conducted by researchers of the United Kingdom has rvealed that chemicals present in insect spray can kill the novel coronavirus. The preliminary study has been conducted by scientists at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL). The scientists found that an ingredient commonly found in insect repellent — Citriodiol — may have the power to kill anti-viral properties, if mixed with the virus in the liquid phase. "Mixing a virus suspension with Mosi-guard spray or selected constituent components resulted in a reduction in SARS-CoV-2," said the study. At a high concentration, "Mosi-guard gave a significant decrease... resulting in no recoverable virus," it added. Also read: World’s 'first' coronavirus reinfection case confirmed in Hong Kong The ingredient, Citriodiol, is known to kill other forms of coronavirus, and is found in Asia, South America and Africa, and is made made from oil in the leaves and twigs of the eucalyptus citriodora tree. The study has not been externally peer-reviewed and has been released as a foundation basis for other scientists around the world who are researching for possible solutions for COVID-19. "DSTL is hopeful that the findings in this research can be used as a springboard for other organizations to expand and develop the research, as well as to confirm the findings in this publication," the Minsitry of Defence said. This is not the first time the use of this ingredient is being mentioned for killing the virus. In May, Britain's Defence Secretary Ben Wallace had revealed that the British armed forces were being given the insect repellent as an "additional layer of protection" against exposure to the virus after the Surgeon General had assured that it would cause no harm to the soldiers.

Chemical present in insect spray can kill coronavirus: Study

A major mishap at India Kozhikode airport has left 18 people dead and over 100 injured after an Air India Express aircraft arriving from Dubai crashed at Calicut International Airport. Watch report.

Calicut Plane Crash: 18 dead in the crash, What is a tabletop runway?

An Air India Express plane with over 190 people on board has crashed at an airport in the southern state of Kerala. The aircraft, en route from Dubai, skidded off the runway and broke in two at Calicut airport upon landing, India's aviation authority said. Watch report.

Air India flight skids off runway | Kerala | Over 190 people onboard | 2 lives lost

Italian fashion group Prada said on Wednesday sales had recovered sharply in Asia since June after the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic triggered

Sharp sales recovery in Asia | Luxury group hit by store closures | WION

he Department of Health (DOH) said in its Monday case bulletin that the 1,657 additional cases were reported

Philippines reports over 1,600 new coronavirus cases

World Tiger Day: Endangered wild cat's population roars back across Asia!

Reports say that Asia's second-largest economy, Japan is set to declare a recession after 71 straight months of growth. Watch the WION report from Tokyo.

Recession coming in Japan: Asian economy sinks deeper

As Singapore gears for its upcoming general elections, a sibling rivalry may define the country’s future. Two brothers are battling each other head on to become the small country’s leader.&nbsp;Both are the sons of Lee Kuan Yew, the founder of modern Singapore.

Lee Hsien Yang, the younger son&nbsp;recently joined a new opposition party, effectively parting ways with his older brother Lee Hsien Loong and his People’s Action Party.

The PAP has ruled the city-state since its independence in 1965, with the dispute creaking in owing to property disagreements. Both the brothers are in lock heads to decide the fate of their father’s house. The younger son wants the house to be demolished, as stated in their father’s will. On the other hand, the elder brother and the prime minister is starkly against it.&nbsp;Loong wants to turn it into a museum and sees it as a historical landmark.

More than a house

The house signifies a memorable part of Singapore's political history. The founder Yew had moved into the five-bedroom home in 1945, and the PAP was founded here.&nbsp;Currently, the property is valued at 17 million Dollars.

The younger brother Yang. has joined the Progress Singapore Party. For his elder brother - a national museum will secure his legitimacy as a political heir to the city's founder.

This general election is expected to be the elder’s last, and he has called for an early election, even though his government completes the term next April.

Coronavirus connect?

With a population of 5.8 million people, Singapore's measures against the virus outbreak were hailed as an ideal model to be replicated across the world. Then, the cases soared to more than 42,000 cases. Most of the cases were linked to the foreign workers' dormitories.

The opposition, Progress Singapore Party 's leader Tan Cheng Bok has called the early elections an irresponsible act. He says the prime minister is placing politics over people's safety.

His party welcomed the younger lee with a tweet that said - “it's time for change”. The PAP has been in power since 1959.

As Singapore gears for its upcoming general elections, a sibling rivalry may define the country’s future. Two brothers are battling each other head on to become the small country’s leader.

As Singapore gears for its upcoming general elections, a sibling rivalry may define the country’s future. Two brothers are battling each other head on to become the small country’s leader. Both are the sons of Lee Kuan Yew, the founder of modern Singapore. Lee Hsien Yang, the younger son recently joined a new opposition party, effectively parting ways with his older brother Lee Hsien Loong and his People’s Action Party. The PAP has ruled the city-state since its independence in 1965, with the dispute creaking in owing to property disagreements. Both the brothers are in lock heads to decide the fate of their father’s house. The younger son wants the house to be demolished, as stated in their father’s will. On the other hand, the elder brother and the prime minister is starkly against it. Loong wants to turn it into a museum and sees it as a historical landmark. More than a house The house signifies a memorable part of Singapore's political history. The founder Yew had moved into the five-bedroom home in 1945, and the PAP was founded here. Currently, the property is valued at 17 million Dollars. The younger brother Yang. has joined the Progress Singapore Party. For his elder brother - a national museum will secure his legitimacy as a political heir to the city's founder. This general election is expected to be the elder’s last, and he has called for an early election, even though his government completes the term next April. Coronavirus connect? With a population of 5.8 million people, Singapore's measures against the virus outbreak were hailed as an ideal model to be replicated across the world. Then, the cases soared to more than 42,000 cases. Most of the cases were linked to the foreign workers' dormitories. The opposition, Progress Singapore Party 's leader Tan Cheng Bok has called the early elections an irresponsible act. He says the prime minister is placing politics over people's safety. His party welcomed the younger lee with a tweet that said - “it's time for change”. The PAP has been in power since 1959.

Sibling rivalry to play out in the upcoming Singapore general elections

The United States called on China on Saturday to stop "bullying behaviour" in the South China Sea.

The US also said that it was concerned about reports of China's "provocative actions" aimed at offshore oil and gas developments in the disputed waters.

The Reuters report quoting three regional security sources said on Friday that a Chinese government survey ship was tagging an exploration vessel operated by Malaysia's state oil company Petronas in those waters.

Earlier in the week, when the survey ship the Haiyang Dizhi 8 was off Vietnam, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman had said the ship was conducting normal activities and accused US&nbsp;officials of smearing Beijing.

"The United States is concerned by reports of China's repeated provocative actions aimed at the offshore oil and gas development of other claimant states," the US&nbsp;State Department said in an emailed statement on Saturday.

"In this instance, (China) should cease its bullying behaviour and refrain from engaging in this type of provocative and destabilizing activity," it said.

(With inputs from Reuters)&nbsp;

The United States called on China on Saturday to stop "bullying behaviour" in the South China Sea. The US also said that it was concerned about reports of China's "provocative actions" aimed at offshore oil and gas developments in the disputed waters.

The United States called on China on Saturday to stop "bullying behaviour" in the South China Sea. The US also said that it was concerned about reports of China's "provocative actions" aimed at offshore oil and gas developments in the disputed waters. The Reuters report quoting three regional security sources said on Friday that a Chinese government survey ship was tagging an exploration vessel operated by Malaysia's state oil company Petronas in those waters. Earlier in the week, when the survey ship the Haiyang Dizhi 8 was off Vietnam, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman had said the ship was conducting normal activities and accused US officials of smearing Beijing. "The United States is concerned by reports of China's repeated provocative actions aimed at the offshore oil and gas development of other claimant states," the US State Department said in an emailed statement on Saturday. "In this instance, (China) should cease its bullying behaviour and refrain from engaging in this type of provocative and destabilizing activity," it said. (With inputs from Reuters)

Stop 'bullying behaviour' in South China Sea: US to China

The United States President Donald Trump today said that he was always serious when it comes to stopping coronavirus spread in his country claiming that imposing travel ban saved many lives.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mind-your-own-business-china-to-trump-after-he-calls-covid-19-chinese-virus-287042">Mind your own business: China to Trump after he calls COVID-19 'Chinese virus'</a> 
 
He tweeted: "I always treated the Chinese Virus very seriously, and have done a very good job from the beginning, including my very early decision to close the “borders” from China - against the wishes of almost all. Many lives were saved. The Fake News new narrative is disgraceful &amp; false!"

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I always treated the Chinese Virus very seriously, and have done a very good job from the beginning, including my very early decision to close the “borders” from China - against the wishes of almost all. Many lives were saved. The Fake News new narrative is disgraceful &amp; false!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1240243188708839424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2020</a></blockquote>
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In his tweets, he also said that he will be discussing 'very important news' concerning Coronavirus during a press conference later today.&nbsp;

"I will be having a news conference today to discuss very important news from the FDA concerning the Chinese Virus!" President Trump tweeted.&nbsp;

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I will be having a news conference today to discuss very important news from the FDA concerning the Chinese Virus!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1240234698053431305?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2020</a></blockquote>
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A couple of days ago, the US president had announced that the first human trial of Coronavirus vaccine has started in the US.&nbsp;

Earlier today, he pledged that the US government will provide money to everyone who isn't able to work because of coronavirus prevention measures.

The United States President Donald Trump today said that he was always serious when it comes to stopping coronavirus spread in his country claiming that imposing travel ban saved many lives.

The United States President Donald Trump today said that he was always serious when it comes to stopping coronavirus spread in his country claiming that imposing travel ban saved many lives. Mind your own business: China to Trump after he calls COVID-19 'Chinese virus' He tweeted: "I always treated the Chinese Virus very seriously, and have done a very good job from the beginning, including my very early decision to close the “borders” from China - against the wishes of almost all. Many lives were saved. The Fake News new narrative is disgraceful & false!" I always treated the Chinese Virus very seriously, and have done a very good job from the beginning, including my very early decision to close the “borders” from China - against the wishes of almost all. Many lives were saved. The Fake News new narrative is disgraceful & false! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 18, 2020 × In his tweets, he also said that he will be discussing 'very important news' concerning Coronavirus during a press conference later today. "I will be having a news conference today to discuss very important news from the FDA concerning the Chinese Virus!" President Trump tweeted. I will be having a news conference today to discuss very important news from the FDA concerning the Chinese Virus! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 18, 2020 × A couple of days ago, the US president had announced that the first human trial of Coronavirus vaccine has started in the US. Earlier today, he pledged that the US government will provide money to everyone who isn't able to work because of coronavirus prevention measures.

I always treated 'Chinese Virus' seriously: Donald Trump

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