Briefly

JAPAN

LDP licks wounds after elections blow

Japan's ruling party suffered a triple blow at by-elections over the weekend, as voter frustration with scandals and government management of the coronavirus risked weakening the influence of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's government. The Liberal Democratic Party lost all three seats in parliamentary by-elections on Sunday, polls widely seen as a verdict on his administration and a bellwether for a crucial election for the legislature's lower house later this year. The votes, for seats in both the upper house and the more powerful lower chamber, were the first significant ballots since Suga took power in September. Two of the seats were left open due to political scandals and a third after the death of a lawmaker from COVID-19. Suga's support rating stood at around 70 percent when he took office by replacing Shinzo Abe. His rating plunged to the 30 percent level earlier this year.

SOUTH KOREA

Progress made on herd immunity goal

South Korea has laid the groundwork for its population to more rapidly reach herd immunity in its efforts against the COVID-19 pandemic, Minister of Economy and Finance Hong Nam-ki said on Monday. Hong, who also serves as the acting prime minister, said in a nationally televised address that with a newly agreed deal with drugmaker Pfizer, the country was on course to move forward the time that herd immunity would be reached. The government would also expand the vaccination program to those aged under 18 and prepare to provide booster shots in response to COVID-19 variants. South Korea has secured enough vaccines for 99 million people－almost double the country's population of 52 million.

RWANDA

Malaria cases plunge by 3m in 3 years

Rwanda has recorded a sharp decline in malaria infections over the past three years, the Rwanda Biomedical Center said on Sunday, when World Malaria Day was held. Cases decreased from 4.8 million in 2017 to 1.8 million in 2020, and severe infections plummeted from 18,000 in 2016 to 3,000 in 2020, the center said in a statement. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres commended all countries that have reached the target of zero malaria infections. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and the multiple crises it has sparked, a growing number of countries are approaching or have achieved malaria elimination, the UN chief said.

INDONESIA

Volcano spews ash up to 1,000 meters high

The Sinabung volcano in Indonesia's North Sumatra erupted with a thick column of ash reaching 1,000 meters into the sky, the Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center said on Monday. The eruption occurred at 1:55 am local time and lasted for just shy of 3 minutes. Eleven minutes earlier, the volcano sent an ash column rising as much as 500 meters. The center has prohibited people from carrying out activities in nearby villages. Residents within 3 kilometers from the peak have been moved out.

MIDDLE EAST

Gaza fishing zone closed over rocket fire

Israel said on Monday that it is closing the fishing zone off the already blockaded Gaza Strip, preventing trawlers from going out to sea, after repeated rocket attacks on the Jewish state. The move came after the Israeli army said five rockets were fired from Gaza toward Israel overnight, two of which were intercepted by its air defenses. "The fishing zone in the Gaza Strip would be completely closed until further notice," said COGAT, the Israeli military body that administers civilian affairs in Palestinian territories including the occupied West Bank.

Agencies - Xinhua