Sweden scrapped almost all of its few pandemic restrictions on Wednesday and stopped most testing for Covid-19, even as the pressure on the healthcare systems remained high and some scientists begged for more patience in fighting the disease, Reuters reports. Sweden’s government, which throughout the pandemic has opted against lockdowns in favour of a voluntary approach, announced last week it would scrap the remaining restrictions – effectively declaring the pandemic over – as vaccines and the Omicron variant have cushioned the number of severe cases and deaths. “As we know…
Day: February 9, 2022
What Happens When a Stealth Jet Ends Up on the Ocean Floor?
WASHINGTON — On Jan. 24, one of the U.S. Navy’s most expensive warplanes crashed as it tried to land on an aircraft carrier and sank to the bottom of the South China Sea. The $94 million F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is now the subject of a salvage operation. In a statement issued on the day of the incident, the Navy said seven sailors had been injured when the jet suffered a “landing mishap” on the aircraft carrier, the Carl Vinson. It did not mention that the plane had ended up…
Taiwan, Somaliland Ties Growing Despite Diplomatic Isolation
Advertisement Taiwan and Somaliland are expanding economic and political ties despite being two of the world’s most diplomatically isolated governments. Somaliland Foreign Minister Essa Kayd met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday and said his visit to Taipei “signifies our mutual determination and resolve to upscale, expand and deepen our friendship and cooperation to new heights for the mutual benefits of our two countries.” Tsai hailed the relationship as one of her administration’s chief diplomatic breakthroughs. Somaliland broke away from Somalia in 1991 and has no formal diplomatic relations…
Hong Kong’s Zero-COVID Approach Meets Growing Frustration
Advertisement Hong Kong residents expressed growing frustration Thursday after new, tighter coronavirus restrictions went into effect, imposed by city leaders in line with Beijing’s zero-COVID policy. Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam ordered new strict measures to take effect Thursday as the highly-contagious Omicron variant of the virus causes record daily cases. That includes limiting public gatherings to two people and private ones to members of only two households. Places of worship, hair salons, and other businesses were ordered to close. Such measures are part of Hong Kong’s effort to align…
Nathan Chen Is Winning by Not Trying So Hard to Win
BEIJING — Nathan Chen, the favorite yet again to win the Olympic gold medal in men’s figure skating, is caught between wanting to forget the 2018 Games and needing to remember them. Before the figure skating competition started at the Beijing Games, he stood before reporters and was asked if he had regrets from his Olympic debut, when he uncharacteristically faltered in the short program and ruined his chance of winning a medal. “I have a pretty terrible memory,” he said, making it clear that he didn’t want to talk…
Hanbok at Beijing Winter Olympics opening sparks South Korean anger
China and South Korea have become embroiled in a cultural appropriation row after a woman appeared at the opening ceremony of the Beijing winter Olympics wearing traditional Korean dress. The Chinese embassy in Seoul defended the decision to include a participant wearing hanbok, describing her as a representative of the country’s dozens of ethnic groups. Her appearance sparked anger among many South Koreans, who denounced it as another attempt by China to claim parts of Korean culture – including its national dish, kimchi – as its own. The embassy described…