Other news of the day: Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Moscow. In Malaysia more than 20,000 people remain displaced after several weeks of flooding. In less than seven days the Burmese coup junta has killed at least 48 people. In Kazakhstan, “uncomfortable” candidates were excluded from electoral lists.
JAPAN
More and more foreigners end up staying in Japan to reside long-term: More than 40% of immigrants have been in the country for three years or more, according to government data. This indicates a considerable increase compared to the past. As of the end of October 2022, there were 1.82 million foreign workers in Japan, a record. The reason for this change is the persistent labor shortage, which drives companies to hire international students and workers.
CHINA – RUSSIA
Chinese President Xi Jinping will travel to Moscow next week to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. It will be President Xi’s first visit to Russia since Russian troops invaded Ukraine. The visit comes after Beijing put forward proposals to end the conflict in Ukraine, which met with lukewarm reception in the West.
MALAYSIA
More than 20,000 people are housed in 83 temporary emergency centers in Batu Pahat and Segamat districts, in the Malaysian state of Johor, after floods in recent weeks affected all 10 districts in the region. Three routes are still closed due to flood damage.
BURMA
According to data collected by The Irrawaddy between March 10 and 16, the Burmese coup junta killed 48 people, it burned 11 towns and launched six airstrikes, mainly on the country’s anti-regime strongholds. At least 30 people were injured and 55 were arrested.
PAKISTAN
karachi united is a soccer team founded in 1996 that opened a series of community centers in low-income areas of the city. Of the 50 boys enrolled in the soccer academy, 45 come from low-income families from neighborhoods like Lyari and Malir, which until a few years ago were synonymous with gang warfare and drug trafficking.
KAZAKHSTAN
Following old customs, in Kazakhstan several “uncomfortable” and independent candidates were excluded from the electoral lists in the last days before the parliamentary elections. It was due to data checks in tax returns, omissions in publications or minor infractions in the electoral campaign, according to activists in Almaty.
CENTRAL ASIA – AFGHANISTAN
The populations of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are deeply concerned about the excavation works in Afghanistan of the huge “Kosh Tela” water collection canal. The work was announced by Kabul Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdulla Gani Bardara during a visit to Balkh province, and could cause serious water deficits in neighboring countries.
