Snowstorms, Rice Worries, and Car Comebacks: Asia’s Big News!
Hey there! Ready to catch up on some big stories from Asia this week? Let’s dive in! 😊
Heavy Snow Hits Japan! ❄️
Japan faced some super heavy snowfall this week! The strongest cold front of the season brought tons of snow, especially in the northeastern region called Tohoku and a place called Niigata. Sadly, the snow caused problems like stopping trains and planes, and even led to some people getting hurt. The weather folks say more snow might be on the way this weekend, so everyone is keeping warm and staying safe!
Rice Troubles in the Philippines 🍚
The Philippines, a country that loves rice (just like many of us!), declared a food security emergency to make sure rice prices go down. Even though rice prices in the world got lower, they stayed high in the Philippines. So, the government decided to release some of their rice reserves to help out. This way, they hope everyone can afford their favorite staple food again!
Sri Lanka Brings Back Car Imports 🚗
Guess what? Sri Lanka is allowing car imports again! Back in 2020, they stopped bringing in cars because of COVID-19. But now, starting February 1st, they’re lifting the ban. However, there’s a catch: there’s a 50% extra tax on imported cars. So, cars might still be expensive, but at least people can buy new ones if they want!
Thailand Cuts Power to Border Areas ⚡
In an effort to stop some not-so-good activities, Thailand decided to turn off electricity in five areas along the border with Myanmar. They hope this will help reduce things like human trafficking and other illegal operations that might be using electricity to run. It’s all about keeping everyone safe and making sure no one is doing bad stuff.
Indonesia’s Economy Grows 📈
Good news from Indonesia! Their economy grew by 5.03% in 2024, which is the slowest in three years but still pretty good. Investment grew the most in six years! They’re hoping for even more growth in the future to make life better for everyone in the country.
That’s all for this week’s big news from Asia! Stay curious and keep learning about the world around you! 🌏
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
