MYANMAR MILITARY: WE WILL BUILD DEMOCRACY

The leader of the coup in Myanmar has made his first TV address, seeking to

justify the action amid mass protests.

Myanmar's military says it will build a "genuine and disciplined democracy"

after protesters demonstrated for a third consecutive day against its coup.

"There will be no changes in the country's foreign policy, government policy

and economic policy while we temporarily assume state responsibility," new

strongman General Min Aung Hlaing asserted in a speech on Monday.

He said the course he has set will be maintained, according to a translation

of the address circulated via Facebook.

Myanmar's military imposed a curfew and bans on gatherings of more than five

persons in the country's two biggest cities on Monday as protests against

last week's coup showed no sign of abating.

He said the junta would exercise its powers in accordance with

constitutional rules that would apply during the state of emergency it had

declared.

The decrees covering Yangon and Mandalay were issued on a

township-by-township basis, and those which have become public so far have

the same restrictions. At least seven have been issued, and more are

expected for other areas.

Rallies and gatherings of more than five persons, along with motorised

processions, are banned, and a 8 pm to 4 am curfew is imposed. The measures

are effective until further notice.

The decrees say they were issued in response to people carrying out unlawful

actions that harm the rule of law.

UK, FRANCE, OZ & GERMANY SUPPORT ASTRAZENECA JAB

Western governments rushed to offer support for the AstraZeneca Covid-19

vaccination after South Africa halted its roll-out when research showed it

offered minimal protection against mild infection from a variant spreading

there.

South Africa announced its pause after a study found that the AstraZeneca

vaccine provided only minimal protection against mild or moderate infection

from the B.1.351 variant. "This study confirms that the coronavirus will

find ways to continue to spread in vaccinated populations, as expected,"

said Andrew Pollard, chief investigator on the Oxford vaccine trial. "But,

taken with the promising results from other studies in South Africa,

vaccines may continue to ease the toll on healthcare systems by preventing

severe disease."

French health minister Olivier Veran voiced support for the AstraZeneca

vaccine, arguing it provided sufficient protection against "nearly all the

variants". German health minister Jens Spahn said current evidence suggests

all three vaccines approved in Europe - which include AstraZeneca - provided

effective protection against serious infections. "We think that both the

vaccines that we're currently using are effective in, as I say, in stopping

serious disease and death," UK PM Boris Johnson said. Britain also uses the

Pfizer shot. Australia is expected approve the use of the Astra-Zeneca

vaccine within days and expressed confidence in it. "There is no evidence to

indicate a reduction in the effectiveness of both Astra-Zeneca or Pfizer

vaccines in preventing severe disease and death. That is the fundamental

task, to protect health," health minister Greg Hunt said.

CHINA IGNORES JOE BIDEN'S JIBE AT XI JINPING, CALLS FOR MANAGING DIFFERENCES

China on Monday chose to ignore US President Joe Biden's comment that his

Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping lacked democratic bone in his body but said

that the two countries should focus on cooperation and manage differences.

In an interview to CBS television on Saturday, Biden acknowledged that he is

yet to speak with President Xi since his swearing in on January 20, but said

he had met him many times when they were Vice Presidents of their respective

countries in the past.

"I know him pretty well," Biden said, adding that when they do speak, they

will have "a whole lot to talk about." Biden described Xi as "very bright"

and "very tough" but without "a democratic, small D, bone in his body",

highlighting the autocratic style of functioning of the Chinese leader.

Asked for his reaction to Biden's "D bone" remark, Chinese Foreign Ministry

spokesman Wang Wenbin evaded a direct reply.

"President Xi Jinping has had many contacts with President Biden.

Maintaining communication between China and the US at all levels is

conducive to mutual understanding and to the development of bilateral

relations," he said. "China is committed to developing a relationship with

the US that is non-conflictual, based on non-confrontation, mutual respect

and win-win cooperation," he said. "Meanwhile, China will continue to firmly

safeguard its national sovereignty," he said.

IRAN AND NORTH KOREA RESUMED COOPERATION ON MISSILES, SAYS UNITED NATIONS

Iran and North Korea cooperated on long-range missile development projects

last year, according to a confidential United Nations report that may

pressure the Biden administration to respond to one of its first major

geopolitical crises.

"This resumed cooperation is said to have included the transfer of critical

parts, with the most recent shipment associated with this relationship

taking place in 2020," an independent panel of experts monitoring sanctions

on North Korea said in the report, citing a member state.

Frequently on the fringes of international diplomacy, North Korea and Iran

have long had a secretive, mutually beneficial relationship. The UN panel

received information showing that Iran's Shahid Haj Ali Movahed Research

Center received "support and assistance" from North Korean missile

specialists for a space launch vehicle, and that North Korea was involved in

certain shipments to Iran.

It wasn't immediately clear what was in those shipments or how significant

the cooperation was for either nation. But renewed cooperation between Iran

and North Korea would likely represent a shortcoming of the Trump

administration's pressure campaign against both countries, as well as prompt

the Biden administration to accelerate its strategy toward two nations it

views as state sponsors of terror.

In response to the allegations, Iran told the panel members that a

"preliminary review of the information provided to us by the panel indicates

that false information and fabricated data may have been used in

investigations and analyzes of the panel," according to the report, which

was seen by Bloomberg.

Kim Jong Un's regime has rolled out several new models of ballistic missiles

in recent months that are either bigger and more powerful or easier to move

and fire. At an October military parade in Pyongyang, he debuted a huge ICBM

that appeared to be the world's largest road-mobile missile and capable of

carrying multiple warheads.

The panel cited an assessment by a member state that "it is highly likely

that a nuclear device can be mounted on the ICBMs, and it is also likely

that a nuclear device can be mounted on," the shorter range missiles. "The

member state, however, stated it is uncertain whether the DPRK had developed

ballistic missiles resistant to the heat generated during re-entry," the

panel said, referring to the official name of North Korea.

The panel also looked into the drones displayed by North Korea during the

October parade, identifying them as a "Mavic 2 Pro type" manufactured by

China's SZ DJI Technology Co. Ltd. The company has "yet to respond to the

panel's inquiry," the panel added.

ENHANCE COMBAT READINESS, XI TELLS PEOPLE'S LIBERATION ARMY

China's President Xi Jinping urged the Chinese military "to enhance combat

readiness" as he inspected a People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force

division, ahead of a major national holiday in China.

Following Mr. Xi's call, the PLA had been carrying out exercises near Taiwan

while "high-altitude border defense troops of the Xinjiang Military Command

received several new weapons and equipment, including advanced howitzers and

assault vehicles as holiday gifts", Communist Party-run Global Times

reported.

Mr. Xi, who is also Chairman of the Central Military Commission, visited the

PLA Air Force in the southwestern province of Guizhou last week in his last

major trip ahead of China's biggest annual holiday, the Lunar New Year,

which runs from Thursday until February 17.

"It is usual practice for the Chinese military to enhance its combat

readiness in major holidays," Fu Qianshao, a Chinese military expert, told

the Global Times. "History tells us that many wars broke out on holidays or

at night when troops let their guard down. That is why we need to stay on

high alert particularly when there are holidays, so we can stop any

potentially dangerous moves or hostile reconnaissance."

Official media affiliated to the PLA reported over the past few days moves

to bolster logistical support to military commands near the Line of Actual

Control (LAC), including the Xinjiang Military Command commissioning "its

first batch of China's newly developed Type 15 light tanks, which excels at

rapid reaction combat in plateau regions".

The official broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) reported a regiment

attached to the PLA Xinjiang Military Command received the first batch last

month and "immediately after the commissioning, the regiment sent the tanks

to a freezing region at 4,300 m altitude for adaptation exercises, so they

can rapidly form combat capability".

IMRAN KHAN TO ADDRESS SRI LANKAN PARLIAMENT

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan will address the Sri Lankan Parliament

during his visit later this month, political sources in Colombo said.

Confirming, opposition parliamentarian and Leader of the Tamil Progressive

Alliance Mano Ganesan told The Hindu: "The Speaker [Mahinda Yapa

Abeywardena] informed us today, at the party leaders' meeting that PM Khan

will be addressing the Parliament."

Mr. Khan is scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka on February 22 on a two-day

official visit. He will hold talks with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime

Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena,

officials said.

Mr. Khan will be the first head of government to visit the island nation

since the pandemic struck early last year. Colombo has maintained close ties

with Islamabad, and usually refrains from commenting on India-Pakistan

tensions.

In 2015, PM Narendra Modi addressed the Sri Lankan Parliament.

RIYADH SAYS IT INTERCEPTED ARMED DRONE

Saudi Arabia intercepted an armed drone launched towards the kingdom by

Yemen's Huthis, state media said on Sunday, two days after the U.S. decided

to delist the rebels as a terrorist group.

The Saudi-led military coalition "intercepted and destroyed an armed drone,"

said spokesman Turki al-Maliki.

The incident was not immediately claimed by the Iran-backed Houthis.

TRUMP LAWYERS: IMPEACHMENT TRIAL AN ACT OF 'POLITICAL THEATRE'

Lawyers for Donald Trump on Monday blasted the impeachment case against him

as an act of "political theatre" and accused House Democrats on the eve of

the former president's trial of exploiting the chaos of last month's Capitol

riot.

Trump's legal brief is a wide-ranging attack on the House case,

foreshadowing the claims his lawyers intend to present on the same Senate

floor that was invaded by rioters on January 6. The tone, with accusations

that Democrats are making "patently absurd" arguments and trying to "silence

a political opponent", makes clear that Trump lawyers are preparing to

challenge both the constitutionality of the trial and any suggestion that he

was to blame for the insurrection. In their brief, they suggest that Trump

was simply exercising his first amendment rights when he disputed the

election results and argue that he explicitly encouraged his supporters to

have a peaceful protest and therefore cannot be responsible for the actions

of the rioters. They also say the Senate is not entitled to try Trump now

that he has left office.

US House of Representatives impeachment managers said on Monday that

evidence against Trump is overwhelming and he has no defence for his

actions. The trial will begin on Tuesday with a debate and vote on whether

it's even constitutional to prosecute the former president.

NETANYAHU PLEADS 'NOT GUILTY' AS GRAFT TRIAL RESUMES

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu pleaded not guilty on Monday as his trial on

corruption charges resumed in a Jerusalem courtroom just weeks before

national elections in which he hopes to extend his 12-year rule. Netanyahu

was indicted last year for fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in

three separate cases.

In recent months, Israelis have held weekly protests calling on him to

resign. Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing and has dismissed the charges

against him as a "witch-hunt" and has refused to step down.

At Monday's hearing, Netanyahu's lawyers submitted a written response

pleading not guilty. They then argued against the cases on procedural

grounds, saying the attorney general had not properly approved the

investigations in writing. After around 20 minutes, Netanyahu left the

courtroom without explanation. His only remarks to the court were that he

had nothing to add to his attorney's response to the charges.

The hearing continued in his absence. The PM's attorneys called on the court

to postpone evidence hearings for several more months, claiming they had

inadequate time to prepare. If granted, the hearings would take place after

the upcoming elections.

CHINA'S 2020 NEW BIRTHS FALL 15% AS CORONAVIRUS WEIGHS

The number of new births in China plummeted 15% in 2020 from a year earlier,

according to the Ministry of Public Security, with the onset of the novel

coronavirus disrupting the economy and weighing on decisions to have a

family.

China saw 10.035 million new births last year, the ministry said on Monday,

compared with 11.79 million births in 2019.

In recent years, many couples are reluctant to have children due to the

rising cost of health care, education and housing. The abandoning of the

decades-long one-child policy in 2016 has not provided much impetus to the

country's birth rate.

The economic uncertainties brought on by COVID-19 last year further weighed

on decisions to have children, extending a long-term birth decline in the

world's most populous but fast-ageing nation.

About a fifth of Chinese citizens are aged 60 and above, or around 250

million people. Rapid ageing will create policy headwinds for Chinese

leaders as they promise to guarantee health care and pension payments.

China's National Bureau of Statistics are expected to release official 2020

population data in late February.