4/1/2021 UPDATES

By Jason Lu

Japan (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-56574142) 

• Japan’s cherry blossoms peaked on March 26, which was the earliest date since records were taken. The previous earliest date was March 27, 1409, and scientists see this as a result of climate change. Cherry blossoms or “sakura” only last a few days, so the bloom time is important to many Japanese. Since 1800, the peak bloom date seems to have been moving from mid-April to late March.

Myanmar

• Since Aung San Suu Ki was charged with violating Myanmar’s official secrets acts and the military takeover on Feb. 1, 536 people have died, including at least 43 children.

• Since the military takeover, there have been many pro-democracy protests, which have been met with violence from the military.

• The regime has also arrested at least 56 journalists, banned certain online news-oulets, and cut mobile data.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-56600292

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/01/world/asia/myanmar-journalists-arrests.html

Indonesia

• On Palm Sunday, a suicide bomb went off in the Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral in Makassar, Sulawesi, which has caused the Christian community to be on edge ahead of Easter weekend.

• Christians are a minority group, and there has been a history of religious terrorism.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/1/indonesia-on-edge-ahead-of-easter-after-palm-sunday-attack