the official start to south korea's presidential election campaign. one of the contenders is using deep fake to hammer home of real message that of change. but his main challenger is putting up a fight. we get the latest from sold. and hong kong sees a steep rise and coven cases, despite it's 0 corporate strategy. and the cities leader is pledging to stay the course. ah, ah. our british benji welcom, do dw news, isha glad you could join us. south korea's presidential candidates formerly began their campaigning today. it said to be the tightest race in 20 years between the 2 main parties with the legend due to take place on the 9th of march. the 2 leading candidates have been dogged by scandals and enjoy high disapproval ratings. but voters are reacting favorably to a digital avatar of the conservative people power party candidate, created by his youthful campaign team. the deep fixed humor seems to be cutting through, especially with the younger electorate. e, as on your team. this may look like one of the candidates running to be the next south korea

south korea's presidential candidates formerly began their campaigning today. it set to be the tightest race in 20 years between the 2 main parties with the election due to take place on the 9th of march . the 2 leading candidates have been dogged by scandals and enjoy high disapproval ratings, but voters are reacting favorably to a digital avatar of the conservative people power party candidate, created by his youthful campaign team. the deep fixed humor seems to be cutting through, especially with the younger electorate. he is on your end. this may look like one of the candidates running to be the next south korean president, but it is in fact a deep fake room on august. a digital avatar of the conservative opposition candidate yoon suck hill. this a i version has attracted millions of views since this day be last month and tens of thousands of people have asked questions, often about popular culture instead of politics. a are use on your i am a i union couldn't thank you for your comment. i really like black pink tundra. do do do do, especially as my favorit

makes those challenging. conscription in south korea a hm . with cbo, moody, a deep tone, jamie, i goodman phone tag, and how much one is on paid thing on july, the 27th. asking and can get out of her week there. may she go moon syndrome dedicated to lead orchard and noting a huntsman concrete recently on the search which she mom, tanya gave them all in new york. i know she didn't know titian from sheridan. ha ha! you're just on is a renown you cheaper in south korea, scott? go. oh, he post video about wiping the notary, the ones with the little you all because it, they only kentucky, some of which have been viewed more than 2000000 times. your baby may young, some point acquittal jamie dot net hale, nina. i mccartney in manon town? good. 30 minutes. i that has all under. wouldn't it? it was awful. i woke up i think i deplored coming. we'll gambled and um, somebody from the equation it quite as you mentioned, money would talk when you think the toner, what i get a minute. what foger is some good are all the couldn't dig hockey torn in 2900 to

it turns lun doughty potter to turn in for you on a ton on a leukemia south . korea has enjoyed decades of conflict and war. as a result, national security has long been a priority in the peninsula. while much of the population still supports conscription, a growing number of south koreans, a questioning the value of compulsory military service. among them is lea young. soc never fail. a peace activist who refused to serve in the military. on moral grounds. lee has been campaigning against all forms of violence the last 20 years through his association world without war upon dead as a day or 2 gotten jojo pierre de la. they will bandon with those or to man. they not pool get co gelatin and get him to your soil. no good, old tor allen and hunger. goodson day is whole. i only got qu, georgia, is she stay a mentor? i see cigar. i uncle without her come, we'll get covered. you bought up and then go settled almost all where we got calendar copeland and g. well, we got one general panda, gears open data on gun and she could on palmetto, gimble sewage on the day. i get done and think everybody

you're just on is a renown you cheaper in south korea. so i don't know if he post video about life in the notary. i want to double to play a role because it, they only kentucky, some of which have been viewed more than 2000000 times to be made young. i'm pulling acquittal. jamie dot net hale, nina, i mccartney in manon town. good from a 13 tater that hes all under when it was awful. i woke up, i think i deplored coming. we'll get an answer from the, from the question, which money, anything, the toner, i get a minute with foger, some get all the can. they can get on in 2900 to go in infinite amount of hygiene. name latasha to target a. d. e in the middle man. children in canada or local dogwood all couldn't get on with him. and phelan tenant and plum dale in it, tenderly confronting our house was awkward timing. go to get them near even as has in mccord are gonna put in a chick, however, shall go on. as soon as he goes in south korea, all men are required to serve at least 18 months in the military, between the ages of 18 and 28. but every

and south korea has enjoyed decades of conflict and war. as a result, national security has long been a priority in the peninsula. while much of the population still supports conscription, a growing number of south koreans, a questioning the value of compulsory military service. among them is li young, soc in santa fe l. a. peace activist who refused to serve in the military. on moral grounds. lee has been campaigning against all forms of violence the last 20 years through his association world without war but condemned as a day or 2 gotten jojo pierre dela, they will bundling with those or to man they not pulling a co gelatin in detail to the or sale tonya good old, told ellen and hunger goodson day is all. i only got qu, georgia, is she stay a mentor? i see the car co cobra dot com will get cancelled. you bought off lingual, settled almost all where we got kinda recalled one and g. well, we got one general pendant gears open, did a on gun and she could on palmetto. gimble coolage on the day. i get done another bonnie, i'll get a cool one

he was the 1st lawyer to resist the draft in south korea. it's either the territory for the thir couldn't get in. there will be in a word to her pedagogy. who's in go, you know, just i'm not coming back to me that he upset with me much chelsea and forget to share for target and he that we will he hello, hello, hello. all kind of what he twisted. i mean that mashini standing while in prison. he wrote 1000 letters to comple and shoot south koreans to raise awareness about conscientious objectors. but it made little difference. esther fail cobra's happened there, coalition and i said we could consider it put in and they could won't get help. pulling anything up when you have them when the time i saw it, when they just hulahan in case of best gnashing and co off know that i was in the middle. now realizing that i can put it up and have you seen a sh jackie feeling you don't have a good scene, didn't create a kissing again. and i looked when grades out, it was only that question because of his criminal record, like peck says, he had to wait for y

he was the 1st lawyer to resist the draft in south korea. it has come out at the end for the food couldn't get in. there will be in there and he worked at her pat gay tours in that'll go off and not come back to me that he upset with me much chelsea and forget to share for target. and he that we will he hello. hello hello. hello. kind of wanted to push it on me that i'm a shiny standing while in prison, he wrote 1000 letters to influence you south koreans, to raise awareness about conscientious objectors. but it made little difference. esther failed called what's happened there. publishing and i said we could consider it put in and they couldn't get help pulling their think up when you have them. when the time i saw it, when they just wanna get some best gnashing and cool off. know that i was in the middle now realizing that i didn't put it up and have you seen a sh jackie feeling you know, hasn't i don't get to washington they had seen didn't grade is supposedly hitting the coke from greater. it was only that question because of his crimina

these north careers heavily fortified border with south korea much harder to cross . and the scene of dramatic attempts, such as this defection by a soldier in 2017, amid a hail of bullets once they get out of north korea, many defect is fine. that is only the start of their troubles. the big challenge is adapting to south korea as much freer lifestyle and fast paced economy completely unlike anything they've been used to. jesse kim has made that transition successfully and more than tongue any game more than clinical. i think for all young people business is difficult. i don't think i found any harder, easier as in north korean defector. but many defect to struggle with some, even returning to the north. her. this scheme is aim to help them with business startups. with the wider goal of closer integration between north and south. you're on the walker, i am convinced this is an opportunity for people like you and future generations to dream big and initiate change across the korean peninsula. there me, linen community startup business him to produce goods and sure thi

you're just on is a renown you cheaper in south korea. so we go, so he posts video about wiping the notary, the ones we do for you all a 20 minute. they only kentucky, some of which have been viewed more than 2000000 times. your baby may young from pulling acquittal jamie death and if hail nina, i mccartney in manon town. good from a 3rd party that has all under when it it was awful. i woke up i think i deplored coming googled and i'm somebody from the question. why so much money? anything that whenever i get a minute. but foger is, i'm good. ok, all the condo, i get on in, in 2900 to go in infinite amount of housing near the 20, the 232 in one day. i told her that he each in his the middle month on children and 10 order. i also feel of local dover all knit on. what can sullen tenant, go upon dale in integrity contributing? how is the joke was attempting to move the thin net even has it in the cause we're not gonna put in a she co op chesko on is really good in south korea, all men are required to serve at least 18 months in the military

more than 33000 defectors live in south korea. but as rob mcbride reports from so many of them find it hard to adapt to a life there. as this launch of enter meeting between 2 cultures with a common purpose, south korea, ministers, and officials on one side, on the other young defectors from north korea wanting to make their mark in business planning. and jessie came, came to south korea 8 years ago, bringing with her a lifelong love of food, which she is turning into a successful online business promoting north korean cuisine quiet although, till my own as a child, i was fascinated by the ingredients. the smile characteristics of food and always prepare meals for the whole family, my home town, you can see me. her home is near to mount, back to considered by north korea's leadership to possess special significance and straggling the chinese border through which most effectors escape to the south. these north careers heavily fortified border with south korea much harder to cross . and the scene of dramatic attempts, such as this d

those assurances that he wants from americas to most a senior allies in this part of the world, south korea and japan. they are held holding. these are trilateral talks with a view we are told to looking at ways of trying to engage or re engage north korea in dialogue. now the united states, as stated now for a long time that it is still wants to follow the policy of diplomacy. that said the us is willing to start talk, start the process any time anywhere. but of course, it does come after this increased phase of missile testing by north korea showing no indication that they are willing to come back to the negotiating table. january, we saw a record number of missiles being fired. and also of course, at a, at a, culminated in the firing of an intermediate missile, which is the longest range miss out who have been fired since 2017. and it comes with a hint from kim jong that north korea's leader and that north korea may be willing to at stop. it's moratorium on that nuclear development and the test firing of longer range intercontinental ballistic missiles which are of course, would be a muc

more than 33000 defectors live in south korea. but as rob mcbride reports from so many find it hard to adapt to life in at this launch event meeting between 2 cultures with a common purpose, south korea, ministers, and officials on one side, on the other young defectors from north korea wanting to make their mark in business planning and jessie came, came to south korea 8 years ago, bringing with her a lifelong love of food which she is turning into a successful online business promoting north korean cuisine quiet. although, on my own as a child, i was fascinated by the ingredients. the smile characteristics of food and always prepaid meals for the whole family. my hometown, her home is near to mount, back to considered by north korea's leadership to possess special significance and straddling the chinese border through which most effectors escape to the south. is north careers heavily fortified border with south korea? much harder to cross. and the scene of dramatic attempts, such as this defection by a soldier in 2017. amid a ha

is concerned, it will just be happy that both japan and the south korea are on the same page when it comes to dealing with north korea. all right, a rama where i live right there from the south korean capital sol. rob. thank you. now conway fighters from libya as joint operations forces as rolled into tripoli to support the interim prime minister abdomen debate. they were ordered by him to secure the capital after the eastern based parliament moved to replace him. to baber says he won't hand of a parent a long delayed elections are held. the appointment of a new prime minister has re ignited divisions with protest is taken to the streets . molly, trainer, reports from triple now were here in modern square in the capital tripoli where a large uh, large group of people, especially armed men in view and uniform, have gathered, i to protest the move buy of fitz, he besought to take over as prime minister. yes, i understand people are sick and tired of these legislative branches, both the parliament and the high council of state. now the parliament. oh, hold it in pet tuba out to become th

evaluate south korea's attitude? e second one on china, after a meeting last week the chinese ambassador to the u.n. has blamed the united states for recent missile launches by north korea. he has insisted that the u.s. should take more flexible approach to north korea and china and russia are strategically the same body. what is the united states justifying those korean missile provocations. >> let me take your first question first. as you know, since the start of this administration we have been investing heavily in our alliances and partnerships around the globe and of course that includes in the indo-pacific. there are a number of shared challenges and shared opportunities we have with our allies in the indo-pacific. our treaty allies, japan and the r.o.k. among them, among those challenges are the dprk. certainly one of the more pressing challenges we have with those allies. in recent days, the deputy secretary, your special representative for the dprk, they have engaged their south korean, r.o.k. and japanese co

and that's because south korea has a far more delicate position. it is caught between the 2 camps when it comes to business or china is south chris biggest trading partner. so we have had some references to breaches of the rule based order, which seemed to be directed at china and it moves in the south china sea. but without mentioning china, by name, i think the more important part as far as why was concerned, was really showing to north korea that the allies here a stand united and that the to allies of japan and south korea or remain on the same page as a blink and leaves here to deal with crises elsewhere are right or wrong, right? live for us there from so rob, thanks. now come by a fight on some libya as joint operations forces as rolled into tripoli to support the in trim prime minister abraham into babies that were ordered by him to secure the capital. after the eastern based parliament moved to replace him to baker says he won't handle a power until long delayed elections are held. the appointment of a new prime minister has re ignited divi

the vaccines have been holding up and south korea. it seems, has taken the same view with many european countries and the us. but now is the time to tough it out until live with the virus. and the number of cases is increasing rapidly, but i think we are taking a course that we have to follow if we are to reach the post coffee, 19 era. the country is learning to adapt to a new reality. south korea has been an early pioneer of such pandemic, beating measures as track and trace using the gps on your phone to warn of a possible contact or to make sure that you're isolating as you're meant to be. but with the sheer numbers of new cases that is no longer viable the government instead relying upon such things as voluntary isolating or the use of home testing kids which have now flooded the pharmacies across the country. and of course, still relying upon the trustee mosque in a country that still remains pretty much fully mosque. as we get into year 3. at this panoramic madagascar is bracing for a 4th tropical storm and has many weeks, almos

the vaccines have been holding up and south korea. it seems, has taken the same view with many european countries and the us. but now is the time to tough it out until the, with the virus and the number of cases is increasing rapidly. but i think we are taking a course that we have to follow if we are to reach the post coffee, 19 era. the country is learning to adapt to a new reality. south korea has been an early pioneer of such pandemic, beating measures as tracking trace, using the gps on your phone to warn of a possible contact or to make sure that you're isolating as you're meant to be. but with the sheer numbers of new cases that is no longer viable the government instead relying upon such things as voluntary isolating or the use of home testing kids which have now flooded the pharmacies across the country. and of course, still relying upon the trustee mosque in a country that still remains pretty much fully mosque as we get into year 3. at this panoramic england is lifting all remaining covered 900 restrictions. the legal requi

more than 109,000 new cases reported here nf south korea.me as we're seeing these high numbers, they're seeing cases doubling every week. we have not reached the peak. they're estimating potentially the end of february, middle of next month, middle of march may be when it starts to peak. they're not as concerned as they might be because they're pointing out that the number of deaths and the number of critical cases while rising is relatively low still. they have enough icu beds. they have the capability and the medical system here is stable. stable enough for the decision friday that they were going to ease some of those social distancing restrictions, just one really. there's a curfew on restaurants and entertainment venues of 9 p.m. that's being pushed back but the prime minister says it is a nod to those small businesses that are really struggling to keep their heads above water. and we're also seeing a significant thing here, which is the qr code system, which was really the pinning -- underpinning that the track and trace system here in

he's been hosting foreign ministers from japan and south korea in hawaii. they talked about how to proceed with north korea after a series of missile tests. we have enough to cover and we are very concerned about the portal features and multiple in particular. and i hope you can also have a good exchange of views on how to deal with the situation from the broad as monitoring developments from sol. these tests have certainly raised the stakes here in asia pacific and i think it's been important for me and to be blinking point of view. and also from his counterparts from south korea and japan, really to put on a united front in their joint statements. and also in that joint news conference that they have delivered in hawaii with all of the participants condemning what they called provocative actions by north korea. also hinting at the possibility that can juggle in the north korean leader has possibly said that he might end the morrow, tore him on nuclear testing. and also the launch of longer range intercontinental ballistic missiles, which would certainly re

we have seen those numbers helping south korea.expecting those first 20 days straight numbers coming up as well. haidi: also coming up, head of -- research tells us what he is buying the dip on china and hong kong. later, we speak to regina it. the market okun's insole in tokyo. ♪ >> welcome to daybreak asia from bloomberg's world headquarters in new york. haidi: asia's major markets have just opened for trade. our top stories this hour, asian stocks open to growing calls for a fed hike to counter inflation. also weighing big risk in eastern europe. the u.s. warns russia -- is beyond the ukrainian capital. moscow says troops will remain in belarus indefinitely. we speak to regina ip about covid testing. shery: we are getting the south korean 20 day trade numbers for the first 20 days of the month. we are getting those export numbers coming in at growth of 13.1% for the first 20 days of february. import numbers growth of 12.9% for february. both numbers easing from the previous month. remember, we have had the biggest trade deficit

and then japan and south korea a month later, it was high time for the rest of the world to come back. almost all the thought of the country is open, therefore it is like not as radio, but it, so it was really difficult and you know, so many people went to depression because they had got a lot of plans and does. and now i'm really happy that it's got my son has made that announcement yet. menus trillions. now hope that their streets will see some crowds again, after all, many businesses count unhappy travellers and that deep pockets barely 25 years ago, china had just 9 ski resorts, according to official data, but fast forward to today, they are now close to $800.00 of them spread mainly across the country's northern regions and with the beijing winter olympics. in full swing, a booming near sports industry is taking skiers down slopes, which normally wouldn't even have any snow fabia and catch my reports. one of the big game changers for skiers from badging, is this rent you bullet train link from the capital to chung the in her bay province. if you was there for have a it took your

according to south korea's health ministry, south korea has had just over 7000 deaths since the start of the pandemic. singapore has set a new daily record high of 26000 factions a most or having mild or no symptoms. despite 90 percent of the population being vaccinated, almost $300000.00 singapore inter tested positive in the past month. religious groups estrella are disappointed the shelving of proposed legislation protecting minority fates the bill aimed to ban discrimination based on a person's religious beliefs. but there was concern, it could be used to target people in algae b t communities. sarah clark has more from brisbin rather saying is the head of the australian seek association. he represents of faith that is considered a minority religion in australia, but is the fastest growing. he says, despite his rising popularity, it still widely misunderstood in the country, and is often vilified by some members of the public seeks look different to a normal person veering turban, then sporting beards. so, in a way it, sir, is sir. maria difficult situation for, for a growing kid

and south korea has been both exponential and alarming from under 5000 new cases. the day, just over a month ago, the country has been hitting over a 100000 new cases per day, put it another way in this country of 52000000 people. the total number of infections has risen from 1000000 to 2000000 in about 2 weeks. it means that in and around the greater metropolitan area of sol, which is home to half the country's population, long lines of testing centers on now the norm. but thankfully, due to a high vaccination rates, we have not been seeing the same rise in serious illness and hospitalizations. the vaccines have been holding up and south korea, it seems, has taken the same view with many european countries. and the us that now is the time to tough it out and send it with a virus. and the number of cases is increasing rapidly, but i think we are taking a course that we have to follow if we are to reach the post coffee 19 era. the country is learning to adapt to a new reality. south korea has been an early pioneer of such pandemic, beating measures as track and trac

south korea's president is calling for a summit between u. s. president joe biden and north korea's came young on moon j in toll south korean median media that to the to leaders should discuss pyongyang, nuclear weapons program. despite the ongoing impasse, he also expressed concern that north korea could resume nuclear, a long range missile testing, which he said would cause an instant crisis. rob mcbride has more from salt, i think for him president moon j. and this is a pretty realistic assessment of the current state of play on the korean peninsula . this was in an interview with media here in south grand, also international media. it comes as he has only a few months, more left in office. he remains fairly up beat about the prospects of dealing with north korea, saying that it is possible conditions could exist whereby joe biden, like his predecessor, could meet with a kim jargon of north korea to talk about the nuclear rise ation. reminding the world, of course, that the americans have said they are committed to diplomacy, that they are

the vaccines have been holding up and south korea. it seems, has taken the same view with many european countries and the us. but now is the time to tough it out until the, with the virus and the number of cases is increasing rapidly, but i think we are taking a course that we have to follow if we are to reach the post coffee, 900 euro. the country is learning to adapt to a new reality. south korea has been an early pioneer of such pandemic, beating measures as track and trace using the gps on your phone to warn of a possible contact or to make sure that you're isolating as you're meant to be. but with the sheer numbers of new cases that is no longer viable the government instead relying upon such things as voluntary isolating all the use of home testing. kids which have now flooded the pharmacies across the country. and of course, still relying upon the trustee mosque in a country that still remains pretty much fully mosque. as we get into year 3. at this pandemic and police in new zealand said they have been attacked with a stinging

some painting is underway for south korea's presidential election under the constitution. the winner will serve a single 5 year term, but mcbride reports himself this like most elections before, it is likely to be a straight to horse race between a conservative unit. so y'all and his liberal opponent, the j. mm. young. with both of them, fighting against their own unpopularity, a fact they seem to accept to whoa, whoa, they're young via the gun. don't give out to party politics with a vested interest. offer limited choices. as a result, people live to bite the bullet. in truth, the less only to evil. neither has international standing, but they are vying for a job that now has global reach. there's south korea's importance in the world economy, especially and high tech manufacturing. it's cultural clout is growing through movies, drama, and k pop. and it's key geopolitical role in sign o u. s. relations as well as it's fraught dealings with north korea, the outgoing liberal president, moon j in has made it his mission to improve inter korean ties. but his term is ending wi

there's south korea's importance in the world economy, especially and high tech manufacturing. it's cultural clout is growing through movies, drama, and k pop. and it's key geopolitical role in sign o u. s. relations as well as it's fraught dealings with north korea, the outgoing liberal president, moon j. n, has made it his mission to improve into korean ties. but his term is ending with the north, increasing its missile testing with the threat of launching longer range, ballistic missiles that have brought the peninsula to the brink of conflict in the past. no, i mean, there's a high possibility there. various missile tests are, will be conducted intensively after the presidential election on march 9th. and if he wins, yoon soak yo has promised a tough line with the north, including the possibility of preemptive strikes against its newly developed hypersonic missiles. however, capture if it's carrying a nuclear weapon to time it will take to reach the capital area and commit a massacre is under a minute, practically impossible to intercept whether or not this election will re

as south korea's president is calling for summit between joe biden and north korea's came. jung and measure in expressed concern that north korea could resume nuclear and long range missile testing where she says could cause an international crisis. cat is prime minister says truck is blocking a vital border crossing with us or a threat to the country's economy, automakers, ford and her to say the interruption is hurting production at their facilities in canada. the so called freedom convoy, once vaccine requirements, another coven, 19 restrictions, scrat? yes, it's yes, it's an acceptable lay. actually tis up like this. see just unacceptable. the impacts on small businesses on manufacturers, on the supply chain or ongoing. whether it be barricades at the border or sieges in ottawa, we must do everything we can at every level of government to end it who needs fill up. what would really help is if the conservative party could tell it supporters to stop blocking our economy and go home. i think you guys promised the bar stools as indicates of the last remaining covered 19 restrictions may be

the jobless rate in south korea, 3.6%. it is not surprising given that we have seen an economic recovery in china. and more participation in the labor markets. this as speculation continues on whether or not the bank of korea will continue to tighten policy. >> and earnings coming in. they are reporting net income for the fourth quarter coming in just over $1 billion. that is slightly better than expectations. the fourth quarter beating expectations as well, $589 million. the ceo saying that he believes the worst is now behind us. signs of the market recovery continue in singapore. and coming in at $1.68 billion, that is just over expectations of $1.65 billion. other losses beating expectations as well. that income of just over 4 billion dollars. take a look at the australian open and it does look like they are starting to trade. a second day of losses in sydney and seeing about .1% lower. we're still seeing a pullback when it comes to risk aversion and lending a little bit more heft to the risk currencies as well including

we were talking before cases in south korea exceeded 90000 for a 2nd straight day. that is a significant rise so any country has to have a strategy in its, in its head very clear and, and at the moment to still go, if it covered 0, i don't think is unrealistic. i don't think it's realistic. and probably the concept of flattening the curve needs to come back. you can't just let it rip because there's, there's still too many people on baxon either than an even a small percentage of vaccinated. people can really put that still quite a large number. and that can put a lot of stress on hospital side. so i think it's good to control transmission, but you need to have reality in mind and that's the 0 who has gone. but you don't have to let it go out of control. you keep with the social distance thing, the mosque wearing the, the oscillation of positive cases, things like this. still important so that, so that you at least keep the numbers down and that protect your health system. really appreciate you joining us now to 0, giving us the benefit of your expertise. dr. dale f

inflation numbers out of south korea coming in faster than expectations. the core cpi number year on year is growth of 3%. the expectation was for 2.8% gains. this would have already been a decade high, but it has topped that and accelerating from the previous month when it was at 2.7%. we are talking about pressures from both sides, supply-side pressures and demand-side pressures as we are seeing this bounce in consumption and higher services spending. 3% growth in cpi numbers for the core year on year. also 3.6% gainin the headline -- gain in the headline cpi number year on year. month-to-month, growth of .6% for headline cpi, which is above expectations. this coming on acceleration from the previous month of december. suffice to say it is much higher than the bok's target. we will continue to watch what sort of reaction we get from the bok and policymakers in south korea. paul: let's take a look at the asx, which just opened for trade in australia. the index down a quarter of 1%. we have a staggered open. a building products company off 40% right now. i

are set on self-sufficiency. >> from south korea to taiwan to japan to china, semiconductors areritical component of asian economic output and, let's face it, growing political thanks. samsung electronics can be considered chip king, dethroning intel as the world's biggest chipmaker in terms of revenue for the first time since 2018 with 13% of the global semi conductor market share after chip sales soared more than 31% in 2021. it had another quarter of record sales in the fourth quarter and will spend tens of billions more on the most advanced chipmaking technology. global demand has never been hotter and the chip shortages are seen worldwide. the rise of samsung and others combined with the pandemic ribbon supply chain pain and what we have seen with rising u.s.-china tension that have elevated china's plans to develop self-sufficiency in chips have heightened anxiety that the u.s. could be left vulnerable as critical industries shift its centers of gravity here to asia. caroline: the global perspective of the supply chain headache. let's take a final take-two recap although th

it prompted south korea to call it undesirable for peace. the world's attention fixed on the russian invasion in ukraine. earlier today, north korea decided to go ahead and fire a ballistic missile, its first such launch since january. this is the country's eighth missile test so far this year. according to the south korean military, it took place about 7:52 a.m. it was launched from sunan, an area near the north korean capital, and landed in the waters off the kirns. the south korean military are maintaining a state of read naens as they monitor the situation. the united states said this test posed no threat to the united states or its allies. it urged north korea to refrain from any more provocative action. the timing of this launch is significant. it comes after the beijing winter olympics. thoerk maintains close ties with china, made sure not to take part in any missile testing during the olympic games in february. today's ballistic missile launch takes place less than two weeks before the south korean presidential election slated to tak

shery: japan and south korea coming online.e seeing the nikkei being led higher by industrials and have care and rebounding -- at health care and rebounding from the lowest levels on geopolitical tensions escalating around ukraine. the topix is also higher. we saw the tokyo core consumer prices also rising more than expected, by about 0.5% year on year. in japan, we are watching the japanese yen, which is holding around that 115 level after really strengthening to that three year high against the u.s. dollar, given safe haven demand. we continue to watch the bond space as we saw treasuries extending a global rally here in new york. take a look at what the kospi is doing because that is gaining ground of more than 1%. we had seen those chipmakers in south korea really feel the brunt of the geopolitical tensions around ukraine, given that they source some of their materials from the country. we continue to watch what is happening with the korean won, which is weakening against the u.s. dollar, and really past that 1200 level. thi

south korea japan have held high level talks to discuss what they call a threat to post by north korea. the talks follow a series of missile tests by appeal, yet libby invite you to back the inter prime minister upto hm. at the bay. bob have entered the capital, tripoli and convoys the ard group say they want to show up. there was position after the parliament and east, and they'd be voted to replace them to a ball says he won't handle the power to long delayed elections. the held on the trainer explains from tripoli, now we're here in mortar square in the capital tripoli, where a large, large group of people, especially armed men in view and in uniform, have gathered to protest the move buy of fitz, he besought to take over his prime minister yes, i understand people are sick and tired of these legislative branches, both the parliament and the high council of state. now the parliament. oh, hold it in a tuba out to become the new crime minister on thursday. the current intern, prime minister, aba has said that he will not hand over power until elections or until elections happen. elect

of the uhan institute of virology who if they had checked their records and their emails went south. korea was first detected in one they would have realized that the quantitative institute of virology was working with several of the closest viruses related to south korea too at the time that they were synthesizing completely new south viruses putting in the type of unique genetic modifications that we see in south korea too and had been collecting thousands of samples from not just china, but even 7 southeast asian countries, including laos where another very close relative of size 2 has been found and concentrating all of these animal and human samples from the wildlife trade in wuhan city. so we are only finding that out in like fall of 2021 almost two years since like this virus emerged in wuhan so the lack of transparency in lack of forthcomingness just leads people to this perception that scientists are hiding things and this reflects badly on the entire. of the community even though it's just a handful of individuals who made these decisions either of negligence or self-preservation

south korea's former foreign minister. kang kyung-wha.s is bloomberg. ♪ ♪ >> crown has accepted a bid from blackstone bid the deal could help bring down the current when it comes to this troubled period in crown sister where he has found to underpay taxes and been involved in money laundering. a lot of opportunity for blackstone if this goes right. >> that's right. there were three properties and crown's portfolio, casinos in perth, and melbourne and sydney. each comes with its own challenges. the casino in sydney has never been able to get a license. the casino and melbourne is operating under very tight supervision. next month, we will learn of the fate of the perth casino's license as well. -- it's involvement with criminal syndicates, underpayment of taxes, all sorts of other legal and ethical issues as well. but this deal values crown at 8.9 billion australian dollars. and blackstone's had a couple of goes at this. it was about a year ago and made an initial bid of $11.85. this offer of $13.10 australian dollars a share, pretty decen