Foreign

US facing 'distressing' phase in Covid pandemic: CDC

US facing 'distressing' phase in Covid pandemic: CDC

October 22, 2020, 8:51 am

WASHINGTON – The US is facing an extremely alarming trend in its battle with Covid-19 as cases multiply across most of the country, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned Wednesday. “Unfortunately we’re seeing a distressing trend here in the United States with Covid-19… Read More

APEC App Challenge helps tourism biz respond to Covid impacts

APEC App Challenge helps tourism biz respond to Covid impacts

October 21, 2020, 8:38 pm

JAKARTA – The annual APEC App Challenge is inviting talented software developers and designers from 21 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) members to contribute to regional efforts to mitigate adverse impacts of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) on the tourism industry, the region’s key… Read More

Air pollution adds over 6.67M deaths to toll in 2019

Air pollution adds over 6.67M deaths to toll in 2019

October 21, 2020, 8:30 pm

ANKARA – Air pollution, the fourth leading risk factor for early death, added 6.67 million deaths to the global toll last year, according to a new study published on Wednesday. "Air pollution is the leading environmental risk factor for early death, with its total impact exceeding only by high… Read More

Rohingya crisis among worst modern tragedies: Turkish diplomat

Rohingya crisis among worst modern tragedies: Turkish diplomat

October 21, 2020, 9:14 am

ANKARA – The Rohingya crisis is among the gravest tragedies in modern times, a senior Turkish diplomat said Tuesday. In a ministerial committee meeting on the persecuted Muslim group held by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Deputy Foreign Minister Yavuz Selim Kiran underlined that… Read More

Thai anti-gov't rallies widen beyond Bangkok

Thai anti-gov't rallies widen beyond Bangkok

October 20, 2020, 9:21 am

JAKARTA, Indonesia – Thousands of people across Thailand joined protests Monday demanding that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha step down. The rallies, organized by the pro-democracy group the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration (UFTD), have expanded to areas outside the capital Bangkok… Read More

Global coronavirus cases surpass 40M

Global coronavirus cases surpass 40M

October 19, 2020, 7:25 pm

ANKARA – The number of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases in the world has surpassed 40 million early Monday, according to Johns Hopkins University data. More than 1.11 million people have lost their lives around the world from Covid-19 so far. The US still leads the world in the… Read More

China-Asean education exhibit embraces technological innovation

China-Asean education exhibit embraces technological innovation

October 19, 2020, 12:52 pm

NANNING – The China-Asean education exhibition held in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, has witnessed a growing demand for smart educational equipment, local authorities said. The event, which concluded on Sunday, set up seven galleries showcasing a great… Read More

UN arms embargo against Iran ends

UN arms embargo against Iran ends

October 18, 2020, 11:26 am

ANKARA – An arms embargo imposed since 2007 by the UN Security Council (UNSC) ended Sunday, according to Iran’s foreign ministry. All restrictions on the transfer of arms, related activities and financial services to and from Iran, and all prohibitions regarding the entry into or transit… Read More

Death toll from Covid-19 surpasses 1.1M worldwide

Death toll from Covid-19 surpasses 1.1M worldwide

October 16, 2020, 8:34 am

ANKARA – The number of people worldwide who has succumbed to the novel coronavirus exceeded 1.1 million Thursday, according to Worldometer, which compiles Covid-19 data from around the globe. Its website reported that the death toll from the virus has reached 1,101,420, while the number of cases… Read More

Medical headway on virus to boost economic revival: IMF

Medical headway on virus to boost economic revival: IMF

October 15, 2020, 8:52 pm

ANKARA – Faster progress on medical solutions against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) could quicken countries' economic recovery, projected to add almost USD9 trillion to global income by 2025, the IMF's managing director has said. During a news conference following an annual meeting… Read More

Russia approves second Covid-19 vaccine

Russia approves second Covid-19 vaccine

October 15, 2020, 2:43 pm

MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday a second coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine has been granted regulatory approval. Putin said the vaccine, EpiVakKorona, was registered at the Vector State Research Center in Novosibirsk. On August 11, Russia issued a temporary… Read More

Asean appreciates Japan's role in regional cooperation

Asean appreciates Japan's role in regional cooperation

October 15, 2020, 1:31 pm

HANOI – High-ranking officials from members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) spoke highly of Japan’s role in regional cooperation, contributing to common peace, stability, and prosperity at the 35th Asean-Japan Forum on Wednesday. The virtual forum was co-chaired by… Read More

Trump's youngest son Barron had Covid-19, now tests negative

Trump's youngest son Barron had Covid-19, now tests negative

October 15, 2020, 9:28 am

WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump's youngest son Barron Trump had Covid-19 with no symptoms and now tests negative, first lady Melania Trump posted a family health update on Wednesday. "It was two weeks ago when I received the diagnosis that so many Americans across our country and the… Read More

Russia registers second coronavirus vaccine

Russia registers second coronavirus vaccine

October 15, 2020, 9:26 am

MOSCOW – The Novosibirsk-based Vector research center has registered the second Russian coronavirus vaccine, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced during an online government meeting Wednesday. "The Novosibirsk Vector center has registered the second Russian vaccine against the coronavirus… Read More

WB approves $12-B for Covid-19 vaccines for developing countries

WB approves $12-B for Covid-19 vaccines for developing countries

October 14, 2020, 2:21 pm

WASHINGTON – The World Bank on Tuesday announced that its Board of Executive Directors has approved USD12 billion for developing countries to finance the purchase and distribution of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccines, tests and treatments for their citizens. The financing, which aims to… Read More

China, Cuba, Russia elected to UN Human Rights Council

China, Cuba, Russia elected to UN Human Rights Council

October 14, 2020, 1:12 pm

WASHINGTON – The UN General Assembly voted Tuesday to elect a new tranche of 15 Human Rights Council (HRC) members, including China, Cuba, and Russia. The trio of countries won seats over objections from critics who challenge their rights records. Cuba and Russia were shoe-ins for the spots… Read More

Latin America, Caribbean worst-hit region by virus

Latin America, Caribbean worst-hit region by virus

October 14, 2020, 12:48 pm

BOGOTA, Colombia – Latin America and the Caribbean have reported at least 10 million confirmed coronavirus cases and 370,000 deaths, plunging the region into its worst health, economic and social crisis in recent history. The virus has infected more than 38 million people worldwide and killed… Read More

US Supreme Court allows Trump to end census early

US Supreme Court allows Trump to end census early

October 14, 2020, 9:07 am

WASHINGTON – The US Supreme Court sided with the Trump administration on Tuesday, allowing it to end the 2020 census early instead of letting it continue through October. The court issued an unsigned order allowing an early end to the once-in-a-decade count of everyone living in the US,… Read More

Singapore reports infection-free day

Singapore reports infection-free day

October 13, 2020, 7:44 pm

ANKARA – Singapore on Tuesday reported no new local infections of the novel coronavirus for the first time since March, local media reported. The city-state's Ministry of Health said in a statement that four new coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases had been confirmed, all imported. This was the… Read More

Covid-19 pandemic to cost US $16-T: ex-treasury chief

Covid-19 pandemic to cost US $16-T: ex-treasury chief

October 13, 2020, 3:24 pm

WASHINGTON – The coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic will cost the United States USD16 trillion, or approximately 90 percent of the annual gross domestic product (GDP), former US Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers and Harvard University economist David Cutler said Monday. Roughly half… Read More