Foreign

Poorest countries’ debt hits record $744-B before pandemic: WB

Poorest countries’ debt hits record $744-B before pandemic: WB

October 13, 2020, 2:55 pm

WASHINGTON – The total external debt of the world's poorest countries climbed 9.5 percent to a record USD744 billion (PHP36.5 trillion) in 2019, according to the World Bank Group's latest International Debt Statistics (IDS) report released Monday. "Before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic,… Read More

Thailand to make British Covid-19 vaccine for SE Asia

Thailand to make British Covid-19 vaccine for SE Asia

October 13, 2020, 1:47 pm

LONDON – The British and Thai governments said on Monday that Thailand has agreed to manufacture and supply AstraZeneca’s vaccine across Thailand and wider southeast Asia region. The vaccine is still under development with Oxford University, and is currently leading the global race for a… Read More

Trump tests negative for coronavirus

Trump tests negative for coronavirus

October 13, 2020, 9:21 am

WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump tested negative for the novel coronavirus on "consecutive days," White House physician Sean Conley announced Monday. "In response to your inquiry regarding the President's most recent Covid-19 tests, I can share with you that he has tested NEGATIVE, on… Read More

Coronavirus survives on surfaces for 28 days: study

Coronavirus survives on surfaces for 28 days: study

October 12, 2020, 6:20 pm

ANKARA – The novel coronavirus survives on surfaces for 28 days, a study by Australian national science agency has found. “To improve our understanding of how this new virus behaves, our researchers studied the survival rates of infectious SARS-CoV-2 [COVID-19], dried in an artificial mucous… Read More

BioNTech: Covid-19 vaccine waiting for approval

BioNTech: Covid-19 vaccine waiting for approval

October 7, 2020, 1:18 pm

BERLIN – BioNTech, a German biotechnology firm, has applied for the approval of a potential vaccine for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Dr. Ugur Sahin, a Turkish scientist and co-founder of BioNTech, along with American medicine firm Pfizer, is… Read More

Black hole discoveries net Nobels for 3 physicists

Black hole discoveries net Nobels for 3 physicists

October 7, 2020, 7:36 am

ANKARA – Three scientists are sharing the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics for their groundbreaking discoveries about the exotic objects known as black holes, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced Tuesday. Half of the monetary award is going to Roger Penrose of Oxford University for the… Read More

Covid-19 infects 28 partying soldiers in Japan

Covid-19 infects 28 partying soldiers in Japan

October 6, 2020, 6:19 pm

ANKARA – A one-day outing during a three-month long training course proved infectious for over two dozen staff of Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF). At least 28 GSDF staff were infected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) during a barbecue party held on Sept. 26 in Saitama province… Read More

IMF extends debt relief for 28 low-income countries

IMF extends debt relief for 28 low-income countries

October 6, 2020, 1:52 pm

WASHINGTON – The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a second six-month tranche of debt service relief for 28 low-income countries amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. "Relief on debt service will free up scarce financial resources for vital… Read More

White House press secretary tests positive for Covid-19

White House press secretary tests positive for Covid-19

October 6, 2020, 9:44 am

ANKARA – The White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday. "After testing negative consistently, including every day since Thursday, I tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday morning while experiencing no symptoms," McEnany announced on Twitter. "No… Read More

Global COVID-19 cases surpass 35 million

Global COVID-19 cases surpass 35 million

October 5, 2020, 9:55 pm

ANKARA – The number of total coronavirus cases around the world surpassed 35 million on Monday, less than a week after deaths from coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) passed one million, according to Johns Hopkins University data. The US leads the world with over 7.4 million cases and almost… Read More

Malaysian PM urged to stop blaming migrants for virus

Malaysian PM urged to stop blaming migrants for virus

October 5, 2020, 8:56 pm

JAKARTA – A group of Malaysian activists urged Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yasin to focus on fighting the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) rather than blaming undocumented migrant workers for the surge in number of virus cases. “The recent statement by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin… Read More

Japan, South Korea to resume business trips

Japan, South Korea to resume business trips

October 5, 2020, 7:33 pm

ANKARA – Japan and South Korea will resume business trips between the two countries, a measure the two countries halted due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to media reports on Monday. The date of the resumption is expected to be announced this week. Initially, according to Japan’s Kyodo… Read More

US President Trump, first lady test positive for Covid-19

US President Trump, first lady test positive for Covid-19

October 2, 2020, 5:15 pm

WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump said early Friday that he and first lady Melania Trump had tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) after one of his closest aides had contracted the virus. "Tonight, @FLOTUS [US first lady] and I tested positive for Covid-19. We will begin… Read More

Egyptians taking to streets braving curbs, lack of leadership

Egyptians taking to streets braving curbs, lack of leadership

October 1, 2020, 5:12 pm

ANKARA – Sandwiched between security crackdowns and lack of leadership, the Egyptian public is taking to the streets across the country since September 20, following calls by activists and opposition members demanding the resignation of President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi. While there have been… Read More

Trump, Biden lock horns in chaotic political debate

Trump, Biden lock horns in chaotic political debate

September 30, 2020, 2:51 pm

WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden clashed Tuesday evening during a political showdown that repeatedly broke down into fiery exchanges and angry interruptions. The clashes prompted moderator Chris Wallace to castigate Trump, whom he said interrupted Biden far… Read More

Kuwaiti emir passes away at 91

Kuwaiti emir passes away at 91

September 30, 2020, 11:34 am

KUWAIT CITY – Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah passed away at the age of 91 on Tuesday.  "With great sadness and sorrow, the Amiri Diwan mourns the passing of his Highness, the late Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah," the Amiri Diwan, which serves as the… Read More

Global Covid-19 deaths surpass one million

Global Covid-19 deaths surpass one million

September 29, 2020, 1:04 pm

ANKARA – The number of deaths from the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) around the world has surpassed one million, while the number of cases is above 33 million as of Monday (Sept. 28), according to Johns Hopkins University data. While the US leads the world with more than 7.1 million cases… Read More

UN chief says nuclear war cannot be won, must not be fought

UN chief says nuclear war cannot be won, must not be fought

September 27, 2020, 11:16 am

UNITED NATIONS – United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Saturday that a nuclear war cannot be won and must not be fought. "The use of nuclear weapons would affect all states, meaning that all states have a responsibility to ensure that such deadly armaments are never used… Read More

Death toll in Ukraine military plane crash rises to 25

Death toll in Ukraine military plane crash rises to 25

September 26, 2020, 4:29 pm

KIEV – The death toll from a military plane crash near Kharkiv has reached 25, a statement by the chief prosecutor in Ukraine said early Saturday.  The prosecutor’s office said an investigation has been launched into the crash of an AN-26 type military plane that also severely injured two… Read More

SoKor to demand NoKor for add'l probe into killing

SoKor to demand NoKor for add'l probe into killing

September 26, 2020, 4:25 pm

SEOUL – South Korea will demand that North Korea carry out another investigation into its recent killing of a Seoul fisheries official near the tense sea border, as the North's explanation bore some key discrepancies from Seoul's account, the presidential office said Saturday.  On Tuesday,… Read More