Foreign
Targeting journalists takes toll on ‘societies as a whole’: UN
November 3, 2020, 3:34 pm
NEW YORK – When journalists are targeted, "societies as a whole pay a price", the UN chief said on Monday, on the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists. "If we do not protect journalists, our ability to remain informed and make evidence-based decisions is severely… Read More
UN concerned over possible war crimes in Karabakh
November 3, 2020, 2:00 pm
GENEVA – The UN rights chief said Monday that indiscriminate attacks on civilian settlements amid fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region could amount to war crimes. "The parties to the conflict are obliged to effectively, promptly, thoroughly and… Read More
Covid-19 claims lives of 442 media workers in 8 months
November 3, 2020, 1:56 pm
GENEVA – At least 442 media workers in 52 countries have died of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) since early March, the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), a non-government organization with special consultative UN status, said Monday. “Covid-19 continues to claim many victims among… Read More
US hits record-high 80,000 average daily Covid-19 cases
November 3, 2020, 9:40 am
WASHINGTON – The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Monday reported a record-high 80,000 average daily increase of Covid-19 cases in the country, a new record of average daily cases since the onset of the pandemic. The seven-day average daily cases and deaths have been on a… Read More
At least 1 killed, 15 wounded in Vienna attack
November 3, 2020, 9:39 am
BERLIN – At least one person was killed and 15 others wounded in Austria’s capital Monday evening in a suspected terrorist attack by multiple gunmen. Interior Minister Karl Nehammer told ORF television that one of the gunmen was shot and killed by the police and a major anti-terror operation… Read More
WHO chief quarantines after contact with Covid-19 patient
November 2, 2020, 2:32 pm
ANKARA – World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Sunday that he had been identified as a contact of someone who tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) but remained healthy. “I have been identified as a contact of someone who has… Read More
Turkey earthquake death toll rises to 76
November 2, 2020, 1:29 pm
ANKARA – The death toll in Turkey from Friday's magnitude 6.6 earthquake in the Aegean Sea has risen to 76, the country’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said early Monday. Some 1,044 aftershocks have hit the area since then, 43 of them above magnitude 4, AFAD said. It added… Read More
Over 80M vote early ahead of US presidential election
October 30, 2020, 8:53 am
WASHINGTON – Over 80 million Americans have cast early ballots ahead of the US's November 3 presidential election, a running tally from the US Elections Project found Thursday. In all, the study counted 80,721,858 early votes, with the vast majority -- over 52 million -- coming from mail-in… Read More
UN official calls for mutual respect amid cartoon row
October 29, 2020, 3:48 pm
UNITED NATIONS – The United Nations High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations has called for the mutual respect of all religions and beliefs and for fostering a culture of fraternity and peace. In a statement on Wednesday, Miguel Angel Moratinos said he is following with deep concern… Read More
France heads for 2nd virus lockdown as infections soar
October 29, 2020, 8:45 am
PARIS – France will enter a second coronavirus lockdown from Friday midnight, the country’s president announced on Wednesday. The national lockdown will remain in place at least until Dec. 1, Emmanuel Macron said in a televised address to the nation. The announcement came as France reported… Read More
Covid-19 cases in Indonesia top 400K
October 28, 2020, 8:42 pm
JAKARTA, Indonesia – Indonesia on Wednesday reported 4,029 new cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), bringing the total number of cases to 400,483. According to government figures, as many as 100,000 new virus cases were reported over the past 26 days. In the last 24 hours, as many as… Read More
APEC meeting calls for open trade to ensure food security
October 28, 2020, 7:15 pm
KUALA LUMPUR – Agriculture and food ministers and senior representatives from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies have pressed for stronger cooperation and open and predictable trade regimes to ensure that global food systems remain accessible, innovative, reliable,… Read More
India: Doctors on strike as virus cases soar past 7.9M
October 26, 2020, 8:40 pm
NEW DELHI – Senior doctors at government-run hospitals in India’s capital Delhi wore black ribbons on their arms Monday to support their colleagues for non-payment of salaries since June. The doctors at the state-run hospital, Hindu Rao, have been on an indefinite hunger strike since Friday to… Read More
Russia reports 16,521 coronavirus cases in 24 hours
October 24, 2020, 9:42 pm
MOSCOW, Russia – The number of coronavirus cases in Russia increased by 16,521 over the past day bringing the total to 1,497,167, the operational headquarters to combat coronavirus told reporters on Saturday. In relative terms, the growth, according to the headquarters, slowed down to 1.1%. In… Read More
IMF expects multi-speed recovery in Asia-Pacific region
October 22, 2020, 2:38 pm
ISTANBUL – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Wednesday that the economy of the Asia and Pacific region started to recover "tentatively, but at multiple speeds". The region's economy is expected to contract by 2.2 percent in 2020 but rebound by 6.9 percent in 2021, while the global… Read More
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
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
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
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
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
