Foreign
China allocates USD1.63-B for epidemic prevention
January 27, 2020, 2:41 pm
BEIJING -- All levels of financial departments in China have allocated a total of 11.21 billion yuan (about USD1.63 billion) as of Sunday to curb the spread of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), according to the Ministry of Finance (MOF). The funds allocated were mainly used for the medical treatment… Read More
China cranks up protective equipment supplies to fight 2019-nCoV
January 26, 2020, 12:36 pm
BEIJING -- China has been strengthening the provision of medical supplies to combat the viral pneumonia outbreak. Shortage of medical supplies including goggles and masks was reported in Wuhan, the hardest-hit city of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak in central China. The Ministry of… Read More
China reports 1,975 confirmed cases, 56 deaths due to 2019-nCoV
January 26, 2020, 12:33 pm
BEIJING -- Chinese health authorities announced Sunday that 1,975 confirmed cases of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), including 324 in critical conditions, had been reported in the country by the end of Saturday. The pneumonia situation had resulted in 56 deaths, according to… Read More
Death toll from Turkey's earthquake rises to 31
January 26, 2020, 12:29 pm
ANKARA -- The death toll from Friday's powerful earthquake in eastern Turkey rose to 31, the country's disaster relief agency said. So far, 1,547 people have been reported injured as rescue workers continue recovering victims buried under the rubble, according to the Disaster and Emergency… Read More
Death toll from China’s coronavirus outbreak hits 25
January 24, 2020, 3:43 pm
ANKARA -- At least 25 people have died from the outbreak of a new respiratory virus in China, its National Health Commission said early Friday. The commission has recorded 830 confirmed cases nationwide since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus was first reported to the World Health Organization… Read More
Air tanker dousing bushfire in Australia crashes; kills 3
January 23, 2020, 5:34 pm
ANKARA -- At least three people were killed when a special air plane fighting bushfires in Australia crashed on Thursday, local media reported. A large air tanker crashed while fighting bushfires in Cooma area of New South Wales (NSW), ABC news reported. Local authorities dispatched choppers and… Read More
Wuhan suspends public transportation, outward flights, trains
January 23, 2020, 5:06 pm
WUHAN -- Central China's megacity of Wuhan battling with a pneumonia outbreak has announced to suspend public transportation, and close the airport and railway stations to outgoing passengers, while asking citizens not to leave the city without specific reasons. City buses, subways, ferries, and… Read More
China reports 571 confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV, 17 deaths
January 23, 2020, 4:18 pm
BEIJING -- Chinese health authorities announced Thursday that 571 confirmed cases of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) had been reported in 25 provincial-level regions in the country by the end of Wednesday. A total of 393 suspected cases have been reported, according to the… Read More
WHO extends emergency talks over coronavirus outbreak in China
January 23, 2020, 1:35 pm
GENEVA -- The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday night extended to Thursday its emergency talks on whether the novel coronavirus outbreak in China constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). "There was an excellent discussion during the meeting today, but it… Read More
China reports 440 confirmed cases of new coronavirus pneumonia
January 22, 2020, 4:05 pm
BEIJING -- Chinese health authorities announced Wednesday that 440 confirmed cases of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) had been reported in 13 provincial-level regions in the country by the end of Tuesday. The cases had resulted in nine deaths, all in central China's Hubei… Read More
WHO calls emergency meeting as China reports 1 more death
January 21, 2020, 7:42 pm
ANKARA -- The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for an emergency meeting to be held on Wednesday on the outbreak of coronavirus in China. The step comes after China reported one more death due to the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) that caused cases of pneumonia originating from Wuhan, the… Read More
Iran says Ukrainian plane hit by 2 short-range missiles
January 21, 2020, 4:32 pm
TEHRAN -- The Ukrainian passenger plane that crashed shortly after takeoff in the Iranian capital on Jan. 8 was hit by two short-range TOR-M1 missiles, Iranian state IRIB TV reported Tuesday. "Two TOR-M1 missiles were launched from the northern side," the TV said, citing the latest report by… Read More
Trump's approval rating surges amid impeachment inquiry
January 21, 2020, 1:08 pm
ANKARA -- US President Donald Trump's job approval ratings have surged to nearly an all-time high ahead of pending Senate impeachment trial. In the most recent Gallup poll released on Monday, 44 percent of Americans said they approve the job he is doing as president, nearly 5 percent above the… Read More
Soleimani had sheltered al-Qaeda leaders, claims author
January 19, 2020, 11:46 am
ANKARA -- Although high-profile slain Iranian military leader Gen. Qasem Soleimani is known for extending Shia arc or Iranian influence beyond his country’s borders to Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and up to Yemen, little is known that he had also sheltered fighters of al-Qaeda terrorist group and… Read More
Plane tragedy enrages Iran protesters
January 15, 2020, 4:03 pm
TEHRAN -- Iran's stunning admission that it "unintentionally" shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane with a missile, hours after launching missile attacks on bases housing US troops in Iraq, has drawn anger and outrage across the country. Iranians have staged demonstrations in different parts of… Read More
Iran arrests suspects in Ukrainian plane crash
January 14, 2020, 9:59 pm
TEHRAN -- Iranian authorities have arrested a number of suspects in the downing of a Ukrainian passenger plane last week, the country's judiciary commission said on Tuesday. The suspects were arrested "for their role in the plane crash," commission spokesman Ghulam Hussein Ismaili said in… Read More
Turkish Airlines halts flights to Manila amid volcano activity
January 13, 2020, 2:25 pm
ISTANBUL -- Turkey's national flag carrier Turkish Airlines temporarily suspended its scheduled flights to the Philippines, the airline said on Sunday. In a statement, Turkish Airlines said it canceled its scheduled flights on Sunday and Monday to Manila due to the Taal Volcano eruption in the… Read More
Japan backs US on Iran, but seeks restraint
January 9, 2020, 8:12 pm
ANKARA -- Japan on Thursday said it stands with the US on its response to Iranian missile attacks on US bases in Iraq, according to local media. Speaking to reporters in Tokyo, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said: "Japan has been urging all parties involved to exercise self-restraint so it's our stance… Read More
Vietnam boosts defense cooperation among Asean members
January 9, 2020, 8:10 pm
ĐÀ NẴNG -- Vietnam looks forward to continued support and contributions from fellow Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) member-states during its chairmanship of the Asean Community, and for the common interests and success of Asean 2020. Lt. Gen. Vũ Chiến Thắng,… Read More
Australian bushfire death toll rises to 27
January 9, 2020, 8:08 pm
CANBERRA -- Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed that the death toll from the nation's bushfire crisis has risen to 27. Morrison provided an update on the bushfires at a press conference at Parliament House on Thursday, announcing that 2,131 homes have been destroyed and the death… Read More
