Foreign
WHO chief sees 'light at the end of long, dark tunnel'
November 24, 2020, 1:42 pm
GENEVA – With current vaccine developments, the light at the end of the Covid-19 tunnel is growing brighter, the World Health Organization (WHO) chief said Monday. WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus gave an upbeat assessment on vaccine development after recent data showed that more Covid-19… Read More
Biden names John Kerry as special climate envoy
November 24, 2020, 8:56 am
ANKARA – US President-elect Joe Biden on Monday named John Kerry, the former state secretary, as special presidential envoy for climate to lead the country's fight against climate change. Kerry will be the first official dedicated to climate change that will sit on the National Security Council… Read More
Indonesia to deploy navy force near South China Sea
November 23, 2020, 9:18 pm
JAKARTA – The Indonesian Navy will move the headquarters of its combat squad to Natuna islands bordering the South China Sea, said an official on Monday. Speaking at a news conference, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Yudo Margono said the naval combat force (Guspurla) Command Fleet I, which is… Read More
G20 leaders commit to strong post-Covid-19 era
November 23, 2020, 9:58 am
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – The Group of 20 Leaders' Summit held under the term presidency of Saudi Arabia ended Sunday with a commitment for a "strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive post-Covid-19 era". “We, the G20 Leaders, meeting for the second time under the Saudi Presidency, stand united… Read More
APEC leaders issue Kuala Lumpur Declaration
November 21, 2020, 5:30 pm
JAKARTA – Leaders of the 21 member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) issued the Kuala Lumpur Declaration after the first-ever virtual APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting on Friday. The 27th Economic Leaders’ Meeting was chaired by Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin… Read More
No time for complacency despite vaccine: UN health body
November 17, 2020, 1:06 pm
GENEVA – The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday said it was "cautiously optimistic" about encouraging news on the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine. However, it added it was "extremely concerned" over surging cases in Europe and the Americas where health workers and systems are… Read More
Asean leaders agree on pandemic-coping measures, cooperation
November 16, 2020, 1:49 pm
HANOI – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) concluded its 37th summit and related meetings on Sunday, putting priorities on measures to respond to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic and commitments to multilateral cooperation. Addressing the closing ceremony,… Read More
Vietnam urges New Zealand to open door wider for Asean goods
November 16, 2020, 12:56 pm
JAKARTA – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has called on New Zealand to open its door wider for goods and agricultural products of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) countries as the sides have substantial potential for cooperation. Addressing the online Asean-New Zealand… Read More
Asia-Pacific nations sign world’s biggest trade deal
November 15, 2020, 5:36 pm
JAKARTA – Fifteen nations in the Asia-Pacific region on Sunday signed the world’s largest free trade agreement. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) was signed on the sidelines of the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) held via video… Read More
Hospital fire kills 10 Covid-19 patients in northeastern Romania
November 15, 2020, 3:07 pm
BUCHAREST – Ten coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) patients in serious condition were killed in a fire that erupted late Saturday in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Piatra Neamt County Hospital in northeastern Romania, confirmed Health Minister Nelu Tataru. "Eight patients died as a result… Read More
US strategic partner for Asean in Indo-Pacific region: FM
November 15, 2020, 1:29 pm
JAKARTA – The United States is one of Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (Asean) strategic partners in the Indo-Pacific region, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said at an online press conference after attending the 8th Asean-US Summit on Saturday. Marsudi, who represented… Read More
Asean eyes code of conduct for disputed South China Sea
November 12, 2020, 8:12 pm
JAKARTA – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) on Thursday expressed its hope for an “effective and substantive” code of conduct for all activities in the South China Sea. Addressing the opening ceremony of the 37th Asean Summit as the current chair, Vietnam Prime Minister… Read More
'Richest countries already bought 80% of Pfizer vaccine'
November 12, 2020, 7:13 pm
LONDON – More than 80 percent of the US drugmaker Pfizer’s coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine has already been sold to the richest governments across the world, according to an analysis by a UK-based campaign group. The Global Justice Now analysis shows that more than 1 billion doses… Read More
Japan, US begin negotiations on US forces cost sharing
November 11, 2020, 6:01 pm
ANKARA – Japan and the US have started negotiations on cost sharing of 55,000 American troops based in Japan. The Japanese government announced on Wednesday that the two-day formal talks started in Washington on Tuesday, according to Japanese Kyodo News. “Costs shouldered by Japan have played… Read More
UN chief shocked by Mozambique killings
November 11, 2020, 5:58 pm
ANKARA – The UN secretary-general has expressed shock over recent reports of beheading, and kidnapping of women and children in Mozambique's northern Cabo Delgado province, his spokesman said late Tuesday. Antonio Guterres urged authorities in the Southern African country "to conduct an… Read More
WHO probe into virus origins not transparent, says US
November 11, 2020, 1:25 pm
GENEVA – The US on Tuesday continued to assail the World Health Organization’s (WHO) pandemic response, saying that the team formed to probe the origins of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) was not set up in a “transparent” manner and the investigation was not in line “with the… Read More
WHO looks forward to work 'very closely' with Biden
November 10, 2020, 2:10 pm
GENEVA – The World Health Organization chief on Monday congratulated US President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, saying the WHO looks forward to working with their administration "very closely." "We need to reimagine leadership, built on mutual trust and mutual… Read More
Southeast Asian leaders greet Biden victory
November 9, 2020, 9:02 pm
JAKARTA – Leaders of Southeast Asian countries have congratulated US President-elect Joe Biden on his winning the race for the White House. In their messages, the leaders expressed hope for stronger bilateral relations and stability in the region. Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on… Read More
Pandemic-hit Japanese firms introduce early retirement
November 9, 2020, 7:43 pm
ANKARA – Hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, the number of companies in Japan introducing early retirement plans has more than doubled this year. The rapid drop in demand is pressing executives to quickly cut costs by reducing personnel, Kyodo News reported citing a study by Tokyo Shoko… Read More
Myanmar ruling party claims win as vote count continues
November 9, 2020, 6:32 pm
YANGON, Myanmar – Myanmar’s ruling party led by State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi on Monday claimed it has won the majority of seats, although the vote count continues across the country. Aung Shin, a spokesman for the ruling National League for Democracy party, claimed his party has so far won… Read More
