Foreign
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
