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International News (601)
March
Coronavirus: School closures and travel curbs in UK 'battle plan'
Written by nuke
The government is to outline its plans to contain the spread of coronavirus involving possible school closures, event cancellations and bringing NHS staff out of retirement.Unnecessary travel could be curbed and people urged to work from home. Legislation will be introduced to ensure ministers who have the powers to prepare for a widespread outbreak. As quoted by BBC.com (03/3) the chancellor says this month's budget will see help for the health services and economy in the face of the threat.It comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday warned there could be "significant expansion" in UK cases as the number rose to 39//BBC.com
March
Erdogan threatens Europe with 'millions' of migrants
Written by nuke
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned on Monday that "millions" of migrants would soon head for Europe, drawing accusations from EU leaders that he is trying to pressure them into backing his incursions into Syria. As quoted by afp.com (03/3), Turkey gave the green light to refugees and migrants on Friday to leave for the European Union and thousands have since massed at the Greek border, triggering fears of an influx like that which poisoned European politics in 2015. German Chancellor Angela Merkel described Turkey's move as "unacceptable" and EU migration commissioner Margaritis Schinas said nobody could "blackmail or intimidate the EU". But Turkey, which hosts roughly four million refugees, is trying to hold off another mass influx from Syria.//afp.com//===
March
WHO says world in uncharted territory as US virus toll rises
Written by nuke
The world has entered uncharted territory in its battle against the deadly coronavirus, the UN health agency warned, as new infections dropped dramatically in China on Tuesday but surged abroad with the US death toll rising to six. As quoted by afp.com (03/3) WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Monday stated that WHO is in uncharted territory. According to the World Health Organization , globally, the virus has killed more than 3,100 people and infected over 90,000 even as a clear shift in the crisis emerges, with nine times as many cases recorded outside China as inside, China has imposed draconian quarantines and travel restrictions to keep large swathes of the population indoors for weeks, a strategy that appears to have paid off as new cases have been falling this month. //afp.com//===
March
Afghan Conflict: Trump Hails Deal with Taliban to end 18-year War
Written by Ani Hasanah
President Trump signed a deal with the Taliban Saturday (29/2) aimed at bringing peace to Afghanistan. He said 5,000 US troops would leave Afghanistan by May and he would meet Taliban leaders in the near future, without specifying where. The US and Nato allies have agreed to withdraw all troops within 14 months if the militants uphold the historic deal. Talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban are due to follow. Under the agreement, the militants also agreed not to allow al-Qaeda or any other extremist group to operate in the areas they control. (bbc)
February
APEC regional dialog underway amid COVID-19 outbreak
Written by nuke
The first cluster of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) dialog and meetings in 2020 is ongoing in Malaysia amid a regional outbreak of a new strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) that has already affected thousands. The First Senior Officials’ Meeting of APEC was held in Putrajaya, Malaysia, according to a written statement issued by the APEC Secretariat and received in Jakarta on Tuesday (25/2).
The global community was just coming to terms with the potential effects of the spread of COVID-19 when activities among officials from around the Asia-Pacific region started on February 3, 2020, in Putrajaya. However, APEC working groups and committees still met to discuss work plans and agendas to be advanced in 2020, a red-letter year for APEC. The meetings covered several topics, including trade and investment, structural reform, business mobility, sustainable development, and corruption.//Antara
February
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad Resign from his post
Written by nuke
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad proposed his resignation to the King of Malaysia Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah on Monday (Feb24). The shocking announcement came amid speculation that Mahathir trying to form new coalition which will rule out Anwar Ibrahim as his promised successor.It is unclear who will be the next prime minister or whether general election should be conducted. Mahathir’s party, Partai Bersatu Adat Malaysia(Bersatu)announced on Monday (Feb 24) that in supporting prime minister, they will come out from powered coalition, namely Pakatan Harapan.Political confusion of Malaysia deepend when Malaysian Minister of Economic Affairs, Mohamed Azmin Ali and Minister of Housing and Regional Government, Zuraida Kamaruddin were fired from Anwar Ibrahim’s party, People’s Justice Party, on Monday morning. They were viewed as key figures in effort to form new government and to avoid Anwar to be Malaysian prime minister. As response, Anwar Ibrahim mentioned that they are "betrayers" in their party and accused member of Mahathir’s party plan for the change in the incumbent coalation. Anwar Ibrahim and Mahathir Mohammad are known to have less harmonious relationship. But, both made up before the Malaysian general election in 2018. At that time, Mahathir promised to hand over the power to Anwar Ibrahim. That promise will probably not be fulfilled, because Mahathir has resigned and the Pakatan Harapan coalition is no longer solid.//Trans
February
The US president Donald Trump begins his first official trip to India
Written by nuke
US President Donald Trump is due to begin his first official trip of India with a focus on deepening ties between the world's two largest democracies. Mr Trump will arrive in Gujarat, home state of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where he is expected to address a rally at a cricket stadium. He will then travel to Agra to see the Taj Mahal, before arriving in the capital Delhi for talks with Mr Modi. Despite growing political and strategic ties, there's been tension over trade issues. In June 2019, the US ended preferential trade status for India, the largest beneficiary of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) - a scheme that allows some goods to enter the US duty-free. The two sides have also differed over price controls on medical equipment and India's new rules on data storage. The trade deal was likely to resolve some of these issues. But just days before the visit, Mr Trump announced that he was saving the big deal for later on. Reports say negotiations continued between the two sides until last week, but they were not able to reach a consensus on issues like the restoration of the GSP for Indian goods, and India agreeing to open some of its key markets for US goods// (Voi.BBC)
February
North Korea quarantines foreigners in a bid to stop the coronavirus from breaking out.
Written by nuke
North Korea has quarantined 380 foreigners in a bid to stop the coronavirus from breaking out.The foreigners are mostly diplomats stationed in the capital Pyongyang, said news agency Yonhap, quoting the Korean Central Broadcasting Station. Around 200 foreigners had already been confined to their compounds for the past 30 days - but as that came to an end, the quarantine has been extended. There have not been any reported cases of Covid-19 in North Korea. It's not known how long the new quarantine for foreigners will last. North Korea has not confirmed any cases - but there are clearly fears of it spreading, as the country shares a border with China. All foreigners coming into the country must be quarantined for 30 days. North Korean authorities have also cancelled the annual Pyongyang marathon, which typically sees people from all over the world participating. Around 3,000 people in North Pyongan province, a north-western region bordering China, are also now under monitoring for reportedly showing suspected symptoms, said state media// (Voi.BBC)
February
Some Sports and Carnival Activities in Italy Suspended over Corona Virus Fears
Written by Ani Hasanah
The Italian government suspended a number of sports and carnival matches because of the spread of the corona virus (covid 19) in the country. Venice Carnival or Venetian Carnival in southern Italy is one of the canceled activities. This annual carnival takes place from 8 to 25 February 2020. As quoted by Al Jazeera on Monday, the death toll from being infected by the corona virus in Italy increased to three people. One of the visitors and lovers of the carnival Marianna Purisiol felt the cancellation of the carnival did not have a significant impact, the panic was even more influential.
"The panic is more contagious than the virus. I think at this point, it is unnecessary, don't you think?
Meanwhile lovers of other unnamed carnivals said there was no point in stopping the carnival, because other public facilities were still open," said Marianna Purisiol.
In addition to three fatalities due to infection with the corona virus (Covid 19), the number of corona virus cases in Italy currently reaches more than 130 cases, most of which are located in northern Lombardy. Earlier, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte had announced quarantines for several cities in Italy, which had an impact on fifty thousand (50,000) people. Including the cancellation of the Venetian Carnival in Italy these past few days. (Aljazeera / WATI / AHM)
February
Mahathir Mohamad: Malaysian Prime Minister in Shock Resignation
Written by Ani Hasanah
The Malaysian prime minister, 94-year-old Mahathir Mohamad, has submitted his resignation to the king.
Mahathir's shock resignation comes amid rumours that he may form a new coalition without his designated successor, Anwar Ibrahim.
The world's oldest prime minister came into power in 2018.
In a surprise victory, he ousted then-prime minister Najib Razak, who has been linked to a multibillion-dollar scandal involving a government fund.
The Prime Minister's Office said the letter of resignation was submitted at 13:00 local time (05:00 GMT). No other details were included in the statement.
It is not clear who will be the next prime minister - or if new elections will be called.
The 94-year-old has also resigned from Bersatu, the political party of which he was chairman.
Bersatu had been part of the ruling opposition alliance Pakatan Harapan, which Mahathir had joined in 2018 together with Anwar.
On Sunday, Anwar accused Mr Mahathir and his party of being "traitors", saying they had plans to form a new government, presumably without him.
But on Monday, Mahathir submitted his resignation.
Despite this, the BBC's South East Asia correspondent Jonathan Head says Mahathir might not actually be ready to step down.
"At 94, Mahathir Mohammad is still the master manipulator of Malaysian politics, and few believe he is ready to step down, despite the dramatic offer of resignation he's just sent to the country's constitutional monarch," he said.
"It is possible, even likely, that Mahathir will remain as prime minister." The on-again off-again feud between Anwar and Mahathir is one that has dominated Malaysian politics for decades. (BBC)