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Every weekend, Asia Pacific Daily will provide you with a run-down of the latest hot news.
This week, the following hot news you should know:
Top 1 | China reports 1,287 confirmed cases of new coronavirus pneumonia, 41 deaths
Chinese health authorities announced Saturday that 1,287 confirmed cases of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), including 237 in critical conditions, had been reported in the country by the end of Friday.
The pneumonia situation had resulted in 41 deaths, including 39 in central China's Hubei Province, one in north China's Hebei Province and one in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, according to the National Health Commission.
A total of 1,965 suspected cases had also been reported.
Top 2 | Democrats face risks and limits in Trump’s impeachment trial
The challenge is becoming increasingly clear for House Democrats prosecuting President Donald Trump’s impeachment case as the Senate convenes for a second day of arguments in the landmark trial.
No matter how overwhelming the evidence confronting Trump, it becomes less compelling when presented again and again, day after day, as Democrats try to convince not just fidgety senators but an American public deeply divided over the Republican president in an election year.
Top 3 | World Economic Forum 2020 kicks off in Davos on Wednesday
Some of the world’s most powerful people gathered for the annual World Economic Forum that kicked off on Wednesday in Davos, Switzerland.
Trade tensions, climate change, rising populism and questions about the future of capitalism are all weighing on the outlook for global business, according to executives who gathered at the Swiss resort of Davos this week.
Global chief executives have swung from record optimism two years ago to record pessimism now, according to a survey from PwC released at the start of the week which set the mood for the annual event.
Top 4 | UN experts demand probe into alleged Saudi hack of Amazon boss Bezos
Experts have demanded an immediate investigation by U.S. and other authorities into allegations that Saudi Arabia's crown prince was involved in a plot to hack the phone of Amazon boss and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos.
The UN special rapporteurs, Agnes Callamard and David Kaye, said on Wednesday they had information pointing to the "possible involvement" of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the alleged 2018 cyberattack, which preceded alleged threats by the National Enquirer to publish intimate photographs of Jeff Bezos.
Top 5 | Greece elects first woman president
Greece's parliament on Wednesday elected the first woman president in the country's history, a senior judge with an expertise in environmental and constitutional law.
A cross-party majority of 261 of the 294 MPs voted in favour of 63-year-old Ekaterini Sakellaropoulou, parliament chief Costas Tassoulas said.
"Ekaterini Sakellaropoulou has been elected president of the republic," Tassoulas said.
The new president, until now the head of Greece's top administrative court, the Council of State, will take her oath of office on March 13, he added.
Top 6 | Russia gets new government in what Putin calls 'major renewal'
Russian President Vladimir Putin Tuesday approved a new government, bringing in some fresh faces but retaining many senior ministers, according to the decrees Kremlin published on its website.
The new team was formed less than a week after Putin unveiled a sweeping shake-up of the political system, which led to the resignation of his ally Dmitry Medvedev as prime minister along with the entire government.
"The most important task is to increase the welfare of our citizens and strengthen our statehood and the position of our country in the world. All these are absolutely attainable goals," Putin told the new government.
Top 7 | 2020 Chinese Spring Festival Gala: Strike the bell and leap into the Year of the Rat
After five rehearsals, the curtain has finally lifted on China Media Group's (CMG) much anticipated 2020 Spring Festival Gala.
Top 8 | Philippines' Duterte threatens to end military deal with the U.S.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte warned the United States on Thursday he would repeal an agreement on deployment of troops and equipment for exercises if Washington did not reinstate the visa of a political ally.
Visibly upset, Duterte vented his anger over the U.S. decision to deny entry to Ronaldo dela Rosa, a former police chief who is now a senator.
Top 9 | Britain's Prince Harry leaves for Canada on Monday
Britain’s Prince Harry is understood to have left the United Kingdom for Canada on Monday evening, to be reunited with his wife Meghan Markle and son Archie, The Telegraph reported.
Harry had earlier on Monday attended a summit for leaders of 21 African countries in London hosted by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, a day after he spoke of his sadness that he would shortly be giving up royal duties.
Top 10 | Venezuela's Guaido in Colombia to meet with Pompeo
Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido surfaced in Colombia on Sunday to meet with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, as his power struggle with President Nicolas Maduro entered a challenging new phase.
"Already in #Colombia," the Venezuelan National Assembly leader wrote on Twitter, thanking Colombian President Ivan Duque for his "support for the struggle."
The move comes after an overture by Maduro for direct negotiations with the United States on an end to crippling US sanctions, and amid signs he is preparing for renewed confrontation with the opposition.
Related news:
Powerful earthquake jolts eastern Turkey, killing 18
Germany's Merkel in Turkey for talks with Erdogan
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
