Asia Pacific Daily News - Focus on Asia-Pacific Development, Daily News Express, Scholar Creation Center

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 | Canadian PM to be in quarantine after wife tests positive for COVID-19

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be in isolation for two weeks after his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, tested positive for COVID-19, the Prime Minister's Office said Thursday.

The prime minister exhibits no symptoms of the virus, said the office in a statement, adding that "he will be in isolation for a planned period of 14 days," but will not be tested "at this stage."

Trudeau's wife showed flu-like symptoms on Wednesday evening after she returned from Britain where she carried out speaking engagements. Local media reported that the couple's three children have not shown symptoms. While self-quarantining himself, Trudeau is expected to address the country on Friday.

Top 2 | Abe, Trump hold phone talks after U.S. leader suggests postponing Tokyo Olympics

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.S. President Donald Trump held telephone talks Friday traversing Japan's continued preparations for Tokyo to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer.

The telephone call between the two leaders took place at the request of Trump after he said at the White House a day earlier that it might be a good idea for the games to be postponed rather than events being held in empty stadiums.

Abe told Trump that Japan intended to continue with its plans for Tokyo to host the games, scheduled to be held from July 24 to Aug. 9, with the Paralympic Games being held from Aug. 25 to Sept. 6, with Japan's top government spokesperson also doubling down on the government's position on the issue.

Top 3 | Italy calls for extra help for COVID-19, 'only China responded'

Italy accused the EU and its member states of not responding to the commission's call for ensuring extra supplies of medical equipment amid the outbreak of the COVID-19, urging to take "quick, concrete and effective" emergency actions "beyond engagement and consultation."

Italy has been hit hardest by COVID-19 outside China with confirmed cases breaking 10,000 on Tuesday. It toughened the nationwide lockdown measures on Wednesday by ordering bars, restaurants and beauty parlors to close after death toll jump 31 percent, the highest daily increase in deaths in any country since the outbreak began.

Responding to the emergency call from Italy, China agreed to send over two million face masks and some 10,000 lung ventilators, 20,000 protective suits, along with 50,000 test kits to Italy under contracts signed after the phone call between the two foreign ministers on Tuesday.

Top 4 | U.S. House passes resolution limiting Trump's power to launch military operations against Iran

U.S. House of Representatives approved a resolution on Wednesday to curb the president's power to use military forces against Iran and sent the bill to President Donald Trump's desk where it is expected to be vetoed.

The House passed the war powers resolution in a largely party-line vote of 227 against 186. The resolution directs the U.S. president to terminate the use of the U.S. military for hostilities against Iran without congressional approval.

The Republican-controlled Senate passed the resolution last month. The resolution, however, is unlikely to become law as Trump is expected to veto it, and Congress might not have enough votes to override a presidential veto.

Top 5 | Pompeo speaks over phone with British FM on Iraq rocket attack

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday spoke over phone with his British counterpart on the rocket attack of Iraq's Camp Taji military base that caused U.S. and British casualties, said the U.S. State Department.

Pompeo and British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab condemned all attacks against coalition personnel supporting the Iraqi government's efforts to defeat the Islamic State (IS), according to a statement released by the department.

Earlier in the day, two U.S. soldiers and one British service member were killed in a rocket attack on Iraq's Camp Taji, north of the capital city of Baghdad, and a dozen were wounded. A statement issued by the U.S.-led coalition force said that approximately 18 rockets struck the base, adding that Iraqi Security Forces had found a rocket-rigged truck a few miles from Camp Taji.

Top 6 | Myanmar MPs reject bid to allow Suu Kyi to become president

aung san suu kyi,-1583940811.jpg

Myanmar's parliament rejected on Wednesday a proposed constitutional amendment that would have allowed the country's de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, to officially become president.

The rejection had been expected because the proposal was opposed by the military, which under the constitution adopted when it held power, holds enough parliamentary seats to block any constitutional change.

The defeated motion was one of several constitutional changes proposed by Suu Kyi's ruling National League for Democracy party, with most expected to be blocked. Article 59(f) of the constitution bars a person from becoming president if his or her spouse or children are foreign citizens. Suu Kyi's two sons are British nationals, as was her late husband.

Top 7 | Xi Jinping inspects Wuhan, encourages frontline medics

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, on Tuesday arrived in Wuhan, Hubei Province, the epicenter of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, to inspect prevention and control work.

It's the first time the Chinese leader has visited the city since the outbreak began in January. After arriving in Wuhan, the president went to Huoshenshan Hospital and learned about its operations, treatment of patients, protection for medical workers and scientific research.

The number of new infections in China has continued to drop, with 19 cases reported on Monday. As of Monday evening, the virus has infected 80,924 people across China, most of them in Hubei.

Top 8 | U.S. forces start withdrawal from Afghanistan

The U.S. Forces Afghanistan has begun withdrawal of its forces from Afghanistan, the coalition forces confirmed on Tuesday.

On Feb. 29, the U.S.-Taliban deal was inked in Gulf state of Qatar while Kabul and Washington also issued a joint declaration on the same day in Kabul.

Under the agreements, the United States would reduce its forces in Afghanistan to 8,600 within 135 days and all the U.S.-led coalition forces would return home within 14 months from Afghanistan depending on Taliban's meeting the conditions envisaged in the agreement, including severing ties with terrorist groups such as the Islamic State and al-Qaida network.

Top 9 | Lockdown enforced in Metro Manila; no flights, classes until April; lifts travel ban to China

President Rodrigo Duterte addressed the nation that lasted for an hour and four minutes shortly after 8:00 P.M. Thursday where he declared Metro Manila under “community quarantine” also known as “lockdown” characterized by the suspension of air travel, work, and classes.

He explained a province be declared under quarantine should there be at least two COVID-19 positive patients in different towns, independent or component cities as local government units which have declared a state of calamity in their area would be allowed to use government funds to respond to the community's requirements.

President Duterte said work under the Executive Branch will be suspended but agencies are required to put its own skeletal force to address the needs of the government. He also encouraged the private sector to implement a flexible work arrangement where the Departments of Labor and Employment and Trade and Industry would issue appropriate guidelines to protect both the workers' and employers' interests. Businesses dealing with manufacturing, service, and retail are advised to remain open with their respective managements observing social distancing.

Top 10 | Joe Biden has another big primary night, wins 4 more states

Joe Biden decisively won Michigan’s Democratic presidential primary, seizing a key battleground state that helped propel Bernie Sanders’ insurgent candidacy four years ago. The former vice president’s victory there, as well as in Missouri, Mississippi and Idaho, dealt a serious blow to Sanders and substantially widened Biden’s path to the nomination.

Biden again showed strength Tuesday with working-class voters and African Americans, who are vital to winning the Democratic nomination. Sanders won North Dakota and awaited results from Washington state. Washington’s primary was too early to call, and because all votes there are cast by mail or by dropping them off in a ballot box, many ballots were marked for candidates who have since dropped out of the race.

The six-state contest Tuesday marked the first time voters weighed in on the primary since it effectively narrowed to a two-person race between Sanders and Biden. And the first four states on Tuesday went to Biden, a dramatic reversal for a campaign that appeared on the brink of collapse just two weeks ago. Now it is Sanders, whose candidacy was ascendant so recently, who must contemplate a path forward.