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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 | Global coronavirus cases exceed 2.7 million: Johns Hopkins
Confirmed COVID-19 cases have exceeded 2.7 million globally, with the death toll surpassing 190,000, according to the latest statistics released by Johns Hopkins University.
The U.S. House passed a 484-billion-U.S.-dollar coronavirus relief bill. The country leads the world in both COVID-19 infections and fatalities, with over 869,000 confirmed cases and over 49,000 deaths.
Trump was blasted by medics after he proposed on Thursday the use of UV light and disinfectants to treat COVID-19.
Top 2 | India's defence ministry develops mobile lab to collect, test COVID-19 samples
The research and development wing of India's Ministry of Defence - the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has come out with a Mobile Virology Research and Diagnostics Laboratory (MVRDL), which would be used in collecting and testing samples for COVID-19.
Inaugurating the mobile lab on Thursday through a video conference, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the testing facility had the capacity of processing more than 1,000 samples in a day, and would augment the country's capabilities in fighting COVID-19.
The mobile lab is said to be a combination of a "BSL (bio-safety level) 3 lab" and a "BSL 2 lab," essential to carry out the testing activities, said an official statement issued by the Ministry of Defence.
These mobile labs are built as per World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Indian Council of Medical Research's (ICMR) bio-safety standards to meet international guidelines.
Top 3 |Canada’s worst mass shooting leaves at least 23 dead
A gunman disguised as a police officer went on a 12-hour rampage in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, shooting people in their homes, setting fires and killing at least 23 people, including a policewoman, in the deadliest such attack in the country’s history.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said in a statement it was investigating the 16 crime scenes that were part of the murder spree, several of which included burnt-out homes. Police said there were also injuries in the attack, but did not say whether the death toll would rise further.
Top 4 | Trump Signs Executive Order Temporarily Halting Immigration to US
US President Donald Trump told reporters Wednesday evening that he had signed a previously announced executive order that will suspend the entry of immigrants for at least a 60-day period.
Citing a need to "protect our great American workers," the US president explained during the White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing that immigration will be suspended in the US to "ensure that unemployed Americans of all backgrounds will be first in line for jobs" when COVID-19 novel coronavirus-related restrictions ease up across the country.
Top 5 | Iran hits back after Trump says US will shoot Iranian gunboats 'out of the water'
Iran has hit back after Donald Trump said he had instructed the US Navy to fire on any Iranian ships that harass it at sea.
Tehran responded by saying it will destroy "any American terrorist force" if its security is threatened in the Gulf.
It comes as tensions escalate between the two countries again, with Iran's Republican Guard announcing the launch of the country's first military satellite.
Top 6 | Queen Elizabeth II marks 94th birthday without fanfare
Britain is marking Queen Elizabeth II’s 94th birthday with silence Tuesday, as the nation in lockdown amid the COVID-19 pandemic forgoes the usual gun salutes and ringing of bells.
With thousands dead amid the outbreak, the monarch decided that the celebratory display of military firepower would not be appropriate. Nor will there be a celebratory peal of bells at Westminster Abbey, as the church where the queen was married and crowned is currently closed.
The royal family took to social media to share images of Elizabeth as she marks the occasion — but in keeping with social distancing rules, there will be no visits.
Top 7 | Iran "successfully" launches 1st military satellite
Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) on Wednesday "successfully" launched the country's first military satellite into space, official IRNA news agency reported.
"The satellite Noor 1 (Light 1) was launched by the satellite carrier Qased (Messenger) from the central desert region of the country by the IRGC and was successfully reached the 425 km orbit," said the report.
Top 8 | 26 million have sought US jobless aid since virus hit
More than 4.4 million laid-off workers applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week as job cuts escalated across an economy that remains all but shut down, the government said Thursday.
Roughly 26 million people have now filed for jobless aid in the five weeks since the coronavirus outbreak began forcing millions of employers to close their doors. About one in six American workers have now lost their jobs since mid-March, by far the worst string of layoffs on record. Economists have forecast that the unemployment rate for April could go as high as 20%.
Top 9 | Nigeria leader's top aide dies of COVID-19
The powerful chief of staff to Nigerian leader Muhammadu Buhari has died after contracting the novel coronavirus, the presidency said Saturday.
Buhari's office announced in a statement that it "regrets to announce the passage" of Abba Kyari, who acted as gatekeeper to the president of Africa's most populous nation.
Top 10 | WHO chief calls on U.S. to reconsider funding freeze
The World Health Organization (WHO) chief on Wednesday called on the United States to reconsider its decision to freeze funding to the organization, and hoped that the U.S. will once again support WHO's work and continue to save lives.
"The U.S. has been supporting WHO and it's number one donor (of WHO). We value that, we appreciate that," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at a briefing.
Related news:
Trump faces intense blowback over decision to defund WHO amid coronavirus pandemic
APD | Philippine President Duterte thanks China, Japan and Republic of Korea for valuable cooperation with ASEAN in the midst of COVID-19
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
