International News: 05/09/2020

 ASIA

-Coronavirus

Total Cases: Over 7.5 million

Total Deaths: 145,000

-Turkmenistan: Turkmenistan is the only country in central Asia where no coronavirus cases have been officially registered. Turkmenistan's government claimed that the country have no coronavirus cases. But practically no believes the claim.

       In recent weeks, hospitals are being overwhelmed with patients showing acute COVID-19 symptoms in Turkmenistan. The bodies of those who have died of COVID-19 like lung diseases are being delivered to their relatives in special plastic bags and also the number of fresh graves across the country is increasing exponentially.

     The World Health Organization on August 7 expressed concerns over the increase of atypical pneumonia cases in Turkmenistan and called on Ashgabat to allow it to organize independent coronavirus test in the country.

NORTH AMERICA

-Coronavirus

Total Cases: Over 7.5 million

Total Deaths: 275,000

-USA: U.S. private space company 'Space X' successfully launched its 12th Starlink mission on Thursday. A rocket named 'Falcon 9' lifted off at 8:46 a.m. from Florida carrying 60 Starlink satellites to orbit. The Starlink satellites  were deployed approximately 15 minutes after lift off, said Space X. According to Space X, Starlink will deliver high-speed broad band internet to locations where access has been unreliable, expensive or completely unavailable. Starlink is targeting service in the Northern United States and Canada in 2020. Each satellite weighs 260 kilograms and features a compact flat panel design that minimizes volume to stack more satellites in the rocket, according to Space X.

-USA: Kevin Mayer , the CEO of Tiktok, quit under US pressure, which Washington says is a national threat. In a letter to employees, Mayer said his decision to leave comes because the 'political environment has sharply changed.'

            Mayer, a former Disney executive, joined Tiktok as CEO in May. The resignation comes on the heels of President Donald Trump's order to ban Tiktok unless its parent company sell its US operations to an American company within 90 days. Tiktok thanked Mayer saying 'we fully respect his decision'.

(Note: Tiktok gained immense popularity through its fun, goofy videos and ease of use. Douyin, similar to Tiktok app, is available for Chinese users. India has already banned it on these grounds, and others countries including Australia, are expressing concerns and investigating.

SOUTH AMERICA

-Coronavirus

Total Cases: Over 6.5 million

Total Deaths: 210,000

-Brazil: The number of coronavirus cases in Brazil has risen above four million. Data from the health ministry also showed that the virus has caused over 125,000 deaths in Brazil.

EUROPE

-Coronavirus

Total Cases: Over 3 million

Total Deaths:209,000

AFRICA

-Coronavirus

Total Cases: Over 1 million

Total Deaths: 30,000

-Sudan: On Sudan's Tuti Island, where the Blue and White Nile meet, the highest flood since records have killed almost 100 people. "Three days ago the water invaded my house around midnight", said Swakin Ahmad. "We were knee-deep in it. My husband and I, with our five children, fled ....carrying a few things in our hands."

     Every year during the rainy season, the people of islands expect the waters to rise. But this year has seen water rising to record levels. The level of the Blue Nile has risen to 17.57 meters, the Ministry of Water and Irrigation said this week, breaking all records since measurement began over a century ago.

(Note: Heavy rains are forecast to continue through September, both in Sudan and upstream in neighboring Ethiopia, the source of Blue Nile. Residents have set up homemade barrages to block the water, but their efforts have been engulfed by the rising river.)

OCEANIA

-Coronavirus

Total Cases: Over 29,000

Total Deaths: 770

-New Zealand: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that the New Zealand would keep its current coronavirus restrictions in place until at least mid-September as a pre-caution. "The best economic response remains a strong health response. If we get it right we will ultimately shake off restrictions faster and lessen the risk of bouncing around", Ardern told a news conference.

-Australia: Greg Hunt, the Australian Health Minister, extended restrictions on international travel and the entry of cruise ship until December 17 to protect the country against the spread of the coronavirus. He cited the "un-acceptable health risk" posed by COVID-19 for the decision.