Morning News Brief [March 26, 2020]

HOT NEWS

1. The IMF and World Bank called for governments to put a hold on debt payment from the world’s poorest nations so they can battle the coronavirus pandemic.

Source: CNA

(https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/business/imf-world-bank-suspending-debt-payments-poorest-nations-12576320) 

2. Members of the G7 failed to agree on a joint statement after the U.S. insisted on referring to the coronavirus outbreak as the “Wuhan virus”.

Source: The Washington Post

(https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/g-7-failed-to-agree-on-statement-after-us-insisted-on-calling-coronavirus-outbreak-wuhan-virus/2020/03/25/f2bc7a02-6ed3-11ea-96a0-df4c5d9284af_story.html) 

 

WORLD

1. Russian President Putin’s plan to hold power until 2036 is blurry as the nationwide referendum on constitutional amendment has been postponed due to COVID-19. 

Source: CNN

(https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/25/europe/russia-putin-coronavirus-intl/index.html) 

2. The US senate is expected to vote on the 2-billion-dollar alleviation package to help hard-hit industries from COVID-19 impacts and disburse money to millions of families.

Source: The Straits Times

(https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/coronavirus-tempers-rise-in-us-senate-as-vote-nears-on-us2-trillion-stimulus) 

3. The resignation of a Israel’s parliament speaker cleared the way for the opposition party’s presence in the parliament which deepened the political turmoil within the country. 

Source: Aljazeera

(https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/03/netanyahu-ally-resigns-deepening-israeli-political-turmoil-200325140143715.html) 

 

REGIONS

1. The US warships were reported sailing through the sensitive straits of Taiwan, following rising tension between Taiwan and China amid the coronavirus outbreak. 

Source: Reuters

(https://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-security-usa/u-s-warship-sails-through-taiwan-strait-amid-heightened-china-tensions-idUSKBN21D03V) 

2. President Xi said China is confident to step up coordination with other countries to contain the coronavirus pandemic. 

Source: Xinhua

(http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-03/26/c_138916905.htm) 

3. Singapore’s economy declined by 2.2 percent which is the biggest contradiction over the decade amid the coronavirus outbreak that causes the country to plan for a recession. 

Source: South China Morning Post

(https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3077021/singapore-braces-recession-after-economy-shrinks-more) 

4. The gunmen in Afghanistan claimed the responsbililty over the attack of 25 people due to the mistreatment on the Muslim people of Kashmir and threaten for further attack. 

Source: Channel News Asia

(https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/gunmen-in-afghanistan-kill-25-at-sikh-complex–islamic-state-claims-responsibility-12575502)

 

CAMBODIA

1. PM Hun Sen said he is considering requesting the King to impose a state of emergency if current measures are not effective to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Source: Thmey Thmey (https://cambodianess.com/article/hun-sen-contemplating-state-of-emergency) 

2. 3,000 schools and provincial education departments across the Kingdom are set to have access to free high-speed internet within five years, provided by Metfone.

Source: Khmer Times

(https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50705862/schools-to-have-high-speed-internet-access-by-2024/) 

3. Only 35 of 15000 migrant workers returned home from Thailand have been tested for coronavirus as the government admits the incapability to get everyone tested. 

Source: VOA

(https://www.voacambodia.com/a/5344353.html)

4. SPM, as the chairman of the national committee for combating COVID-19, said Cambodia will offer free treatment to the foreign and local patients of COVID-19. 

Source: Fresh News

(http://en.freshnewsasia.com/index.php/en/localnews/17495-2020-03-25-09-49-35.html)