Day: November 18, 2021

South Korea on Thursday reported nearly 3,300 new COVID-19 cases, the highest single-day spike since the country’s pandemic outbreak last year, local media reported.

According to the Yonhap News Agency, the country recorded 3,292 new cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the total caseload to 406,065, as the country battles the pandemic’s fourth wave.

The new spike broke the previous record of 3,270 COVID-19 cases in a single day on Sept. 25.

With 29 more fatalities, the death toll has now reached 3,187, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.

Since July 7, new infections have been rising in the country following the emergence of the Delta variant.

The capital Seoul, one of the country’s major COVID-19 hotspots, reported 1,423 cases in the past 24 hours, the second-highest number in a single day, putting pressure on already over-burdened hospitals as the bed occupancy rate in intensive care units for coronavirus patients crossed 80% in the city while standing at 63.8% for the entire country, according to report.

“As we’ve seen a growing number of cases mostly in high-risk facilities rather than among critically ill coronavirus patients, now is not the right time to strengthen social distancing rules,” Son Young-rae, a high-ranking official at the government agency, was quoted as saying by the agency.

Cases spiked after the government eased restrictions across the country under the “living with COVID-19” scheme on Nov. 1 to allow people to return to normal life, according to the report.

Under that scheme, the government allowed people to gather in groups of up to 10 in the capital and its surrounding areas, while the limit was raised to 12 in other parts of the country, regardless of vaccination.

Limits on working hours for businesses were also lifted, though people asked to continue wearing masks indoors.

When entering high-risk facilities such as pubs, nightclubs, and indoor gyms, visitors must show their immunization certificates or negative COVID-19 test results.

South Korea intends to lift all restrictions by the end of February of next year.

So far, 42.11 million people, or 82% of the country’s 52 million population, have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, while over 40.31 million, or 78.5% people, have been fully vaccinated, according to the agency.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Turkish security forces have neutralized five PKK terrorists in northern Iraq, the National Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

The terrorists were neutralized in airstrikes using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in a joint operation by the Turkish Armed Forces and the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) in the Hakurk region, according to the ministry, which also posted footage of the operation on Twitter.

Our fight against terrorism will continue effectively and decisively, it added.

Turkish authorities use the word “neutralize” to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

The PKK terror group often hides out in northern Iraq, just across Turkey’s southern border, to plot terror attacks in Turkey.

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and EU – has been responsible for the deaths of at least 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.

In recent years, Turkey has become a rising star in the global defense and aviation industry.

Turkey has several companies and brands such as Baykar and TAI, which produce UAVs using mostly local resources. Contracts for drone sales have been signed with countries including NATO member Poland.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko and outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday held another phone discussion on the migrant crisis on the Belarusian-Polish border.

The Belarus Presidency said Lukashenko and Merkel agreed on how to act in resolving the issue.

A statement said both leaders agreed that the problem will be brought up to the level of Belarus and the EU and the two sides will determine officials who will start negotiations on resolving the problem. The desire of refugees to go to Germany will also be addressed, it said.

Merkel informed Lukashenko of a request from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to participate in the process of international organizations dealing with the problems of refugees and migrants which are already cooperating with Belarus.

The two leaders first discussed the crisis on the Belarus-Polish border by phone on Nov. 15.

Lukashenko won presidential elections on Aug. 9, 2020, but the EU said it did not recognize the result because the election was rigged.

According to the EU, Belarus reaches out to potential travelers through seemingly official channels, including diplomatic missions and travel agencies, and invites them to Belarus by offering visas. They are then allegedly guided to the EU border.

NATO and the EU consider Belarus’ approach to migrants a hybrid attack meant to destabilize and undermine security in European countries through non-military means.

EU countries bordering Belarus — Lithuania, Latvia and Poland — have reported a dramatically growing number of irregular crossings since August.

More than 8,000 people have tried to enter the bloc via the Belarus-EU border in 2021, up sharply from just 150 last year.

At least 2,000 people, including women and children, have been stuck at the Belarusian-Polish border in dire conditions during the last week.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Wednesday that Israeli policies continue to undermine a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, local media reported.

Abbas met with US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield in the West Bank after her two-day visit to Israel.

According to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA, he said during the meeting that the Israeli practices of establishing illegal settlements, killing, confiscation of land, house demolitions and attempting to expel Palestinians from their homes in neighborhoods of Jerusalem all lead to dangerously undermining the two-state solution for which the US administration has announced its full support.

“We do not accept in any way the classification of six Palestinian civil society organizations as terrorist by the occupation authorities, and we do not accept the continued abuse of prisoners and the holding of the bodies of martyrs,” he said.

“In the event that the Israeli occupation authorities insist on denial of the signed agreements and moving away from the path of peace, we have options, and we will take measures that preserve the rights of our people and their national interests,” Abbas added.

“Today I met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. We discussed rebuilding the U.S.-Palestinian relationship, ensuring UNRWA lives up to its commitments, the importance of respecting human rights, and our shared commitment to a two-state solution,” Thomas-Greenfield said on Twitter.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Thousands of Argentines gathered Wednesday in the capital Buenos Aires in support of President Alberto Fernandez.

Supporters of the ruling Frente de Todos coalition mobilized in Plaza de Mayo in front of the Casa Rosada presidential building to mark the anniversary of the return of former President Juan Domingo Peron on Nov. 17, 1972 after 17 years of exile following a coup in 1955 in which he was overthrown.

President Fernandez took the opportunity to rebuff criticism from the opposition, saying “victory is not winning, but never giving up,” in reference to midterm legislative elections which his ruling coalition lost on Sunday.

“We got the message that was given to us. There is a lot to do. I have no doubt about it, and there are many who expect this government to do more than they did,” he added.

Referring to the general election, Fernandez said: “We have to do what is necessary to ensure a resounding victory in 2023. No one has beaten us. Only the one who loses the will to fight is defeated.”

The president also followed up on the need to reach an agreement with the opposition, although he excluded former President Mauricio Macri and far-right libertarian politician Javier Milei but will leave the door open for others.

“I have asked that we can build some basic policies together. If Macri doesn’t want to talk, let him be alone with his friends doing business. If Milei does not want to talk, let him stay locked up with his colleagues, who deny diversity and deny state terrorism. We have nothing to talk about with them,” said Fernández.

The opposition criticized the celebratory nature of the mobilization after the ruling coalition’s defeat.

President Peron was exiled to Spain following a coup d’état against his government in 1955.

He later returned to Argentina on Nov. 17, 1972 and won the 1973 elections.

Each year on Nov. 17, those sympathetic to Peron in the country mark the day known in Spanish as ‘Día de la Militancia.’

Peronism, an Argentine political and social movement based on the ideas and legacy of Peron, has been deeply interwoven into Argentina’s political landscape ever since he first came to power in 1943.

It continues to play an important role in the country’s politics, unifying many sectors of society as a social movement.

As a political party, it is widely regarded for championing workers’ rights, supporting labor unions and focusing on national industry.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Some 65 bodies have been found in a hidden mass grave in Mexico, local media reported Wednesday.

The bodies were found in a secret grave in the city of Alvarado.

Police confirmed the total figure, adding that the corpses were exhumed in the presence of the prosecutor and police officers.

It is estimated that the victims were killed between 2011 and 2012 in a showdown between gangs.

Personal belongings such as bank cards and identity information were found on the bodies.

Searches for the causes of death of the victims will continue, reports added.

The states of Veracruz, Sinaloa, Colima, Guerrero and Sonora are listed as the places where the most hidden mass graves were discovered in the country, according to the Ministry of the Interior’s National Search Commission data.

According to the reports of the search commission in Mexico, 94,500 people have been reported missing in the country.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Thousands of migrants continue to wait in the freezing cold at camps they set up on the border between Belarus and Poland in the hope of crossing into the EU.

Along the border just west of the Belarusian city of Grodno, migrants who came with visas from Iraq languish in the camps and logistics centers at the border crossing point.

Some of the migrant groups, which include women and children, make attempts to enter Polish territory from time to time.

According to the Belarusian State Border Committee, Lithuanian border guards made a brutal attempt early Wednesday to push Iraqi citizens back into Belarusian territory in the Klevitsa border area.

Footage shows the border guards severely beating a migrant lying on the ground and then setting a dog on him. The dog bit his leg and started tearing apart his sleeping bag, the committee added.

According to the European Union, Belarus reaches out to potential travelers through seemingly official channels, including diplomatic missions and travel agencies, and invites them to Belarus by offering visas. They are then allegedly guided to the EU border.

NATO and the EU consider Belarus’ approach towards migrants a hybrid attack meant to destabilize and undermine security in European countries through non-military means.

The EU countries bordering Belarus – Lithuania, Latvia and Poland – have reported a dramatically growing number of irregular crossings since August.

Over 8,000 people have tried to enter the bloc via the Belarus-EU border so far this year, up sharply from just 150 last year.

At least 2,000 people, including women and children, have been stuck in the Belarusian-Polish border area in dire conditions over the last week.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Turkish rider Toprak Razgatlioglu will look to clinch the 2021 Superbike World Championship title this weekend in Indonesia.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Razgatlioglu hopes to return to Turkey as champions, adding, “If we become champions here, we will make history.”

“The last, but certainly not the least, is to have champions trophy when I return home.” The 25-year-old rider dedicates his achievements deceased father.

“Since I was a child, my deceased dad believed that I would be the world champion,” Razgatlioglu said.

“This year, we won 13 championships in different countries. I wish my father could see my achievements. That’s why I want to receive championship title for my father,” he added.

Having 531 points, Razgatlioglu is 30 points ahead of second-place Jonathan Rea, the British racer of the Kawasaki team.

Making his racing debut in 2018, he reached the podium 52 times and won 18 races to include 15 second-place finishes during his career, as he claimed 13 out of 35 races this season.

Razgatlioglu has qualified on the pole position two times this year.

There are two rounds in Indonesia. Race 1 will start at 0630 GMT on Saturday, while Race 2 will be held at the same time on Sunday at Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Although the southern African country of Zimbabwe had succeeded to decrease open defecation from 30.6% in 2000 to 23.5% in 2020, hordes of residents in the capital Harare are off late facing the challenge to relieve themselves, as public toilets have been locked due to water scarcity.

On eve of World Toilet Day, which is being observed on Friday, Shonani Musindo, 27, a resident, told Anadolu Agency that the situation has worsened due to the water shortage. The alleys and pavements in the city have turned open defecation places for the desperate people in absence of toilets.

With no water available for toilets even in the homes, Benson Chikwekwe, 33, living in Harare’s Dzivarasekwa Extension high-density suburb, said most of the residents have been forced to switch to the bucket system. They are relieving themselves in buckets in their homes and dumping the waste at times in the open or in drainage systems near their homes.

Melford Muchayiwa, another resident, said he just sneaks into the nearby bushes each time he has to relieve because there is no water most of the time in the toilet at home.

Dewa Mavhinga, Southern Africa director with the Human Rights Watch, has urged the government to prioritize the restoration of sanitation infrastructure to check the practice of open defecation.

Many city dwellers around informal settlements have resorted to building pit latrine toilets to cope with the deteriorating sanitary systems.

As desperate people turn to pavements in downtown Harare to relieve themselves, it is causing stink everywhere.

An on-the-spot visit by the Anadolu Agency found just one functioning public toilet in Harare’s Mbare township, but it also neither had sinks nor a flushing system.

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has reminded the government to scale up efforts to address the sanitation problem in urban and rural communities.

Reuben Akili, program manager for the Combined Harare Residents Trust, blamed the lack of running water for the absence of toilets.

“The causative issue is lack of access to water. Public toilets in the city center or high-density areas are always closed each time there’s no water,” he said.

In the wake of mounting water crises, some of the public toilets have been adopted by local businesses. The Batanai Affirmative Youths Trust, a voluntary group, has also started a project to adopt a public toilet at the bus terminal at Highfield’s Machipisa shopping center.

But there are many areas like Sunridge and Marimba where toilets continue to be closed for the public.

Source: Anadolu Agency