Daughter of Philippine President Duterte to run for vice president

Today's news: Biden's first meeting with Xi Jinping will be held online on Monday; meanwhile, Japan and the US agreed to realize a visit to the United States by Japanese Prime Minister Kishida; Malaysia's Covid-19 cases could rise dramatically again after the reopening of borders; Russia has called for the dissolution of an association that collects testimony on the persecution of Soviet dissidents.

PHILIPPINES

The daughter of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has filed her candidacy for vice president with the Lakas-CMD party ahead of elections in May 2022. Sara Duterte-Carpio has thus renounced her candidacy for mayor of Davao. The constitution prevents her father from running for another presidential term.

MALAYSIA

A month after reopening its borders and allowing domestic travel within the country, Malaysia reported an R0 (Covid-19 infectivity rate) of 1. The Ministry of Health reported that the number of new cases could rise again.

CHINA - UNITED STATES

The first meeting between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping will take place online Monday evening. According to a White House note, the two leaders will “discuss ways to responsibly manage the competition between the United States and the PRC, as well as ways to work together where our interests align”. China's Foreign Minister warned the US not to encourage Taiwan's pro-independence forces.

JAPAN - UNITED STATES

The Taiwan Strait has been the focus of talks between Japan's new Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who today agreed to a visit by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to the United States. In Hayashi's first talks with a foreign counterpart since taking office Wednesday, the two diplomats also agreed to strengthen their bilateral alliance and make efforts for a free Indo-Pacific region against China’s assertiveness.

INDIA

New Delhi's extremely high pollution levels have forced people to wear masks even at home. The Supreme Court has ordered the development of an emergency plan to improve air quality. Smog increases between October and November due to traffic, unfavourable winds and stubble burned by farmers in areas around the capital.

PAKISTAN

Yesterday Islamabad tested the first home food delivery by drone. For Foodpanda, Pakistan's main food delivery company, it is an opportunity to reach remote areas, far from urban centres.

RUSSIA

The Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation has requested the dissolution of the association "Memorial", which for thirty years has been collecting testimonies on the persecution of Soviet dissidents, on the charge of being a "foreign agent". The members of Memorial have long been asking to be recognized as a legitimate organization, whose funding at home and abroad is in line with all forms of remembrance of persecution according to international law.

SYRIA

Water shortages in the Euphrates caused by climate change are exacerbating an already critical situation due to conflict and the pandemic. Water levels in dams are so low that families cannot get more than two hours of electricity a day. More than five million people rely on the river for their livelihoods.