Coronavirus: Outbreak puts wildlife markets in the spotlight

A month after WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic, Al Jazeera visits ‘wet’ markets, whose trade is blamed for the outbreak.

A warning, viewers may find some of the images in Jessica Washington’s report disturbing.

The pandemic has put the spotlight on Asia’s wet markets – or markets where wildlife is sold for food or medicine – and the risks they pose.

Scientists believe the coronavirus originated in a seafood market in Wuhan where wild animals were also being sold.

Al Jazeera’s Jessica Washington reports from Jakarta, Indonesia.

Malaysia reports 184 new coronavirus cases, death toll rises by 3

KUALA LUMPUR (REUTERS) – Malaysian health authorities reported 184 additional confirmed cases of the new coronavirus on Saturday (April 11), raising the cumulative tally to 4,530, the highest number for any country in South-east Asia.

The latest data includes three new deaths, raising total fatalities from the outbreak to 73.

The ministry said 44 per cent of all confirmed cases have recovered.

Coronavirus lockdown eases in China

The Chinese city of Wuhan, once the epicentre of the outbreak, has eased restrictions this week.

The novel coronavirus was first detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan last December.

Since then, it has spread across the world, infecting and killing thousands and forcing cities into lockdown.

A month after it was declared a global pandemic, China is now easing restrictions as some of its neighbours continue to battle the contagion.

Al Jazeera’s Katrina Yu reports from Beijing, China.

Katyn massacre: Tensions continue between Russia and Poland

Why plans to mark the end of World War II are renewing tensions between Poland and Russia.

Tensions between Poland and Russia are rising ahead of events planned to mark the end of World War II.

Warsaw is accusing Moscow of trying to rewrite history as it remembers the thousands of Polish officers and intelligentsia murdered by Soviet secret police 80 years ago.

Al Jazeera’s Step Vaessen reports from Russia’s Katyn forest where the massacre took place.

Aramco Delays Oil Pricing Statement as OPEC+ Talks Continue

Saudi Arabia is pushing back a key decision on pricing for its crude exports as the kingdom seeks to commit global producers to a massive coordinated supply cut.

State producer Saudi Aramco is set to decide on and announce pricing for May crude exports on Sunday, according to people with knowledge of the situation. The official selling prices, or OSPs, were meant to be released April 5 before twice being delayed to allow producers time to discuss output cuts amid demand destruction due to the coronavirus.

Aramco didn’t immediately comment on the delay.

Talks among global producers aimed at securing curbs of 10 million barrels a day are entering their third day Saturday. Saudi Arabia convened OPEC+ members Thursday, hosted a conference call of G-20 energy ministers Friday and is set to speak with U.S. and Mexican officials Saturday. The meetings that stretched overnight failed to overcome Mexican resistance to the proposed reductions.

Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau Volcano Has Longest Eruption Since 2018

Jakarta, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau volcano spewed a column of ash 500 meters (1,640 feet) into the sky in the longest eruption since the explosive collapse of the island caused a deadly tsunami in 2018, scientists said Saturday.

Closed-circuit TV from Indonesia’s Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation showed lava flares Friday night.

The agency said that the volcano was continuously erupting until Saturday morning. A level 2 alert status remained in place, the second-highest on a scale of four.

There were no casualties reported. The 2018 eruption caused a tsunami along the coasts of Sumatra and Java, killing 430 people.

Anak Krakatau, which means Child of Kratakau, is the offspring of the famous Krakatau volcano, whose monumental eruption in 1883 triggered a period of global cooling.

Donald Trump accused of fanning hatred by former diplomat over election attack ad

Donald Trump has been accused of “fanning hatred” after a re-election attack advert wrongly suggested a former US ambassador to Beijing was a Chinese official.

Gary Locke, who held the top diplomatic post during Barack Obama’s administration and also served as commerce secretary, was born in Washington and was governor of the state for eight years.

In a statement, Mr Locke, 70, said: “President Trump and his team are fanning hatred and it needs to stop now.

South Asia braces for coronavirus

Concerns have been growing about the toll the coronavirus could take in the region.

With many of its countries already struggling to provide adequate healthcare to their populations, South Asia is feared by many to be the next coronavirus hotspot.

With a dense population of nearly two billion people, of whom hundreds of thousands are refugees, many are concerned that even the measures authorities are taking will not be enough.

Al Jazeera’s Mohammed Jamjoom takes a look at how the region is dealing with the challenge.

Coronavirus: Middle East faces uncertainty amid armed conflicts

Regional governments have imposed restrictions, curfews or border closures, but the effectiveness is yet to be seen.

Governments across the Middle East and North Africa have taken drastic measures to curb the spread of coronavirus.

But with a looming economic crisis in some countries and armed conflicts in others, the region faces a great deal of uncertainty.

Al Jazeera’s Hashem Ahelbarra reports.