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Archive

World

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Seychelles tourism revenues down 61pc in 2020 due to COVID
Africa

Seychelles tourism revenues down 61pc in 2020 due to COVID

  • Seychelles' economy relies heavily on tourism, which was hard hit in 2020 as COVID-19 led to travel restrictions worldwide to contain its spread.
  • Hassan said this in turn had led to tax revenue shortfalls in funding the 2021 budget of $519 million that he presented to parliament on Tuesday.
Updated 16 Feb, 2021 09:56pm
Saudi Arabia eyes Dubai's crown with HQ ultimatum
Middle East

Saudi Arabia eyes Dubai's crown with HQ ultimatum

  • Saudi crown prince pushes social and economic change.
  • Dubai's glitzy reputation has long attracted investors.
  • From 2024, no new Saudi contracts without a local HQ.
  • UAE commercial hub takes Saudi business pitch seriously.
Updated 16 Feb, 2021 09:56pm
EU adds anti-variant clauses to new COVID vaccine supply deals
Europe

EU adds anti-variant clauses to new COVID vaccine supply deals

  • More contagious mutations are spreading fast in the EU and across the world, with the so-called British variant seen by experts as likely to become prevalent on the continent.
  • Vaccine makers are testing their shots against variants and are also working on tweaks that could make them more effective against virus mutations.
Updated 16 Feb, 2021 09:54pm
Germany plans to offer free rapid coronavirus tests from March 1
Europe

Germany plans to offer free rapid coronavirus tests from March 1

  • Jens Spahn said rapid antigen tests were now sufficiently available on the market to enable local test centres and pharmacies to offer the tests for free.
  • Spahn also wants to make tests that can be conducted at home available to everyone once they have been approved by regulators.
Published 16 Feb, 2021 08:07pm
China's ambassador to Myanmar says situation 'not what China wants to see'
South Asia

China's ambassador to Myanmar says situation 'not what China wants to see'

  • China nonetheless agreed to a UN Security Council statement that called for the release of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other detainees and voiced concern over the state of emergency.
  • Many countries in transition are overcoming difficulties and challenges through their own efforts, and exploring development paths suitable for their own circumstances.
Published 16 Feb, 2021 07:49pm
Iran, Russia navies start exercises in Indian Ocean
South Asia

Iran, Russia navies start exercises in Indian Ocean

  • Iran has recently conducted several military exercises as it tries to push the United States to return to the 2015 nuclear agreement.
  • The drills also included "a variety of defensive formations towards the key part of the exercises which will be to free a merchant vessel attacked by pirates.
Published 16 Feb, 2021 06:53pm
Germany dashes hopes of businesses for quick reopening of economy
Europe

Germany dashes hopes of businesses for quick reopening of economy

  • The minister said he recognised that lots of businesses were desperate for a prospect of an end to the current lockdown.
  • The number of new daily infections in Germany has been falling in recent weeks, down to 3,856 on Tuesday, or a national incidence of 59 cases per 100,000.
Published 16 Feb, 2021 06:27pm
Turkey could discuss easing COVID-19 curbs by region
Europe

Turkey could discuss easing COVID-19 curbs by region

  • It was unclear when restrictions adopted in December could be eased or whether final decisions on the plan would be taken this week.
  • Easing of some restrictions in some provinces will be discussed, for example steps such as shortening the curfews and opening of restaurants and cafes under guidelines, especially in big cities, could be taken.
Published 16 Feb, 2021 06:04pm
Albania gets 7,020 more Pfizer shots, expects AstraZeneca in April
Europe

Albania gets 7,020 more Pfizer shots, expects AstraZeneca in April

  • Albania launched its inoculation programme in early January with only 975 Pfizer/BionTech shots that were donated from an unspecified EU country.
  • Today we have got a written confirmation from a friendly country for 360,000 vaccines of AstraZeneca that will roll out in April.
Published 16 Feb, 2021 05:54pm
Israel blocks shipment of Sputnik V vaccine to the Gaza Strip
Middle East

Israel blocks shipment of Sputnik V vaccine to the Gaza Strip

  • Israel has blocked 1000 doses of the Russian-made Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, intended for frontline medical workers and key personnel in the tumultuous Gaza Strip.
  • The Gaza Strip has yet to any vaccines, with over 53,000 cases and 537 deaths since the start of the pandemic, and limited support in the management of this public health crisis.
Updated 16 Feb, 2021 06:25pm
First 550,000 doses of Chinese Sinopharm's vaccine arrive in Hungary
Europe

First 550,000 doses of Chinese Sinopharm's vaccine arrive in Hungary

  • The shots will be offered for use as soon as the authorities have inspected the shipment, the head of the epidemiology department at the National Public Health Centre.
  • In a bid to boost public trust in the Chinese vaccines, government officials point out that neighbouring Serbia, which has a large ethnic Hungarian minority, has been using the Sinopharm shots for weeks.
Published 16 Feb, 2021 05:49pm
Morocco receives second batch of 500,000 Sinopharm doses
Africa

Morocco receives second batch of 500,000 Sinopharm doses

  • The 1 million Sinopharm doses add to 6 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured by India's Serum Institute which Morocco has received so far.
  • Morocco has ordered 66 million doses of the vaccines, which require two doses per person, under plans to inoculate 80% of its 36 million-strong population for free.
Published 16 Feb, 2021 05:25pm
Dented by COVID-19, Israeli economy dips 2.4pc in 2020
Middle East

Dented by COVID-19, Israeli economy dips 2.4pc in 2020

  • It was the first time the economy had shrunk since a marginal decline in 2002, but Israel in 2020 outperformed a 5.5% average contraction in OECD countries.
  • The economy, which grew 3.4% in 2019, had been expected to shrink 3.3% to 3.7% in 2020 based on government and central bank estimates because of COVID-19.
Published 16 Feb, 2021 05:16pm
India detects South African, Brazilian COVID variants
South Asia

India detects South African, Brazilian COVID variants

  • There are no direct flights from South Africa or Brazil, so the health ministry and the civil aviation ministry are in touch on the steps to be taken on the matter.
  • India's COVID-19 cases rose by 9,121 in the past 24 hours, taking the total to 10.93 million, second only to the tally of the United States. Deaths rose by 81 to 155,813.
Updated 16 Feb, 2021 05:15pm
Myanmar military guarantees new election; protesters block train services
Asia

Myanmar military guarantees new election; protesters block train services

  • Myanmar’s military on Tuesday guaranteed that it would hold an election and hand power to the winner, denying that its ouster of an elected government was a coup and denouncing protesters for inciting violence and intimidating civil servants.
  • The military has not given a date for a new election but it has imposed a state of emergency for one year. Zaw Min Tun said the military would not hold power for long.
Updated 16 Feb, 2021 03:36pm
NATO says will not withdraw forces from Afghanistan ‘before time is right’
South Asia

NATO says will not withdraw forces from Afghanistan ‘before time is right’

  • According to Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of NATO, the multilateral military alliance will not withdraw its forces from Afghanistan "before the time is right", after nearly two decades of involvement in the country's fight against terrorism.
  • The NATO Chief made these comments ahead of a virtual conference this week, which will signify the alliance's highest-level talks with the Biden Administration, after four years of tense relations under President Trump.
Updated 16 Feb, 2021 02:34pm