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Archive

World

Thursday, March 4, 2021

Mali, Emirates facilitated Venezuelan gold trade in 2020, opposition says
USA

Mali, Emirates facilitated Venezuelan gold trade in 2020, opposition says

  • The gold was refined in Mali and then resold primarily in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to allow for Maduro's administration to obtain the equivalent of at least $1 billion in euros in particular.
  • We are requesting that US and European authorities make their system for dismantling these types of organized crime groups more sophisticated.
Updated 04 Mar, 2021 09:53pm
Brazil Senate cues up more pandemic aid for poor families
USA

Brazil Senate cues up more pandemic aid for poor families

  • An initial Senate vote on Thursday approved the bill 62-16, and a final vote in the upper house is expected to pass easily.
  • The government said it plans a monthly stipend of 250 reais ($45) for four months once the bill clears the lower house.
Updated 04 Mar, 2021 09:52pm
France looks to ease family gifting rules to reduce savings glut
Europe

France looks to ease family gifting rules to reduce savings glut

  • Like many countries, France has seen a surge in savings during the coronavirus crisis due to various restrictions on movement that prevented people from spending in bars, restaurants, cultural venues and on trips.
  • The central bank estimated last month that households had built savings in excess of what could be expected under normal circumstances of up 120 billion euros ($144.4 billion) last year.
Updated 04 Mar, 2021 09:52pm
US factory orders surge, but business spending on equipment slowing
USA

US factory orders surge, but business spending on equipment slowing

  • The Commerce Department said on Thursday that factory orders shot up 2.6% after rising 1.6% in December. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast factory orders advancing 2.1% in January. Orders increased 1.3% on a year-on-year basis.
  • Unfilled orders at factories edged up 0.1% in January after decreasing 0.2% in December.
Updated 04 Mar, 2021 09:52pm
Kremlin dismisses US call to destroy chemical weapons, says it has none
Europe

Kremlin dismisses US call to destroy chemical weapons, says it has none

  • Washington announced sanctions that day on senior Russian government officials and Russian entities in response to what US officials said was Moscow's attempt to kill Navalny with a nerve agent.
  • "Such statements are devoid of logic and grounds and are nothing more than an attempt to unsuccessfully camouflage their policy to further contain Russia," he said.
Updated 04 Mar, 2021 09:52pm
Most African countries to begin vaccination drives by end of March: WHO
Africa

Most African countries to begin vaccination drives by end of March: WHO

  • The world's poorest continent faces logistical and financial obstacles to securing all the vaccines it needs, but the WHO-led COVAX facility has begun to bear fruit.
  • This week Africa has been at the forefront of COVAX facility deliveries, finally, with almost 10 million vaccine doses being delivered to 11 countries as of this morning.
Updated 04 Mar, 2021 09:51pm
Philippines receives its first AztraZeneca vaccines under COVAX
South Asia

Philippines receives its first AztraZeneca vaccines under COVAX

  • The country hopes to get a total of 4.58 million doses of AstraZeneca shots via COVAX by May, and the newly arrived 487,200 doses are the initial shipment.
  • "With every dose that we will administer, we are inching towards a safer recovery from this pandemic," Health Secretary Francisco Duque said in a statement.
Published 04 Mar, 2021 07:27pm
Sweden registers 4,838 new COVID-19 cases, 13 deaths on Thursday
Europe

Sweden registers 4,838 new COVID-19 cases, 13 deaths on Thursday

  • The country of 10 million inhabitants registered 13 new deaths, taking the total to 12,977. The deaths registered have occurred over several days and sometimes weeks.
  • Sweden's death rate per capita is many times higher than that of its Nordic neighbours' but lower than in several European countries that opted for lockdowns.
Published 04 Mar, 2021 07:25pm
Biden says he will sign election reform bill
USA

Biden says he will sign election reform bill

  • I look forward to signing it into law ... so that together we can strengthen and restore American democracy for the next election and all those to come.
  • The bill must still clear a divided US Senate.
Published 04 Mar, 2021 07:14pm
Britain told EU about post-Brexit trade move earlier this week: PM's spokesman
Europe

Britain told EU about post-Brexit trade move earlier this week: PM's spokesman

  • We notified the European Commission at official level earlier this week, we also informed the Irish government earlier this week, and then Lord Frost last night in his call with Sefcovic obviously discussed this at length and set out the rationale and reasons for it.
  • These types of operational measures are well precedented and common in other international trade agreements and are entirely consistent with our intention to fulfill our obligations under the protocol in good faith.
Published 04 Mar, 2021 07:09pm
Sudan to start vaccine rollout next week after getting COVAX doses
Africa

Sudan to start vaccine rollout next week after getting COVAX doses

  • Sudan says it expects to receive the remainder of a total 3.4 million doses through COVAX, a vaccine-sharing programme co-led by the World Health Organization, in the second quarter of this year.
  • "This is an essential part of our battle against coronavirus," Health Minister Omer Elnageib said.
Published 04 Mar, 2021 07:03pm
Sweden recommends AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for over 65s
Europe

Sweden recommends AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for over 65s

  • There are new studies, from England and Scotland for instance, showing that Astrazeneca's vaccine offers a very good protection in these age groups.
  • Sweden, which has avoided imposing throughout the pandemic, registered 4,838 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, health agency statistics showed.
Updated 04 Mar, 2021 09:54pm
Ukraine confirms two cases of British coronavirus variant
Europe

Ukraine confirms two cases of British coronavirus variant

  • The official said tests were taken on Feb. 18-19, while Ukrainian health authorities earlier this week said there was no such variant in the country.
  • Ukraine has faced a sharp jump in coronavirus cases in recent weeks, which Prime Minister Denys Shmygal called a "third wave" of the pandemic.
Updated 04 Mar, 2021 09:53pm
US weekly jobless claims increase less than expected
USA

US weekly jobless claims increase less than expected

  • Initial claims for state unemployment benefits totaled a seasonally adjusted 745,000 for the week ended Feb. 27, compared to 736,000 in the prior week.
  • Stormy weather in the South left large parts of Texas without power or water for days. The deep freeze shut oil production and refineries in Texas, the biggest producer of natural gas and oil in the United States.
Updated 04 Mar, 2021 09:53pm
Poland says looser coronavirus restrictions possible in May
Europe

Poland says looser coronavirus restrictions possible in May

  • Poland's new daily coronavirus cases will reach 15,250 on Thursday, he said, having jumped to 15,698 on Wednesday in one of the biggest spikes since November.
  • "If we see the peak of the pandemic at the cusp of March and April then we probably have a loosening path ahead of us."
Published 04 Mar, 2021 06:25pm
Rio de Janeiro announces curfew as Brazil battles brutal COVID wave
USA

Rio de Janeiro announces curfew as Brazil battles brutal COVID wave

  • The city of 6.7 million people will impose a curfew from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. and order restaurants to close at 5 p.m., while certain businesses, such as clubs, will be shut altogether.
  • While COVID-19 deaths and infections are falling globally, that is not the case in Brazil, where a record 1,910 people died from the virus on Wednesday.
Published 04 Mar, 2021 06:20pm
EU says no talks under way to buy Russia's COVID-19 vaccine
Europe

EU says no talks under way to buy Russia's COVID-19 vaccine

  • "Currently no talks are ongoing to integrate the Sputnik vaccine in the portfolio," a Commission spokesman told a news conference.
  • Earlier on Thursday, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said it had begun a rolling review of the Sputnik V vaccine, which could lead to its approval for use in all 27 EU countries.
Published 04 Mar, 2021 06:15pm
Kenya's 2021/22 budget deficit target must not exceed 7.5% of GDP
Africa

Kenya's 2021/22 budget deficit target must not exceed 7.5% of GDP

  • It also recommended that the finance ministry restructure some state-owned companies, especially highly indebted ones, with the aim of privatising some of them by the end of 2021/22.
  • The committee urges the National Treasury to commit to strict adherence ... in order to avoid expanding the deficit while at the same time protecting the key growth sectors.
Published 04 Mar, 2021 06:07pm
EU to extend COVID vaccine export controls to end of June
Europe

EU to extend COVID vaccine export controls to end of June

  • The mechanism was set up at the end of January as a reaction to vaccine makers' announcements of delays in the deliveries of COVID-19 vaccines to the EU.
  • It is due to expire at the end of March, but the European Commission wants to extend it through June, the two officials said.=
Published 04 Mar, 2021 06:05pm
Germany approves AstraZeneca for over-65s
Europe

Germany approves AstraZeneca for over-65s

  • It added that the Permanent Vaccination authority recommended extending to the maximum 12 weeks the period between receiving the first and second doses of the vaccine.
  • "This is good news for older people who are waiting for a vaccine. They can now be vaccinated more quickly," the ministry said.
Published 04 Mar, 2021 06:01pm
EU suspends development funds in Myanmar after coup
South Asia

EU suspends development funds in Myanmar after coup

  • The 27-nation bloc informed a committee of the World Trade Organization on Thursday that it had put on hold all development cooperation that would support the military authorities, a Geneva-based trade official said.
  • The European Commission, the EU executive, confirmed it had put on hold the budgetary support, which has typically gone to schools, elections and rural development and is worth hundreds of millions of euros over several years.
Published 04 Mar, 2021 05:57pm
Iran giving encouraging signs about resuming nuclear diplomacy
South Asia

Iran giving encouraging signs about resuming nuclear diplomacy

  • The source added that European powers Britain, France and Germany have decided to pause the submission of a resolution critical of Iran at the International Atomic Energy Agency in order to give diplomacy a chance and not harm the prospects of an informal nuclear meeting.
Published 04 Mar, 2021 05:56pm
Erdogan urges lifting US sanctions on Iran, return to JCPOA
Europe

Erdogan urges lifting US sanctions on Iran, return to JCPOA

  • Tehran and Washington have said they want the other side to move first to hold talks to salvage the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), under which Tehran secured an easing of sanctions by limiting its nuclear work.
  • Last month, Erdogan told Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in a phone call that he saw a window of opportunity for Iran and the United States, adding he wanted US sanctions on Tehran to be lifted.
Published 04 Mar, 2021 05:54pm
US and UK agree to suspend tariffs and seek aircraft row resolution
USA

US and UK agree to suspend tariffs and seek aircraft row resolution

  • The Donald Trump administration had imposed tariffs on an array of EU food, wine and spirits, including on Scotch whisky, which the industry says are putting its future at risk.
  • The United Kingdom and the United States are undertaking a four-month tariff suspension to ease the burden on industry and take a bold, joint step towards resolving the longest running disputes at the World Trade Organization.
Published 04 Mar, 2021 05:29pm
Hate Crimes Targeting Asian-Americans Spiked by 150% in 2020
USA

Hate Crimes Targeting Asian-Americans Spiked by 150% in 2020

  • Hate-fuelled attacks on Asian Americans spiked across the United States in 2020, despite the onset of a global pandemic, as according to official police statistics, this alarming trend is continuing this year.
  • In 2020, there were 122 incidents of hate crimes directed towards the Asian-American community, which constituted an increase of almost 150%.
Updated 04 Mar, 2021 04:50pm
EU commission seeks to tackle gender pay gap
World

EU commission seeks to tackle gender pay gap

  • "Through the introduction of rules on pay transparency and a mechanism to enforce it, workers will have the tools to get the necessary information on potential pay differentials," Dalli said.
Published 04 Mar, 2021 10:50am
Defiant Sarkozy on offensive after graft conviction
World

Defiant Sarkozy on offensive after graft conviction

  • With three other legal cases pending against him, Monday's conviction deals a blow to any hope Sarkozy has of making another political comeback after a failed bid to win a presidential nomination in 2016.
Published 04 Mar, 2021 10:36am
ICC opens Israeli-Palestinians war crimes probe
World

ICC opens Israeli-Palestinians war crimes probe

  • Gambian-born Bensouda said the formal investigation followed a "painstaking" five-year preliminary probe, and vowed it would be conducted "independently, impartially and objectively, without fear or favour."
Published 04 Mar, 2021 10:31am
Kuwait forms new govt
Middle East

Kuwait forms new govt

KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait's ruler Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad Al-Sabah greenlighted Wednesday the Gulf country's new cabinet...
Updated 04 Mar, 2021 09:38am