News Archives for World - 2021-03-13

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Europe

Three health workers who received AstraZeneca vaccine in hospital with ‘unusual’ symptoms, Norway says

"We do not know if the cases are linked to the vaccine," Sigurd Hortemo, a senior doctor at the Norwegian Medicines Agency told a news conference held jointly with the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.
The European medicine regulator EMA would investigate the three incidents, Hortemo added.

Updated 13 Mar, 2021 09:10pm

USA

Colombia reports first death from Brazilian COVID variant

Brazil has registered more than 275,000 deaths from COVID-19, second only to the United States.
A new case of the P1 variant was detected in an older adult in Bogota with multiple comorbidities who had not traveled. They were hospitalized and died Jan. 28, 2021.

Updated 13 Mar, 2021 09:10pm

Europe

Dutch coronavirus cases rise by more than 6,000 in 24 hours

The figures published by the National Institute for Health (RIVM) follow several weeks of stability. The RIVM has said it expects a third wave of infections driven by variant strains of the coronavirus.

Updated 13 Mar, 2021 09:10pm

South Asia

Austria's Kurz, other leaders seek EU discussion on vaccine distribution

In recent days ... we have discovered that ... deliveries of vaccine doses by pharma companies to individual EU member states are not being implemented on an equal basis following the pro rata population key.
"We therefore call on you, Charles, to hold a discussion on this important matter among leaders as soon as possible."

Updated 13 Mar, 2021 09:10pm

USA

Mexico gets shipment of million vaccine doses from China's Sinovac

Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said earlier in the week that Mexico was upping its orders from China to make up for a vaccine shortfall and would request 22 million more doses.
Mexico ordered an additional 10 million doses of Sinovac, in addition to the previously ordered 10 million doses, which are due to arrive between March and May.

Updated 13 Mar, 2021 09:10pm

USA

US airport passengers hit highest level since March 2020

COVID-19 has devastated air travel demand, with US airline passenger demand down 60% in 2020 and down 63% in January.
But with a growing number of Americans getting vaccinated, demand and advanced bookings have started to rise in recent weeks. Friday's numbers were still down 38% over pre-COVID-19 levels.

Updated 13 Mar, 2021 09:09pm

Europe

German COVID cases could revisit December peak in April

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases predicted that the number of daily reported cases could exceed 30,000 in the 14th week of the year starting April 12.
"An extrapolation of the trends shows that case numbers can be expected above the Christmas level from week 14 onwards," the RKI said in its current situation report.

Updated 13 Mar, 2021 09:09pm

South Asia

Sri Lanka to ban burqa, shut many Islamic schools, minister says

Minister for public security Sarath Weerasekera told a news conference he had signed a paper on Friday for cabinet approval to ban the full face covering worn by some Muslim women on "national security" grounds.
"Nobody can open a school and teach whatever you want to the children," he said.

Updated 13 Mar, 2021 09:09pm

Europe

Irish foreign minister says UK guilty of 'perverse nationalism' over US trade

This idea that Britain can get there first is narrow minded thinking, frankly. It's a perverse nationalism when actually Britain and the EU should work together as partners.
It has reinforced an awful lot of the doubts in Brussels about whether or not this really is a British government we can rely on to be a trusted partner when it comes to implementing what has already been agreed.

Updated 13 Mar, 2021 09:09pm

South Asia

China streamlines visas for own vaccine recipients in Hong Kong

Foreign travellers who have been vaccinated with non-Chinese vaccines will continue to be required to present negative nucleic acid tests and a health and travel declaration form, the statement said.
It was not immediately clear if the simplified procedures will be available to foreigners applying for visas outside of Hong Kong.

Updated 13 Mar, 2021 09:09pm

Europe

German experts warn against lockdown easing as cases jump

"We can only have more relaxation if there are stable or falling case numbers," Karl Lauterbach.
On Saturday, the number of COVID-19 cases rose by 12,674 and the death toll was up 239, with the number of cases per 100,000 over seven days jumping to 76.1 from 72.4.

Updated 13 Mar, 2021 09:09pm

Europe

Lukashenko says Belarus may submit new Eurovision entry after backlash

Eurovision's organisers, the European Broadcasting Union, on Thursday threatened Belarus with disqualification if it did not submit a modified version of the entry or submit a new song.
"They are starting to press us on all fronts. Even at Eurovision, I see," Lukashenko said, in his first public comments about the row.

Updated 13 Mar, 2021 09:08pm

USA

Bolivia political tensions reignite with arrest of ex-President Anez

The move marks an escalation of hostilities between the current leftist administration and more conservative political opponents they accuse of ousting long-term leader Evo Morales.
"The political persecution has begun," Anez said on Twitter on Friday ahead of her dawn arrest. "The MAS has decided to return to the styles of the dictatorship."

Updated 13 Mar, 2021 09:08pm

Middle East

Jordan health minister resigns after oxygen outage kills six patients

The oxygen failure earlier on Saturday hit intensive care, maternity, and coronavirus wards in the new Salt government hospital west of the capital Amman.
Obeidat said initial investigations showed the six deaths were caused by a one hour disruption in oxygen to the wards and that prosecutors were handling the case.

Updated 13 Mar, 2021 09:08pm

Europe

G7 expresses 'grave concerns' over electoral changes in Hong Kong

We also call on China and the Hong Kong authorities to restore confidence in Hong Kong's political institutions and end the unwarranted oppression of those who promote democratic values and the defence of rights and freedoms.
"China must act in accordance with its legal obligations and respect fundamental rights and freedoms in Hong Kong," Raab added.

Updated 13 Mar, 2021 09:08pm

Europe

Russia detains around 150 people, including leading opposition figures, at Moscow meeting

OVD-Info, which monitors the detention of political protesters and activists, published a list of more than 150 people it said had been detained.
"The police came to the forum of municipal deputies in Moscow. There are 150 people here from all over the country. Everyone is being detained. I mean, everyone," opposition politician Ilya Yashin wrote on Twitter.

Updated 13 Mar, 2021 09:08pm

World

WHO insists AstraZeneca vaccine safe as jab faces new setbacks

Denmark, Norway and Iceland paused use of the drugmaker's shot as a precaution after isolated reports of recipients developing blood clots.

Published 13 Mar, 2021 06:24pm

South Asia

India reviews AstraZeneca side effects after concerns in Europe

Denmark, Norway and Iceland paused use of the drugmaker's shot as a precaution after isolated reports of recipients developing blood clots.

Published 13 Mar, 2021 06:23pm

Africa

Ethiopia rejects US allegations of ethnic cleansing in Tigray

"(The accusation) is a completely unfounded and spurious verdict against the Ethiopian government," the ministry of foreign affairs said in a statement on Saturday.
Nothing during or after the end of the main law enforcement operation in Tigray can be identified or defined by any standards as a targeted, intentional ethnic cleansing against anyone in the region.

Updated 13 Mar, 2021 09:08pm

South Asia

Kazakh military plane crash in Almaty kills four

"According to preliminary data, four people have been killed, two people have been hospitalised... with injuries," the emergencies ministry said in a statement.
Photographs from the site showed the plane turned over and on fire. Videos posted online also showed plumes of smoke rising from the crash site and visible from a nearby highway.

Updated 13 Mar, 2021 09:08pm

South Asia

Car bomb kills eight, wounds 47, in western Afghanistan

Taliban spokesman said the blast in Herat had no links to their group.

Published 13 Mar, 2021 06:14pm

World

AstraZeneca announces shortfall in planned EU vaccine delivery

"AstraZeneca is disappointed to announce a shortfall in planned COVID-19 vaccine shipments to EU despite working tirelessly to accelerate supply," it said in a statement.

Published 13 Mar, 2021 06:12pm

Africa

Nigeria steps up hunt for 39 kidnapped students

Heavily-armed gangs in northwest and central Nigeria have stepped up attacks in recent years, kidnapping for ransom, raping and pillaging.

Published 13 Mar, 2021 06:10pm

USA

Colombia will not rest in fight against killers of activists, Duque says

At least 133 activists and community leaders were murdered last year, according to UN figures, the latest data to trigger international condemnation - including from the Biden administration - and calls for Duque's government to do more to protect activists.
"The great majority of leaders who have been murdered have been leaders who didn't have any registered threat, and who also had not made any report," he said.

Updated 13 Mar, 2021 09:08pm

South Asia

Hong Kong orders compulsory coronavirus testing after gym cluster hits financial community

The government published a compulsory testing notice on Friday covering 80 residential premises and workplaces, many in central financial and business district.
"The fourth wave was never over, (because) the case number haven't been down to zero; now I'm worried it may rebound quickly," Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan, of the city's health department, told a briefing.

Updated 13 Mar, 2021 09:08pm

Africa

Ethiopia denies allegations of 'ethnic cleansing' in Tigray

A spokesman for Ethiopia's Amhara region already denied Thursday that its forces were engaged in ethnic cleansing.

Published 13 Mar, 2021 06:08pm

South Asia

At least three dead as Myanmar protests continue after overnight violence

Saturday brought early crackdowns by security forces in Myanmar's second largest city Mandalay, which saw more than 20 injured, including a monk.

Published 13 Mar, 2021 06:06pm

Europe

Coronavirus toll at 1100 GMT Saturday

At least 119,019,100 cases of coronavirus have been registered.

Published 13 Mar, 2021 06:01pm

Europe

China now 'non-compliant' with Hong Kong joint declaration: UK

Beijing has acted decisively to dismantle Hong Kong's democratic pillars after massive protests there in 2019.

Published 13 Mar, 2021 06:00pm

Europe

Five EU states seek talks on 'disparities' in vaccine handouts

The summit is already scheduled for the end of March and will likely be held in person, the official said.

Published 13 Mar, 2021 05:58pm

Africa

Ethiopia starts Covid jabs amid 'alarming' rise in cases

Ethiopia has so far registered 172,571 cases of Covid-19, the fifth-highest total in Africa and the highest in East Africa.

Published 13 Mar, 2021 05:56pm

Middle East

Jordan oxygen shortage linked to six coronavirus deaths

The minister said an investigation was underway to determine what led to the shortage of oxygen in the state-run hospital and if it was the cause of the deaths.

Published 13 Mar, 2021 05:55pm

Europe

EU faces fresh shortfall of AstraZeneca vaccine supplies

AstraZeneca started delivery of the vaccine to the EU in February, and still aims to deliver 100 million doses in the first half of 2021.

Published 13 Mar, 2021 05:52pm

World

Tunisia starts Covid vaccinations month behind plan

The country received 30,000 doses of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine on March 9.

Published 13 Mar, 2021 05:52pm

World

With eyes on China, US and allies launch vaccine plan in Asia

WASHINGTON: The United States, India, Japan and Australia on Friday announced a joint drive to ramp up the Covid-19...