News Archives for World - 2021-03-27

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Europe

Britain nearing vaccine deal with European Union

Under the agreement the EU will remove its threat to ban the export of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines to Britain, it added.
"We are only at the start of discussions with the UK. There are no talks over the weekend," an EU Commission source said on Saturday, adding that sending vaccines produced at Halix was not part of the talks.

Published 27 Mar, 2021 09:07pm

USA

US envoy to Afghanistan heads to Turkey and region to push talks to end conflict

President Joe Biden is deciding whether to meet a May 1 deadline for the withdrawal of the last 3,500 American troops in Afghanistan that was set in a February 2020 accord struck with the Taliban under former President Donald Trump.
He will engage the two sides on their preparatory efforts for talks on a political settlement that produces a permanent ceasefire and a durable and just peace.

Published 27 Mar, 2021 09:02pm

South Asia

Facebook services down in Bangladesh amid protests against Modi visit

The government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina did not comment if it had blocked Facebook and its messenger app, but it has previously used internet shutdowns as a tool to curb the spread of protests.
Dozens were also hurt on Friday in the capital Dhaka where police used rubber bullets and teargas in clashes with violent protesters.

Published 27 Mar, 2021 08:56pm

South Asia

China sanctions US and Canadian bodies over Xinjiang

Beijing has been pushing back against sanctions imposed by the United States, European Union, Britain and Canada for what they say are rights violations against Uighur Muslims and other Turkic minorities in the western Chinese region of Xinjiang.
"The Chinese government is firmly determined to safeguard its national sovereignty, security and development interests, and urges the relevant parties to clearly understand the situation and redress their mistakes," the ministry said.

Published 27 Mar, 2021 08:51pm

Europe

EU experts to say nuclear power qualifies for green investment label: document

The European Commission is attempting to finish its sustainable finance taxonomy, which will decide which economic activities can be labelled as a sustainable investment in the EU, based on whether they meet strict environmental criteria.
The Commission asked the Joint Research Centre (JRC), its scientific expert arm, to report on the issue.

Published 27 Mar, 2021 08:49pm

Europe

New Dutch coronavirus cases above 8,500, most since January

The National Institute for Health (RIVM) has forecast that new cases will continue to rise through late April, even with the country's current lockdown measures that include an evening curfew and bans on public and private gatherings.

Published 27 Mar, 2021 08:46pm

South Asia

Indonesia sees vaccination slowdown as India delays shipments

India's move will affect supplies to the GAVI/WHO-backed global COVAX vaccine-sharing facility, through which 64 lower-income countries including Indonesia are supposed to get doses from SII. "This definitely will affect (the vaccination process) because in April we only have around 7 million doses from Sinovac," Budi said.

Published 27 Mar, 2021 08:42pm

Europe

Ship stranded in Suez Canal has moved but unclear when it will be freed

SCA Chairman Osama Rabie said he hoped it would not be necessary to resort to removing containers from the ship to lighten its load, but that strong tides and winds were complicating efforts to free it.

Published 27 Mar, 2021 08:38pm

Europe

Germany expects first delivery of J&J COVID-19 shot in mid-April

"It will only be a small delivery at first," Spahn told an online event, adding he expected a shipment of around 275,000 doses in the week of April 12.
J&J's shot, which was approved by European Union regulators on March 11, is the fourth to be endorsed for use in the EU after vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech,, AstraZeneca-Oxford University and Moderna.

Published 27 Mar, 2021 08:35pm

Europe

Britain says Myanmar violence marks new low after over 90 killed

"Today's killing of unarmed civilians, including children, marks a new low. We will work with our international partners to end this senseless violence, hold those responsible to account, and secure a path back to democracy," Raab said in a tweet on the crackdown on Myanmar's Armed Forces Day.

Published 27 Mar, 2021 08:29pm

USA

Venezuelans fleeing to Colombia accuse soldiers of abuses

Venezuela is investigating the accusations that members of the military committed abuses, including detaining and killing civilians, as well as looting and burning homes.
"I couldn't stay because they are killing people. They killed some neighbors and dressed them in Venezuelan army uniforms to pass them off as guerrillas," Castillo said.

Published 27 Mar, 2021 08:27pm

South Asia

Two Indian states vote in test for Modi

India's fourth most populous state, with 90 million people, was for decades a bastion of communism, and registered a voter turnout of nearly 80% in Saturday's first phase of voting.
Politicians on the campaign trail often showed scant regard for social distancing, but as voters queued patiently at polling centres, security personnel and election workers handed out masks, hand sanitisers and gloves.

Published 27 Mar, 2021 08:23pm

South Asia

Vietnam sees foreign investment rise to $4.1bn in first quarter

FDI has been a key driver of Vietnam's economic growth. Companies with investment from foreign firms account for about 70% of the southeast Asian country's exports.
FDI pledges - which indicate the size of future FDI disbursements - rose 18.5% from a year earlier to $10.13 billion in the January-March period, the government said in a statement.

Updated 27 Mar, 2021 08:25pm

Europe

UK's Johnson criticises 'disgraceful' attacks on police at protest

Local police said bricks, glass bottles and eggs were thrown at police late on Friday evening after a protest on Friday afternoon turned sour in the late evening.
Bristol has been a centre of protests against a government bill going through parliament that would give police new powers to restrict street protests.

Published 27 Mar, 2021 06:22pm

Europe

Spain to require arrivals by land from France to present negative COVID test

Anyone arriving by land from risk areas will have to present a negative PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test that was taken within 72 hours prior to their arrival.
The order will take effect three days after its publication in the Official State Gazette and until the government declares the end of the health crisis situation caused by COVID-19.

Published 27 Mar, 2021 06:19pm

South Asia

Philippine to reimpose stricter COVID-19 curbs in capital to arrest surge in cases

The health ministry on Saturday reported 9,595 new coronavirus cases, marking the second straight day the daily jump in infections remained above 9,000. The country posted a record rise in three of the past five days.

Published 27 Mar, 2021 06:17pm

Europe

Belarus warns demonstrators of criminal charges as fresh protests brew

The Minsk Investigative Committee warned that protesters could face criminal charges, and said it had opened a case against the authors of posts on the Telegram messenger app that called for people to go out on the streets.
Protests were expected to start again in earnest on Saturday afternoon, though some detentions had already taken place in the morning, according to videos shared on Belarus opposition media channels.

Published 27 Mar, 2021 06:06pm

Africa

Salvager hopes to free ship blocking Suez Canal by start of next week

Giant container ship stranded since Tuesday.
Dredgers and tug boats deployed to dislodge it.
Blockage disrupting global shipping, supply chains.

Published 27 Mar, 2021 05:56pm

Europe

UK's Johnson says no reason to change COVID-19 unlocking plans

On Monday, there will be a smaller change, allowing groups of 6 to meet up outside. Foreign travel will be banned until at least May 17, which is also the earliest date indoor hospitality and performance venues might re-open.
Although Johnson has outlined dates at which he plans to ease restrictions, he has been clear that it is "data, not dates" which will determine whether the unlocking can proceed to schedule.

Published 27 Mar, 2021 05:54pm

Middle East

Syria says rationing fuel as shipments delayed by Suez canal blockage

"As we wait for the normal movement of ships across the Suez Canal, which could be an unknown period of time, and to assure basic services continue for Syrians... the ministry is currently rationing some oil products," an oil ministry statement said.

Published 27 Mar, 2021 05:54pm

Middle East

Lebanon's largest Christian bloc warns against sidelining president

Hariri and Aoun have been at loggerheads over the formation of a cabinet for months, dashing hopes of a reversal of Lebanon's deepening financial meltdown.

Published 27 Mar, 2021 05:42pm

South Asia

More than 90 killed in Myanmar in one of bloodiest days of protests

Armed Forces Day: one of bloodiest since the coup.
Total number of civilians reported killed passes 400.
'They are killing us like birds or chickens'.
Junta leader says military safeguarding democracy.
US cultural centre hit by gunfire, embassy says.

Published 27 Mar, 2021 05:40pm

Asia

India begins voting in two eastern states in key test for Modi

It was the first phase of voting in both states, and the results won’t be known for months.
Modi and his home minister Amit Shah campaigned aggressively for their Bharatiya Janata Party in West Bengal, luring local politicians away from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) party, whose firebrand leader Mamata Banerjee has been chief minister since 2011.

Published 27 Mar, 2021 05:01pm

World

Iran-China sign 25-year strategic cooperation pact

The pact was signed by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who arrived in Tehran late Friday.
"We believe this document can be very effective in deepening" Iran-China relations, the spokesman said.

Published 27 Mar, 2021 03:55pm

World

Attempt to refloat ship blocking Suez Canal was unsuccessful: ship's technical manager

Initial investigations suggest the vessel was grounded because of strong wind and rule out any mechanical or engine failure as the ship was transiting the canal on Tuesday with two canal pilots on board, BSM said.

Published 27 Mar, 2021 10:05am

Europe

EU clears vaccine sites to boost inoculation drive

BRUSSELS/BARCELONA: The European Medicines Agency approved on Friday two factories for the production of COVID-19...