News Archives for World - 2021-03-30

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Europe

Greece registers 4,340 new COVID-19 cases, new high

The government is hoping a campaign of mass testing, including using home testing kits, will enable health services to bring the spread of infections under control in the coming weeks.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 11:59pm

Europe

German experts recommend AstraZeneca COVID shots only for over 60s

Many European countries briefly stopped using AstraZeneca's vaccine earlier this month while investigating rare cases of blood clots.

Updated 31 Mar, 2021 12:05am

USA

White House urges for 'second stage' in WHO study of COVID-19 origins

There's a second stage in this process that we believe should be led by international and independent experts. They should have unfettered access to data.

Updated 31 Mar, 2021 12:05am

USA

Pfizer to accelerate COVID-19 vaccine deliveries to Canada

Pfizer/BioNTech SE will deliver 5 million more doses in June than previously expected, Trudeau said.

Updated 31 Mar, 2021 12:05am

Europe

Italy sees 529 more COVID deaths as prevalence of variant rises

Some 301,451 tests for COVID-19 were carried out in the past day, compared with a previous 156,692, the health ministry said.

Updated 31 Mar, 2021 12:05am

Europe

AstraZeneca, J&J vaccines Spain removes age limits on AstraZeneca, J&J vaccines

Several European countries had suspended administering the shot over concerns related to cases of blood clots.

Updated 31 Mar, 2021 12:05am

Europe

Turkey logs highest new COVID-19 cases since beginning of pandemic

The latest daily death toll was 155, bringing the cumulative toll to 31,385, according to the health ministry.

Updated 31 Mar, 2021 12:05am

Europe

France reports 2021 high of 5,072 people in intensive care with COVID-19

The health ministry reported 381 new deaths, including 45 deaths in retirement homes over several days, taking the cumulative death toll to 95,337.

Updated 31 Mar, 2021 12:05am

Europe

German experts recommend AstraZeneca vaccine only for over 60s

*"After several consultations, STIKO, with the help of external experts, decided by a majority to recommend the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine only for persons aged 60 years and older on the basis of available data on the occurrence of rare but very severe thromboembolic side effects," it said.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 09:52pm

Europe

Italy imposes five-day quarantine for tourists over Easter

Travellers must also take a COVID-19 test at the end of the quarantine period. Similar measures were already in place for trips to countries outside the European Union.
The decree came after the hotel industry complained that while travel between Italy's 20 regions was virtually barred, travel within the EU was allowed with some restrictions.

Updated 30 Mar, 2021 09:54pm

Europe

WHO coronavirus origins probe only 'first step': EU

The 27 European Union member states highlighted "the need for further work to study the origins of the virus and its route of introduction to the human population".

Published 30 Mar, 2021 09:19pm

Europe

Ukraine hopes for IMF loans soon after 'a lot of progress', finance minister says

Anti-corruption policy and judicial reform remained outstanding issues in the negotiations, but fiscal policy was not a sticking point, he added.
"We are in the active stage, we are very advanced," Marchenko said. "There is a hope that in the near future we will go to the Staff Level Agreement."

Published 30 Mar, 2021 09:08pm

USA

US consumer confidence rises to a year-high in March: survey

The Conference Board said on Tuesday its consumer confidence index jumped to a reading of 109.7 this month, the highest level since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, from 90.4 in February.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 09:05pm

USA

Brazil creates over 400,000 formal jobs in Feb, highest in at least 20 years

Some 1.69 million positions were created and 1.29 million were cut, the ministry said. In the first two months of this year the economy has created a net 659,780 formal jobs, also the highest in years.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 09:03pm

Europe

EU says AstraZeneca under no UK obligation that would prevent EU vaccine supply

"AstraZeneca confirmed to us not being under any obligation to other parties that would impede to complete the fulfilment of its obligations" to the EU, the Commission spokeswoman said when asked about Hancock's statements.
Under the EU contract, AstraZeneca committed to supplying vaccines produced in four European factories, two of which are in Britain: Oxford Biomedica and Cobra Biologics.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 08:59pm

Europe

IMF hikes Italian growth forecast, urges tax reform

The IMF said its new projection, made in a report following an annual visit to Italy, was dependent on COVID-19 vaccinations being well advanced by late summer and continued economic support measures.
The Fund gave no clear explanation for the sharp upward revision of its forecast, which it warned was surrounded by "considerable uncertainty".

Published 30 Mar, 2021 08:56pm

World

WHO chief urges deeper probe into Covid lab leak theory

The WHO chief voiced concern that the international expert team had "expressed the difficulties they encountered in accessing raw data" while in China.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 08:56pm

World

IMF sees global economy improving despite uncertainties

She also praised the "extraordinary effort" of workers throughout the health care universe, including doctors, nurses and vaccine scientists.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 08:54pm

Africa

Egypt's Sisi says response will be felt if water supply affected by dam

Egypt, along with its southern neighbour Sudan, is seeking a legally binding agreement over the operations of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which Addis Ababa says is crucial to its economic development.
"I'm not threatening anyone here, our dialogue is always reasonable and rational," Sisi said in a response to a question about any risk to Egypt.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 08:54pm

USA

Brazil regulator Anvisa concludes certification of four COVID-19 shot producers

Three of the units certified belong to the Johnson & Johnson group, and one unit is part of Brazilian drugmaker União Química, which has an agreement to produce Russia's Sputnik V shot locally, the statement said.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 08:35pm

USA

Brazil's COVID-19 emergency spending need not meet spending cap rules

The Independent Fiscal Institute (IFI) watchdog said on Monday that the government is on course this year to break the spending cap, its most important budgetary rule which economy ministry officials have described as a fiscal "super anchor".

Published 30 Mar, 2021 08:33pm

Europe

WHO mission leader says it's 'possible' COVID cases circulated before December 2019

The team is still working on finding the exact trace-back of the virus before Wuhan, said Peter Ben Embarek, a WHO official specialised in zoonotic diseases who led the four-week mission of international experts to China in January and February, during a virtual press conference.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 08:29pm

USA

IMF to boost global outlook again, warns financial conditions uncertain

IMF sees divergent trends for rich, poor countries.
Fund plans to raise global forecasts for 2021, 2022.
Strong action seen needed to safeguard economic recovery.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 08:24pm

USA

Biden releases first slate of judicial nominees: White House

"This trailblazing slate of nominees draws from the very best and brightest minds of the American legal profession," Biden said in a statement that emphasized their "broad diversity of background experience and perspective."
Zahid N. Quraishi, a New Jersey magistrate judge, would be the nation's first Muslim American to serve on a federal district court.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 07:20pm

World

Egypt's Sisi promises investment to avoid Suez closure repeat

Sisi claimed "success" in the operation after the stern was freed, several hours before the bow of the ship was finally dislodged.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 07:07pm

World

Global leaders push for pandemic preparedness treaty

"Nations should work together towards a new international treaty for pandemic preparedness and response," the article said.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 07:03pm

Europe

Novavax COVID-19 vaccine could be approved by UK in April

"The regulator will do a very detailed and thorough review and will decide in good time," said Professor Paul Heath, chief investigator for the Novavax jab trial in the UK.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 07:02pm

Europe

Austria in talks to buy one million Sputnik V doses

"If Austria receives an additional one million vaccine doses, we will be able to return to normality faster and could save many lives as well as jobs," Kurz said.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 07:00pm

Middle East

Donors face $10bn aid appeal at Syria conference

The goal this year is to raise $10 billion (8.46 billion euros) -- $4.2 billion for humanitarian relief inside Syria, and the rest for refugees sheltering in the region.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 06:57pm

Europe

Berlin city halts AstraZeneca jabs for under-60s

She added that it was a "precautionary measure" while the city awaited an official recommendation from federal health authorities.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 06:55pm

USA

Biden stresses diversity in first judicial nominations

Of the 11 nominations announced by Biden on Tuesday, three are African-American women named to serve on circuit, or appeals, courts.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 06:52pm

Europe

Sweden reports 16,427 new COVID-19 cases, 28 deaths since Friday

The figure compared with 14,063 cases during the corresponding period last week.
The country of 10 million inhabitants registered 28 new deaths, taking the total to 13,430 . The deaths registered have occurred over several days and sometimes weeks.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 06:52pm

Africa

French strike in Mali killed 19 civilians in January: UN

The United Nations mission in Mali, known as MINUSMA, subsequently launched an investigation into the affair.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 06:51pm

Europe

Berlin state hospitals pause AstraZeneca shots for women staff under 55

Charite, Vivantes stop giving AZ vaccine to female staff.
Berlin to stop giving shots to everyone under 60- Tagesspiegel.
PEI registers 31 cases of rare brain blood disorder.
Germany has administered over 2.69 mln doses of AZ shot.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 06:48pm

World

Egypt's Sisi warns Ethiopia dam risks 'unimaginable instability'

The dispute over Ethiopia's dam has been simmering for around a decade and mediation attempts have repeatedly failed.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 06:48pm

Europe

UK's Raab says China's changes in Hong Kong breach Joint Declaration

"Today China enacted changes to Hong Kong's electoral system which are a clear breach of the Joint Declaration - undermining the freedoms of the people of Hong Kong and breaking Beijing's international obligations," Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 06:45pm

USA

Brazil regulator says Bharat Biotech vaccine does not meet factory standards

The Brazilian government signed a contract last month to buy 20 million doses of the Indian drugmaker's vaccine. Bharat Biotech applied for emergency use of the vaccine in Brazil on March 8.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 06:42pm

South Asia

Indian COVID-19 situation turning from 'bad to worse': govt official

"Remember if the cases are more, they will eventually overwhelm the system", senior health official Vinod Kumar Paul told a news conference.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 06:40pm

Europe

Ukraine says Russian military buildup threatens its security

In remarks to parliament, Khomchak also accused pro-Moscow separatists of systematically violating a ceasefire in the conflict in eastern Ukraine agreed in July 2020.
Ukraine and Russia have traded blame for a spike in violence in the conflict, which Kyiv says has killed 14,000 people since 2014.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 06:35pm

Europe

Third COVID wave emerging in Russia

President Vladimir Putin said last week he expected Russia to reach herd immunity and lift pandemic-related restrictions by the end of the summer. Some regions have already begun easing some curbs.
Unfortunately, the incidence rate and the progression of the disease allow us to speak of a third wave of coronavirus infections.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 06:31pm

Africa

Suez Canal races to clear backlog as shipping convoys resume

The blockage threw global supply chains into disarray, threatening costly delays for firms already wrestling with COVID-19 restrictions, and nearly doubled rates for oil product tankers.
The Ever Given's grounding across a southern section of the canal forced a halt to all traffic, leading to a build-up of 422 ships at either end of the canal and along its course.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 06:29pm

South Asia

Outside pressure builds again on Myanmar junta as death toll tops 500

Indonesia, Malaysia speak out.
More insurgent groups call on military to stop killings.
Thailand denies pushing refugees back.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 06:27pm

Europe

A raise or a four-day week; biggest German union seals new deal

Salaries will increase from July, but the additional money will not be paid out until February next year, as 18.4% of a single monthly salary, according to IG Metall.
There will also be a one-time "coronavirus premium" of 500 euros ($588).

Published 30 Mar, 2021 06:23pm

Middle East

Israel reopens Egypt crossing for first time since pandemic

To cross, individuals must be inoculated or have recovered from Covid-19. A negative laboratory test is also required in both directions.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 05:37pm

Europe

Italy PM gets AstraZeneca jab as Rome schools reopen

The 73-year-old and his wife were vaccinated at a centre at Rome's central Termini station, a spokesman said.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 05:36pm

Europe

Kremlin says Kiev to blame for worsening Ukraine conflict

The fighting has claimed more than 13,000 lives since 2014, according to the United Nations.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 05:32pm

World

Portugal sending 60 troops to beleaguered Mozambique

Mozambique became independent from Portugal in June 1975 following a prolonged war that ended centuries of colonisation.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 05:25pm

World

US sends ambassador to join Palau leader on Taiwan visit

Palau is one of only 15 nations that officially recognise Taiwan over China, which views the self-ruled democratic island as its own territory and has vowed to one day seize it.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 05:22pm

Europe

Virus could raise vote-buying risk in Bulgaria election: report

The coronavirus pandemic however quelled the massive rallies and Borisov's Gerb party is projected to emerge as the largest single force.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 05:20pm

South Asia

China approves radical overhaul of Hong Kong's political system

Xi Jinping signed the new law after it was unanimously approved by China's top decision-making body.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 05:17pm

Europe

Italy to impose quarantine on EU arrivals: ministry

417 deaths reported in the 24 hours to Monday evening, when a further 13,000 new cases were recorded.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 05:14pm

South Asia

Vietnam flight attendant given suspended jail term for spreading Covid-19

It has recorded only around 2,600 infections and 35 deaths among its population of 98 million.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 05:07pm

South Asia

Three women polio workers shot dead in Afghanistan

Polio has been eradicated across the world apart from Afghanistan and Pakistan, where distrust of vaccines is rife.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 05:04pm

Europe

One virus, one stuck ship spark global trade rethink

Toyota developed the just-in-time logistics system to cut supply chain costs and the model has been universally adopted.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 05:01pm

Europe

Germany announces tougher land border checks

Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said he has asked Germany's federal police to "intensify" the checks for the next "eight to 14 days".

Published 30 Mar, 2021 05:01pm

Europe

German court upholds conviction over illegal arms exports

In June 2019, Berlin agreed to impose an almost total ban on sales of small arms to countries outside the EU and NATO.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 04:58pm

South Asia

Nepal to restart Covid-19 vaccinations after China donates shots

Nepal, home to 28 million people, has recorded more than 275,000 coronavirus infections and over 3,000 deaths so far.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 04:51pm

Europe

Coronavirus toll at 1000 GMT Tuesday

At least 127,546,270 cases of coronavirus have been registered.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 04:46pm

Europe

Merkel party chief defiant in row over virus measures

"We need more trust in people and their power to make changes, if you just let them do it," he said.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 04:43pm

South Asia

Indonesian oil refinery blaze rages for a second day

The cause of the fire was not clear, but the company said the blaze broke out during a lightning storm.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 04:41pm

Africa

Mozambique jihadist attack survivors stranded around Palma

Shaken survivors have since streamed into the neighbouring town of Mueda and regional capital Pemba, where they arrived via boat, foot and plane.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 04:40pm

Europe

BioNTech raises Covid vaccine output goal to 2.5bn doses

The plant will eventually produce up to one billion Covid jabs a year, once fully operational.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 04:37pm

Europe

Russia stages fresh military drills in the Arctic

On Monday, the defence ministry announced the beginning of command exercises by the Northern Fleet that would continue over "several days".

Published 30 Mar, 2021 04:35pm

Europe

France's Le Pen assails 'catastrophic' EU vaccination drive

Credit insurer Euler Hermes estimated this week that the EU's delay will cost the bloc some 123 billion euros ($144 billion) this year.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 04:35pm

Middle East

Iran rejects ending 20% enrichment before U.S. lifts sanctions

Iran will not stop its 20% uranium enrichment before the United States lifts all sanctions, Iranian state TV quoted an unnamed official as saying on Tuesday, after a U.S. media report said Washington would offer a new proposal to jump-start talks.

Updated 30 Mar, 2021 03:54pm

World

GoFundMe raises $800,000 for Pakistan-origin Uber driver killed in carjacking incident in US

Mohammad Anwar, a 66-year-old Uber delivery driver, was waiting for his client in Southeast Washington when two teenage girls assaulted him with a taser while trying to snatch his car.
The two girls were charged with felony, murder and armed carjacking.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 01:58pm

World

Huge rise in child migrants crossing dangerous Panama jungle: UN

Experts believe more and more migrants are choosing to travel with their families, including young children and pregnant women, to avoid being deported to the different countries they pass through.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 01:21pm

World

Russia says hopes to avoid ban on Western tech giants

The Kremlin spokesman also said that Putin had no media accounts and did not want to waste time keeping any.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 01:13pm

World

India records 56,211 new cases of the coronavirus

Authorities in Maharashtra were considering whether to impose stricter curbs starting Thursday to contain the rapid spread of the virus, but opposition parties and industrialists have opposed a lockdown.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 12:55pm

World

Thailand says it does not push back refugees from Myanmar

There can be a discussion between officials and refugees and sometimes when the situation eases they will return voluntarily.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 11:43am

World

Iran rejects ending 20% enrichment before US lifts sanctions

US President Joe Biden's predecessor, Donald Trump, withdrew from the deal in 2018 and reimposed US sanctions.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 11:29am

World

Novartis oncology arm expands radioligand pipeline

A library of Fibroblast Activation Protein (FAP) targeting agents through an agreement.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 10:37am

World

Search on for 11 trapped in illegal goldmine in Colombia

Diego Mesa, minister of mines and energy, said the missing miners had been involved in "unauthorized" activity.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 10:17am

World

Jury in George Floyd murder trial shown harrowing video of his death

But Chauvin's attorney countered that he would prove that Floyd was on drugs, forcing officers to take tough action, and that his death was caused by the drugs and a medical condition rather than asphyxiation.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 10:13am

World

South Africa's ruling party issues warning over graft, infighting

The monthly meeting of the party's decision-making body went into an extra day with politicians loyal to the ANC's graft-accused secretary general, Ace Magashule, objecting to a seven-day deadline for him to resign, local media reports said.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 10:10am

World

Brazil's Bolsonaro overhauls cabinet amid Covid surge

While speculation had been swirling that Bolsonaro was about to fire foreign minister Ernesto Araujo, who faced criticism for the government's problems securing more Covid-19 vaccines, many of the other changes came as a surprise.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 10:08am

World

Polish diplomat chosen as new UN envoy to Lebanon

The formal appointment will be announced soon.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 10:07am

World

Trump rages at Covid experts who criticized him

He also attacked Fauci's ability to throw a baseball, described him as "king of the flip-flops," and said "Birx was a terrible medical advisor, which is why I seldom followed her advice."

Published 30 Mar, 2021 10:05am

World

Mexico vows justice over police killing of Salvadoran

Dozens of women protested outside the offices of the Quintana Roo state government in Mexico City to demand justice.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 10:00am

World

Border agents, traffickers and migrants mix on the busy Rio Grande

When the migrants arrive -- at times in the hundreds, and many of them minors traveling alone -- there are sometimes no agents left on the river banks to process them.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 09:59am

World

ICC rules on appeal by Congolese 'Terminator' warlord

They said the ICC's decision to convict him "contains many errors of law and fact".

Published 30 Mar, 2021 09:49am

World

Myanmar crackdown death toll passes 500

France condemned the violence as "blind and deadly" and China added its voice to a chorus of international concern on Monday, calling for restraint from all sides.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 09:47am

World

North Korean leader's sister slams South's Moon as US 'parrot'

Biden has warned the North that "there will be responses if they choose to escalate" testing.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 09:46am

World

WHO experts say Covid probably came to humans from animals

Beijing's theory that the virus did not originate in China at all but was imported in frozen food was judged "possible" but very unlikely.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 09:38am

World

Benefits of 'drastic' climate action outweigh costs: economists

Nealey 80 percent of respondents said that their level of concern over climate had increased during the last five years.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 09:32am

World

Saudi Arabia unveils campaign to tackle climate change

RIYADH: Top crude exporter Saudi Arabia on Saturday unveiled a sweeping campaign to tackle climate change and reduce...