News Archives for World - 2021-04-15

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World - 2021-04-15

USA

White House says ‘invitation remains open’ to Putin on Biden summit

She said the United States believes a summit would be a good step forward toward "the development of a stable and predictable relationship" between the two countries.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 10:28pm

South Asia

US troops withdrawal must coincide with progress in the peace process: Foreign Office

The withdrawal process will begin on May 1 and conclude on September 11.
Pakistan reaffirms support for the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 09:53pm

South Asia

India's military chief concerned about US pullout from Afghanistan

India is concerned about a vacuum developing in Afghanistan following the proposed withdrawal of United States and NATO forces from the country, the chief of the defence staff said on Thursday.
General Bipin Rawat told a security conference that the worry was “disruptors” would step into the space created by the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 09:50pm

Europe

France's Covid-19 deaths pass 100,000: health authority

The number of people killed by Covid-19 climbed past 100,000 in France on Thursday, with the virus claiming a further 300 lives in the past 24 hours, the country's health authority said.

Updated 15 Apr, 2021 09:52pm

Europe

UK reports slight rise in daily COVID cases to 2,672

A further 30 people were reported as having died within 28 days of a positive test for COVID-19, meaning there were 211 deaths between April 9 and 15, a fall of 2.3% compared with the previous seven days.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 08:24pm

Europe

Italy cuts growth outlook, expects surge in deficit, debt

Italy cuts 2021 GDP forecast to 4.5% from 6.0%.
Hikes deficit target to 11.8%.
Approves new 40-bln-euro stimulus package.
Debt to rise to post-war record of almost 160% of GDP.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 08:22pm

USA

Brazil services activity jumps 3.7pc in Feb, third biggest rise in a decade

The services sector grew by a seasonally adjusted 3.7% on the month, government statistics agency IBGE said, more than double the median estimate of 1.5% expansion in a Reuters poll of economists.
It was the ninth month of expansion, IBGE said, and the third largest since the series began in 2011. Services sector output in February was down a non-seasonally adjusted 2.0% from a year earlier.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 07:50pm

South Asia

Thailand readies restrictions as coronavirus cases surge

"We have to divide up the areas based on seriousness, which is different and so measures have to be suitable for each area," Chawetsan told a briefing.
Activities involving over 50 people would be prohibited and 18 provinces, including Bangkok, classified as red zones and the remaining 59 provinces as orange.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 07:46pm

USA

US retail sales jump 9.8pc in March: govt

Building material and gardening supply sales rose 12.1 percent last month, while spending on electronics increased 10.5 percent.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 07:45pm

South Asia

India's March trade deficit widens to $13.93 billion

Merchandise exports rose 60.29% in March from a year earlier to $34.45 billion, while imports were up 53.74% to $48.38 billion, the data showed.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 07:33pm

USA

New US jobless claims plunge to 576,000, lowest since pandemic

The total dropped nearly 200,000 from the previous week, which was revised upward, marking the largest weekly decrease since last August.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 07:32pm

Europe

EU expresses 'solidarity' with US over alleged Russian hacking

"The compromise affected governments and businesses worldwide, including in EU Member States," he added.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 07:30pm

Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa to see world's slowest growth in 2021: IMF

Africa rebounding from worst contraction on record.
International community must help make vaccines available.
External financing needs total $425 bln over 2021-2025.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 07:28pm

Middle East

Iraqi civilian killed in Baghdad blast: army

The military did however say that 12 people were wounded as well as the civilian killed.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 07:27pm

USA

US retail sales surge; weekly jobless claims fall

Many qualified households have received additional $1,400 checks, which were part of the White House's $1.9 trillion rescue package approved in early March. The massive fiscal stimulus also extended a government-funded $300 weekly unemployment supplement through Sept. 6.
At the same time, temperatures have warmed up and the public health situation has been rapidly improving, allowing more restaurants to offer dining services.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 07:26pm

Europe

Covid deaths among Europe's elderly hits all-time low: WHO

Kluge noted that the group now accounted for close to 30 percent of Covid-19 related deaths.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 07:25pm

USA

Canada adds 634,800 jobs in March

The February data was revised to show 271,700 jobs were gained rather than a decline of 100,800. The report, derived from ADP's payrolls data, measures the change in total non-farm payroll employment each month on a seasonally adjusted basis.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 06:44pm

USA

Biden to bar US banks from buying Russian government rouble debt in primary markets

The latest step is part of a wider array of sanctions the White House plans to announce on Thursday to make Russia pay a price for "malign" actions such as election interference, cyber-hacking, the use of chemical weapons and reports that it offered Taliban militants bounties to kill US soldiers in Afghanistan.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 06:35pm

Europe

WHO expects decision on emergency listing for Chinese vaccines soon

We are in touch with them to review the dossiers that have been submitted by both vaccine manufacturers.
We will be hearing about a decision on the emergency use listing in April or early May, so please keep an eye on that.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 06:29pm

South Asia

China says time to up pace on Iran negotiations after Natanz disruption

"We do think that all these developments have reinforced our conviction that what is needed most now as a top priority is to do away with any disruptive factors and pick up the pace of negotiation here," Wang Qun, China's ambassador to the UN atomic watchdog, told reporters after senior diplomats ended a meeting in Vienna.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 06:23pm

Middle East

IMF calls for ‘strong’ fiscal consolidation in Kuwait

The Gulf state's economy shrank by 8% last year, the Fund said in a statement on Thursday, adding that the country's fiscal balance worsened significantly year-on-year.
The IMF expects a gradual recovery and said that, as the recovery firms up, "strong fiscal consolidation and structural reforms would be needed to preserve fiscal buffers and strengthen growth."

Published 15 Apr, 2021 06:17pm

Europe

German 2021 growth seen weaker due to virus curbs: economic institutes

"We expect a significant expansion of economic activity in the summer, especially in the hard-hit service sectors," said Schmidt.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 05:23pm

Middle East

Enrichment, sabotage cast shadow over new Iran nuclear talks

Britain, France and Germany have expressed "grave concern" over the most recent enrichment announcement, while also rejecting "all escalatory measures by any actor".

Published 15 Apr, 2021 05:20pm

Use Covid-19 lessons to battle deadly superbugs: WHO

The worldwide push to rein in the pandemic had proven that rapid progress can be made when there is enough political will, the WHO pointed out.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 05:16pm

Europe

EMA starts review of GSK's monoclonal antibody to treat COVID-19 patients

In late March, the companies filed an application to US regulators for emergency use authorization of VIR-7831 to treat early-stage COVID-19 infections.
The United States has already recommended similar therapies from Eli Lilly and Co and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc .

Updated 15 Apr, 2021 06:03pm

Europe

Russia sentences Navalny ally over threat to alleged agent

A Moscow court said on its Telegram channel Thursday that it had given her a suspended sentence of "correctional labour for a period of one year".

Published 15 Apr, 2021 05:14pm

New US sanctions won't 'help' Putin-Biden summit plans: Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov said that it will be up to Putin and Biden to decide whether the summit will still go ahead.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 05:10pm

South Asia

India daily virus cases double to 200,000 in 10 days

This week, it overtook Brazil to become the country with the second-highest number of cases worldwide, after the United States.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 05:06pm

Europe

Macron says 'mobilisation' key to Notre-Dame rebuild target

He reiterated the objective a year later, despite delays brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 05:05pm

Coronavirus toll at 1000 GMT Thursday

At least 138,213,350 cases of coronavirus have been registered.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 05:02pm

South Asia

Myanmar military shoots at protesting medical workers

So far, more than 700 civilians have been killed in anti-coup unrest, according to a local monitoring group, and more than 3,000 have been detained.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 04:56pm

South Asia

Philippines' Duterte lifts ban on new mining deals

Duterte is facing growing criticism over his handling of the pandemic that has crippled the economy and thrown millions out of work.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 04:54pm

Europe

Ukraine slams Russia's 'open' threats, vows firm response

Dmytro Kuleba said rhetoric in Moscow had reached a fever pitch with pundits and officials issuing "dehumanising" statements aimed at intimidating Kiev.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 04:51pm

Middle East

Drone blast hits Iraq airport in new tactic against US troops

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which caused an explosion heard across Arbil.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 04:47pm

Europe

Irish house prices rise 3pc year-on-year in February

The government shut most building sites in late December and only allowed housebuilding to resume this week. Prices in February rose by 1.2% year-on-year in Dublin and were 4.7% higher across the rest of the country.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 04:45pm

South Asia

India battered by huge second Covid wave as virus imperils Olmpics

More than 200,000 cases were logged in the past 24 hours in India.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 04:45pm

Xi to join European climate summit, as Kerry in China for talks

Kerry is not expected to meet with Xi, on a trip which has so far taken place behind closed doors.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 04:43pm

South Asia

Top US envoy Blinken in Afghanistan for troop withdrawal talks

The Pentagon has around 2,500 troops in Afghanistan from a high of over 100,000.
Thousands more serve as part of a 9,600-strong NATO force, which will withdraw at the same time.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 04:41pm

Africa

Malawi opposition party calls for President to vacate office

In a statement, the DPP said it "calls on the courts, when moved, to nullify the election of Dr Lazarus Chakwera and his Vice President, Dr Saulos Chilima."

Published 15 Apr, 2021 04:39pm

Europe

Hungary in talks to plug expected shortfall in COVID-19 vaccine deliveries

"Inoculations require vaccines and we know that another one of the shots ordered by Brussels will be missing, the (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine will not arrive. That means half a million fewer shots," Gergely Gulyas told an online briefing.
The EMA, the EU's regulator, says it continues to believe the benefits of the vaccines far outweigh the risks of side effects.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 04:18pm

India's military chief concerned about U.S. pullout from Afghanistan

General Bipin Rawat says that the worry was “disruptors” would step into the space created by the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan
India’s big worry is that instability in Afghanistan could spill over into its Muslim-majority territory of Kashmir

Published 15 Apr, 2021 04:16pm

South Asia

Coronavirus curbs in India disrupt supply chains, stoke economy worries

Many Indian states impose curbs to tackle second wave.
Raw material delays, fears over labour hit businesses.
Economists flag risks to India's economic growth.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 04:15pm

Europe

UK job ads and restaurant bookings rebound as lockdown eases

UK restaurant bookings jump to 79% of pre-crisis level.
Online job ads back to same level as before pandemic.
Banks gear up for higher mortgage and consumer lending.
Almost 6 million employees still on furlough at end of March.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 04:04pm

UAE is mediating between India and Pakistan, says senior diplomat

Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba says UAE played a role “in bringing Kashmir escalation down and created a ceasefire
Ties between India and Pakistan have been frozen since a suicide bombing of an Indian military convoy in Kashmir in 2019

Published 15 Apr, 2021 02:16pm

Novartis agrees to make ingredients Roche's Actemra for COVID-19 patients

"As one of the world's largest producers of medicines, Novartis can mobilize its manufacturing capabilities on multiple fronts."

Published 15 Apr, 2021 12:12pm

PNG reports 11 COVID-19 deaths, pressuring a fragile health system

The country, which has a population of about 9 million, has started a modest vaccination programme using just over 8,000 doses sent by Australia.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 12:00pm

German COVID-19 cases jump by most since early Jan

On Thursday, Vice Chancellor Olaf Scholz defended the changes to the Infection Protection Act which include curfews once the seven-day virus incidence exceeds 100,000.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 11:55am

Japan PM heads to Washington with China topping agenda

"Japan needs to think about how it will be able to mediate between the US and China," he told AFP.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 11:49am

India's daily Covid caseload doubles in 10 days to 200,000

Having let its guard down with mass religious festivals, political rallies and spectators at cricket matches, India is experiencing a ferocious new wave with almost two million fresh cases this month.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 11:44am

Yemen's Houthis say they attacked Aramco, Patriot targets in Jazan

There was no Saudi confirmation of a fire or of a hit on a Patriot anti-missile structure which the Houthi military spokesman said was also struck.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 11:42am

Emotional Australian leader announces end to Afghan deployment

"These brave Australians are amongst our greatest ever, who have served in the name of freedom."

Published 15 Apr, 2021 11:08am

Cambodia's Hun Sen says country on 'brink of death' from Covid surge

Inequality also plagues the system, with reports of lower income families being turned away from hospitals.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 11:07am

US envoy Kerry starts climate talks in China

The US consulate said Kerry arrived in China and will meet with his Chinese counterparts at a Shanghai hotel in a day of closed-door talks.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 11:04am

UN Security Council to meet on Tigray crisis

Thursday's meeting will be a closed-door session similar to the March 4 meeting on Tigray.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 11:00am

EU to get 50 million Pfizer doses early as US prolongs J&J pause

Nevertheless there was some good news as BioNTech/Pfizer announced that 50 million doses that were due to arrive in Europe in late 2021 will instead start arriving as early as this month.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 10:57am

Biden faces tangle of sanctions in talks with Iran

Trump imposed a unilateral embargo on Iran's key export of oil, punishing any other country that bought it.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 10:56am

US House panel studies slavery reparations ahead of key vote

"He is committed" to the bill, she told reporters.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 10:41am

Manslaughter charge for Minneapolis cop who shot Black 20-year-old

"We will keep fighting for justice for Daunte, for his family, and for all marginalized people of color."

Published 15 Apr, 2021 10:35am

US J&J Covid vaccine pause continues after experts defer vote

When the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices reconvenes, it could potentially vote to recommend that only people beyond a certain age receive the J&J vaccine.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 10:33am

Turkish soldier killed by rocket fire in Iraq

The Turkish army deployed a drone to survey the area.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 10:31am

Biden summit offer hailed in Moscow as win for Putin

Finland hosted the last summit between Russian and US leaders in 2018, when Putin met with then-president Donald Trump.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 10:20am

Drone attack targets Kurdish Iraq's Arbil airport

Washington and Tehran are both allies of Baghdad, but remain sharply at odds over Iran's nuclear programme.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 10:15am

US cancels Black Sea deployment of two warships: Turkey

These troop deployments come against the backdrop of renewed incidents between Kiev forces and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Published 15 Apr, 2021 10:13am

Protesters, police clash for third night over US police shooting

MINNEAPOLIS: Protesters faced off with police for a third night Tuesday in the American city of Minneapolis over the...