International

Ivory Coast says first Ebola patient since 1994 has recovered

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AFP) — A young Guinean woman who tested positive for the Ebola virus in Ivory Coast after arriving there two weeks ago has recovered from the disease, the Ivorian health ministry said Tuesday. “We performed on the patient two biological tests which were negative in an interval of 48 hours. She is therefore declared cured,” Serge Eholie, ministry spokesman and head of the country’s infectious diseases department told AFP. “We are lifting […]

Over 4,000 US citizens evacuated from Afghanistan: official

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States has evacuated “more than 4,000 American passport holders plus their families” since mid-August, a senior State Department official said Tuesday. “We expect that number to continue to grow in the coming days,” he said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “We are continuing to contact the Americans who have previously registered with Kabul embassy to determine whether or not they are still in Afghanistan, and to help them […]

Israel to begin Covid booster shots for over 30s

JERUSALEM, Undefined (AFP) — Israel on Tuesday lowered the age threshold to receive a third coronavirus booster dose to anyone aged 30 and above, as it continues to battle surging infections. Israel is among a handful of nations that has decided to administer a third vaccine dose, a policy criticized by the World Health Organization, which has called for more doses to be sent to poorer states. But Israel’s health ministry announced the lowered age […]

Torrential rains leave 13 dead in Venezuela

CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) — At least 13 people died in the Venezuelan Andes after heavy rains triggered mud and rock slides, local authorities said Tuesday. Several hours of downpours in the Mocoties valley, a farming region in western Merida state that attracts a lot of tourism, caused boulders to tumble down mountainsides, blocking off roads. Eleven people died in the village of Tovar and two children died in Pinto Salinas, Merida governor Ramon Guevara said. […]

Afghanistan’s media enters the unknown under Taliban rule

  by David Fox, with Qasim Nauman in Seoul Agence France Presse Scores of journalists are among the tens of thousands of people trying to flee Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover, fearful of violent reprisals from the militants. Despite their assurances, the Islamist group’s return to power is seen as a serious blow to Afghan media, which saw explosive growth after the first Taliban regime was toppled in 2001. – What was the Afghan media […]

Russia accuses US of forcing Afghans on Central Asia

  Budapest, Hungary | AFP | Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday that US forces are “pawning off” Afghans fleeing the Taliban to neighbouring Moscow-allied Central Asia. During a visit to Hungary, Lavrov said the United States is trying to convince “several Central Asian countries” to take in Afghans who previously worked with US forces in the now Taliban-controlled country. He alleged that Washington tells the countries the Afghans will only be there temporarily. […]

US VP Harris’ trip to Hanoi delayed due to ‘health incident’: embassy

US Vice President Kamala Harris’ flight from Singapore to Vietnam was delayed by three hours Tuesday after an “anomalous health incident” took place in Hanoi, the US embassy said. Harris was due in Vietnam after a two-day stop in Singapore as part of a regional trip. “The Vice President’s travelling delegation was delayed from departing Singapore because the Vice President’s office was made aware of a report of a recent possible anomalous health incident in […]

Germany says US, allies can’t evacuate all Afghans who need protection by Aug 31

BERLIN, Germany (AFP) — Western allies will not be able to fly every Afghan who needs protection out of Kabul before the United States’ planned August 31 withdrawal deadline, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Tuesday. “Even if (the evacuation) goes on until August 31 or even a few days longer, it will not be enough to allow those who we, or the United States, want to fly out,” Maas told Bild TV. Allies […]

US grants Pfizer Covid vaccine full approval

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The US Food and Drug Administration on Monday fully approved Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine, a move expected to trigger a new wave of vaccine mandates as the Delta variant batters the country. “The FDA’s approval of this vaccine is a milestone as we continue to battle the Covid-19 pandemic,” acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock said in a statement. “While millions of people have already safely received Covid-19 vaccines, we recognize that […]

Beijing continues to coerce, intimidate in South China Sea: Harris

US Vice President Kamala Harris accused Beijing on Tuesday of coercion and intimidation in the hotly disputed South China Sea, as she sought to rally allies against an increasingly assertive China. “Beijing continues to coerce, to intimidate and to make claims to the vast majority of the South China Sea,” she said in a speech in Singapore, laying out her administration’s foreign policy goals for Asia. “Beijing’s actions continue to undermine the rules-based order and […]

New York City mandates vaccines for teachers

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — New York announced a vaccine mandate for all public school staff, including teachers and principals, Monday as the city escalates attempts to slow the spread of the hyper-contagious Delta variant. Mayor Bill de Blasio said every department of education employee must receive at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine by September 27. There will be no option of a weekly test instead. “We know this is going to […]