International

Forest fires in Argentina leave 7 injured, 15 missing

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AFP) — Seven people were injured and 15 more missing on Wednesday as forest fires ripped through Argentine Patagonia, official sources said. Some 200 people had to be evacuated and around 100 homes were damaged by fire in an area of forests and lakes popular with tourists close to the Andes mountain range. “I’m going to file a criminal complaint because it was an intentional fire,” said Environment Minister Juan Cabandie in […]

Texas reopens ‘100%’ as US vaccination drive gains pace

by Francois Picard with Issam Ahmed in Washington HOUSTON, United States (AFP) — Texas lifted its mask mandate and capacity restrictions on restaurants and other businesses Wednesday, despite experts warning the “100 percent” relaxation of coronavirus curbs will exacerbate the spread of worrying variants. The Lone Star State became the fifth to rescind its face covering order in a sign of increasing optimism about the pandemic in the world’s hardest hit country, where the infection […]

3,000 nurses dead, Covid exodus looming: global federation

by Robin MILLARD GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — At least 3,000 nurses have been killed by Covid-19, the global nurses’ federation said Thursday as it warned of a looming exodus of health workers traumatized by the pandemic. Exactly one year on since the World Health Organization (WHO) first described Covid-19 as a pandemic, the International Council of Nurses said burn-out and stress had led millions of nurses to consider quitting the profession. And once the pandemic […]

Queen vows to address Harry and Meghan racism claims

by Anna MALPAS / Phil HAZLEWOOD / James PHEBY Agence France Presse LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Queen Elizabeth II on Tuesday responded to explosive racism claims from grandson Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, voicing deep concern and sympathising with their troubles with royal life. “The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan,” she said in a statement. “The […]

Brazil notches new daily Covid death record

SAO PAULO, Brazil (AFP) — Brazil broke its record for new daily Covid-19 deaths on Tuesday with nearly 2,000 fatalities, as the pandemic overwhelms hospitals and vaccinations progress slowly. The Health Ministry reported a daily total of 1,972 new deaths in the country, which has the world’s second-highest overall toll, exceeded only by the United States. It also reported 70,764 new cases of Covid-19, meaning 11.1 million people have now caught the virus in the […]

Endangered leatherback turtles hatch in Ecuador

QUITO, Ecuador (AFP) — Nine leatherback turtles — the largest endangered marine turtle in the world — were hatched along the coast of Ecuador, the Ministry of Environment said Tuesday. The Dermochelys coriacea — the turtle’s scientific name — eggs were artificially incubated on the Punta Bikini beach, in the Manabi province in the southwest of the country. Rangers in the region had moved their nest after a harsh winter hit the coastal region. “This […]

Manager of US warehouse where 36 died sentenced to 12 years in prison

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The manager of an art venue where 36 people died in a fire in Oakland, California, in 2016 was formally sentenced Monday to 12 years in prison, but will serve out just 18 months of that from home with an electronic bracelet. “I am sick with shame. I am so sorry. My shame cannot stand as any defense against what I am responsible for,” Derick Almena, the leaseholder of […]

FBI releases new footage of Washington pipe bomb suspect

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The FBI on Tuesday released new images of the man suspected of placing homemade pipe bombs in Washington on January 5 — the night before the assault on the US Capitol — in an effort to gather identifying information about him. The video, published on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s official YouTube channel, shows several angles of surveillance footage of the suspect as he walks along streets in the Capitol […]

Disneyland in California eyes ‘late April’ reopening: CEO

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Disneyland is aiming to reopen in late April at limited capacity after California eased Covid-19 restrictions, Disney CEO Bob Chapek said Tuesday. The world’s second-most visited theme park has been closed for almost exactly a year, with the mega attraction near Los Angeles unable to reopen last summer even while other Disney resorts did so worldwide. “Here in California, we’re encouraged by the positive trends we’re seeing and we’re […]

Nicaragua volcano blankets communities in ash

MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AFP) — The San Cristobal volcano, the highest in Nicaragua and one of its most active, spewed a cloud of ash Tuesday that blanketed the city of Chinandega and surrounding communities, a local journalist told AFP. The surprise eruption ejected a column of smoke and ash that was dumped as far as 17 kilometers (10.5 miles) from the volcano’s foot, Nicaragua journalist Carol Altamirano said. The INETER territorial studies institute has not issued […]

Spain extends ban on UK, Brazil, S.Africa arrivals

MADRID, Spain (AFP) — Spain on Tuesday extended its ban on arrivals from Britain, Brazil and South Africa until the end of March to avoid the spread of new coronavirus strains. Only legal residents or nationals of Spain and the neighboring micro-state of Andorra are currently allowed in on flights from these countries. The restriction on arrivals from Britain was imposed at the end of December to halt the spread of the highly contagious Covid-19 […]

Sputnik V makers demand apology from EU medicines agency

MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — The makers of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine Tuesday demanded an apology from the EU’s medicines regulator after a senior official warned member states against hastily authorizing the jab, comparing emergency rollouts to “Russian roulette”. Several EU countries have already begun distributing Sputnik V ahead of approval in the bloc, a move criticized by board chair of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) Christa Wirthumer-Hoche Monday. “We demand a public apology from EMA’s […]