International

Denmark cuts AstraZeneca vaccine altogether, in European first

  by Camille BAS-WOHLERT Agence France Presse Copenhagen, Denmark (AFP) — Denmark on Wednesday announced it would stop using the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine altogether, becoming the first European country to do so over suspected rare but serious side effects. “Denmark’s vaccination campaign will go ahead without the AstraZeneca vaccine,” Danish Health Authority director Soren Brostrom told journalists, despite recommendations from the World Health Organization and Europe’s medicines watchdog to keep using it. “There is a […]

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Biden sends unofficial US delegation to Taiwan

  TAIPEI, Taiwan (AFP) — US President Joe Biden sent an unofficial delegation of former US officials to Taiwan on Wednesday in a signal of support for the democratic island as it faces increasingly hostile moves by China. Taipei said former senator Christopher Dodd and former deputy secretaries of state Richard Armitage and James Steinberg would land in the capital on Wednesday afternoon. “Once again this visit demonstrates the firm relationship between Taiwan and the […]

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Hard landing: China’s gymnast-turned-beggar back on the streets

  BAODING, China (AFP) — A decade ago the plight of former champion gymnast Zhang Shangwu shocked China and made world headlines when he was discovered begging in Beijing, prompting one of the country’s richest men to give him a job. That should have heralded a turnaround for the troubled Zhang, who had been imprisoned for theft after injury ended his gymnastics career. But after another stint in jail, Zhang is again making a living […]

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S.Africa suspends J&J vaccine rollout over blood clot concerns

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AFP) — South Africa on Tuesday suspended the rollout of the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine over potential blood clot risks reported by the United States, the health minister said. The announcement delays an already sluggish vaccination campaign in Africa’s worst-hit country, which has so far only administered the US-made jab. “We have determined to voluntarily suspend our rollout until the causal relationship between the development of clots and the Johnson & […]

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Pfizer says it can deliver 10% more Covid vaccines to US by end of May

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Pfizer has “ramped up production” of its Covid-19 vaccine and can deliver 10 percent more doses than expected to the United States by the end of May, its CEO Albert Bourla said on Tuesday. That would bring its delivery by the end of next month to 220 million doses, and Bourla said on Twitter the pharmaceutical giant can also “supply the full 300 million agreed on for the end […]

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Germany to give different second jab to AstraZeneca recipients under 60

BERLIN, Germany (AFP) — People aged under 60 who have been given a first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine in Germany will receive a different jab for their second dose, federal and regional health ministers agreed Tuesday. Germany announced on March 30 that it would no longer offer the two-dose AstraZeneca vaccine to people aged under 60 due to concerns over a possible link to rare cases of blood clots. DPA news agency said […]

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Johnson & Johnson says it will delay European Covid-19 vaccine rollout

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Johnson & Johnson said Tuesday it will delay rollout of its Covid-19 vaccine in Europe after US authorities moved to suspend use of the shot due to health concerns. The US Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control moved to “pause” the one-jab Covid-19 innoculation on worries over six reported cases of a rare type of blood clot in the United States. “We have made the […]

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Russia detains two after huge Saint Petersburg fire

SAINT PETERSBURG, Russia (AFP) — Russia on Tuesday detained two people after a huge fire gutted a historic factory in Saint Petersburg, as firefighters continued putting out the blaze. On Monday, a fire broke out over several floors of the red-brick Nevskaya Manufaktura building in Russia’s second city. The inferno killed one firefighter and left two more hospitalised with serious burns. The fire continued burning into Tuesday over an area of 500 square metres (5,381 […]

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US regulators recommend ‘pause’ in use of J&J vaccine over blood clot fears

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US health authorities recommended a “pause” Tuesday in the use of the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine “out of an abundance of caution” over potential links to a rare type of blood clot, in a blow to the country’s immunization campaign. The disorder appears similar to that observed in rare cases of people who received the AstraZeneca vaccine in Europe — and the shots by both companies are based on […]

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Bangladesh virus shutdown triggers exodus from capital

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AFP) — Tens of thousands of people scrambled to get the last trains, buses and ferries out of Dhaka on Tuesday before a nationwide transport shutdown to halt the spread of coronavirus took hold. With new cases and deaths hitting record numbers, Bangladesh’s government has ordered all offices and shops to close for eight days from 6.00 am (midnight GMT) on Wednesday. The country will become virtually cut off with all international flights […]

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UN fears Myanmar heading towards Syria-style ‘full-blown conflict’

by Nina LARSON GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The UN rights chief warned Tuesday of possible crimes against humanity in Myanmar and said it seemed to be heading towards a massive conflict like the one ravaging Syria. In a statement, the UN rights office urged countries to take immediate and decisive action to push the military leaders behind a February 1 coup in Myanmar to stop their “campaign of repression and slaughter of its people.” “I […]

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Austria health official quits over Covid crisis ‘overwork’

VIENNA, Austria (AFP) — Austria’s health minister announced Tuesday he would resign as he was overworked and exhausted managing the coronavirus crisis. Rudolf Anschober became health minister early last year when his Green party formed an unlikely coalition with Chancellor Sebastian Kurz’s conservatives, just before coronavirus started spreading rapidly in Europe. “I’ve decided to resign from my job,” the 60-year-old told reporters. “I’m overworked and powered out,” he said, adding that 15 months on the […]

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