JERUSALEM, Undefined (AFP) — Israel’s president on Monday formally received the first-ever ambassador from the United Arab Emirates to the Jewish state, following last year’s historic agreement between the countries to normalize ties. UAE envoy Mohamed Al Khaja, who arrived in Israel earlier Monday, delivered his credentials to Israeli President Reuven Rivlin at a ceremony in Jerusalem. After greeting Khaja in Arabic, Rivlin said: “The entire Israeli people welcome you with joy. “This will be […]
International
Spain suffers second-worst month for virus deaths
MADRID, Spain (AFP) — Spain suffered its second-worst month for coronavirus deaths in February with 10,528 fatalities, the worst figure since April last year, government figures showed on Monday. The overall toll now stands at 69,609, health ministry data showed. Although Spain’s third wave peak has passed — the 14-day cumulative case number has fallen from nearly 900 per 100,000 people in late January to 175 currently — the death toll has remained stubbornly high. […]
Myanmar’s Suu Kyi hit with two new criminal charges as she appears via video in court
NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar (AFP) — Ousted Myanmar civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi was hit with two new criminal charges when she appeared in court via video link on Monday, a month after a military coup triggered relentless and massive protests. Suu Kyi has not been seen since being detained on February 1, and her appearance came as demonstrators took to the streets again across the country in defiance of an escalation of deadly force […]
UK aid charities warn of famine as Covid hits poorer nations
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — A coalition of UK aid agencies warned Monday that the Covid-19 pandemic is worsening the “dire humanitarian” crisis in fragile states and raising the risk of famine, including in Yemen. Parts of Yemen and South Sudan are already on the brink of famine, while Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo are at risk, driven by the pandemic’s economic impact, the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) said in a new report. […]
Ghana president receives world’s first free Covax jab
ACCRA, Ghana (AFP) — Ghana’s president Nana Akufo-Addo on Monday became the world’s first recipient of a coronavirus vaccine from Covax, a global scheme to procure and distribute inoculations for free for poorer countries. Richer countries have surged ahead with inoculating their population, but many poorer countries are still awaiting their first vaccine doses. “It is important that I set the example that this vaccine is safe by being the first to have it, so […]
Khashoggi fiancee demands punishment for Saudi prince
ISTANBUL, Turkey (AFP) — The Turkish fiancee of slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi said on Monday that Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman should be “punished without delay” over the murder. The United States on Friday declassified a report that publicly accused the crown prince of approving Khashoggi murder in the kingdom’s Istanbul consulate in 2018. But the United States stopped short of applying sanctions against the 35-year-old de facto leader, known by his […]
US children could receive vaccine by year-end: Fauci
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States could start vaccinating older children against Covid-19 by the fall and younger ones by year-end or early 2022, the White House’s top pandemic advisor Anthony Fauci said Sunday. The mass vaccination of school-age children will allow millions of children to return sooner to in-person learning and ease the burden on millions of parents now caring for their offspring at home. School reopenings, an intensely debated matter, […]
Myanmar’s Suu Kyi to face court after deadly crackdown
YANGON, Myanmar (AFP) — Ousted Myanmar civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has not been seen since last month’s military coup, is due to face court Monday after a deadly weekend crackdown against relentless democracy protests. Security forces opened fire on unarmed demonstrators in four cities on Sunday, with the UN saying it had credible information at least 18 people had died. One person among a group of protesters crouching behind rubbish bins and […]
Over 20 million get first dose of covid vaccine in UK
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Britain announced Sunday that it has given more than 20 million people at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, with the rapid rollout providing hope in a country with Europe’s highest death toll. Prime Minister Boris Johnson called it “a huge national achievement” while praising National Health Service staff and others involved for “tireless work”. Health Secretary Matt Hancock made the announcement in a video message on Twitter, saying: […]
US to distribute 4 million J&J Covid vaccines by Tuesday
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Four million doses of the latest Covid-19 vaccine to get US approval will be delivered across the country as early as Tuesday, a senior administration official said. The United States on Saturday authorized Johnson & Johnson’s Covid vaccine for emergency use, boosting President Joe Biden’s plan to battle the outbreak that has killed more than 500,000 Americans. The single-shot vaccine — the third type to be authorized — is highly […]
New Zealand’s largest city back in lockdown as Covid lingers
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP) — Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern ordered New Zealand’s largest city back into lockdown on Saturday as Covid-19 cases continued to be detected in the community. The latest restrictions in Auckland will last at least seven days and come less than two weeks after a three-day shutdown in the city. Ardern said a new coronavirus case confirmed on Saturday could not be directly connected to other positive tests over the last […]
Canada approves AstraZeneca vaccine
By: Thomas I. Likness EBC News Service (Eagle News) — Canadians now have access to a third Covid-19 vaccine after Health Canada approved the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine Friday. “This is very encouraging news. It means more people vaccinated and sooner,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a news conference Friday. “With Pfizer, Moderna and now AstraZeneca, Canada will get to more than 6.5 million doses by the end of March.” “Vaccines will keep arriving faster and faster […]
