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NEW DELHI, India (AFP) — India’s foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, in Britain for G7 meetings, said on Wednesday he would hold his talks virtually after being exposed to possible coronavirus cases. “Was made aware yesterday evening of exposure to possible Covid positive cases. As a measure of abundant caution and also out of consideration for others, I decided to conduct my engagements in the virtual mode. That will be the case with the G7 Meeting […]
SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — An Australian court on Wednesday agreed to hear a challenge to the country’s controversial ban on citizens returning home from coronavirus-hit India. A federal court said it would urgently hear a case brought by a 73-year-old man living in Bangalore who wishes to return. Prime Minister Scott Morrison this week banned arrivals from India, which is recording hundreds of thousands of new coronavirus infections each day. Under the measures, Australian citizens […]
by Katell PRIGENT PARIS, France (AFP) — With tests, vaccinations and isolation areas, cruise ship companies are hoping for smoother sailing this travel season after fears over Covid-stricken ships rocked the industry last year. Cruise companies have lost tens of billions of dollars while hundreds of thousands of people have lost jobs as countries banned ships from their ports. The industry’s woes started in February last year when the Diamond Princess and its 4,000 passengers […]
by Shaun TANDON LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — The Group of Seven wealthy democracies will discuss coronavirus vaccines Wednesday as they face growing pressure to share stockpiles and know-how with poor nations trailing far behind on fighting the pandemic. Foreign ministers of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States are wrapping up three days of talks in central London that will set the agenda for a G7 leaders’ summit next month in […]
MUMBAI, India (AFP) — India’s central bank released $6.7 billion in cheap financing for vaccine makers, hospitals and other health firms on Wednesday, to counter the devastating coronavirus surge gripping the country. Reserve Bank of India governor Shaktikanta Das said cheap loans would be available until March 31 next year, and vowed to deploy “unconventional” measures if the crisis worsens. He spoke as India announced a record 3,780 deaths in 24 hours as well as […]
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AFP) — Iraq’s health minister resigned on Tuesday, ten days after a fire in a Baghdad Covid-19 hospital killed more than 80 people. Hassan al-Tamimi, who joined the government with the backing of powerful Shiite leader Moqtada Sadr, stepped down of his own accord, a government statement said. The fire, which killed 82 and injured 110, triggered outrage on social media, with a widespread hashtag demanding the health minister be sacked. Prime Minister […]
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Joe Biden wants 70 percent of adults in the US to have received at least one shot of the Covid-19 vaccine by the July 4 Independence Day holiday, the White House said Tuesday. Administration officials who asked not to be identified said Biden would announce the ambitious goal in a speech later Tuesday. In addition to getting 70 percent at least partially vaccinated, Biden wants “160 million Americans fully […]
SINGAPORE, Singapore (AFP) — Singapore announced a slew of new coronavirus restrictions Tuesday including a ban on spectators at sporting events as infections rise in the wealthy city-state. After a partial lockdown and rigorous regime of testing and contact tracing, Covid-19 had almost disappeared in Singapore, with authorities in recent months reporting hardly any local transmission. But cases rose last week with officials announcing several new clusters, and in the last seven days 60 locally […]
BERLIN, Germany (AFP) — People who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 will no longer have to abide by curfews and contact restrictions in Germany under a draft law agreed by the cabinet on Tuesday. They will also be allowed access to shops and other facilities without first providing a negative test result as is currently required of the rest of the population, Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht said while announcing the measures, which may come […]
PARIS, France (AFP) — French Health Minister Olivier Veran on Tuesday defended the country’s staggered rollout of Covid-19 vaccines over the coming weeks, despite calls for making more adults eligible immediately as some doses go unused. Currently people aged 55 and older can get the jab, but several vaccination centres have reported a shortage of candidates and surplus vials in recent weeks. That has prompted some local officials to quietly offer vaccines to all adults […]
by Bhuvan Bagga with Agence France Presse Bureaus NEW DELHI, India (AFP) — India’s coronavirus caseload topped 20 million on Tuesday as the relentless surge finally forced the suspension of the nation’s lucrative cricket competition involving some of the sport’s biggest global stars. The South Asian nation’s plight was in stark contrast to Europe and the United States, where mass vaccinations have allowed the easing of many coronavirus restrictions. More than 350,000 new cases […]
20 million Sputnik V doses assured for delivery by year-end, says Russian Embassy (Eagle News) – President Rodrigo Duterte thanked Russia for providing Sputnik V vaccines to the country, and for their assurance that it would deliver more vaccines for Filipinos, as much as 20 million doses by the end of the year. In his Talk to the Nation on Monday night, May 3, President Duterte thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for his support […]
