Month: April 2021

Categories EU

France shuts schools for three weeks and whole country heads for lockdown amid Covid-19 spike as Macron defends measures

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From Saturday, France will widen regional lockdown measures to the entire country in a bid to halt rising Covid-19 infections, President Emmanuel Macron has said, while defending his government’s approach to tackling the virus. … Read More >France shuts schools for three weeks and whole country heads for lockdown amid Covid-19 spike as Macron defends measures

Categories Russia

Germany’s Merkel, France’s Macron & Russia’s Putin use video call to discuss potential cooperation over Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine

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With the EU suffering from an acute Covid-19 vaccine shortage, the leaders of France and Germany discussed the potential import of the Moscow-made Sputnik V in a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday night. … Read More >Germany’s Merkel, France’s Macron & Russia’s Putin use video call to discuss potential cooperation over Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine

Categories Asia & Pacific

China rejects allegations it did not properly share Covid-19 data with WHO researchers

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China has rejected allegations made by the World Health Organization (WHO) chief, who claimed researchers had trouble “accessing raw data” while in Wuhan. It insists that local and foreign scientists used the exact same databases. … Read More >China rejects allegations it did not properly share Covid-19 data with WHO researchers

Categories World

Netherlands-sized rainforest land destroyed in 2020 despite Covid-19 lockdowns – report

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The world experienced a “climate emergency” in 2020, as deforestation increased 12% on the previous year, despite the global slowdown caused by the Covid pandemic, according to a newly released report by Global Forest Watch (GFW). … Read More >Netherlands-sized rainforest land destroyed in 2020 despite Covid-19 lockdowns – report

Categories Asia & Pacific

Jakarta police shoot woman ‘with ISIS beliefs’ in gun battle days after suicide bombers attack church

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A woman was shot and killed in Jakarta, Indonesia, after exchanging gunfire with officers, police have confirmed. The nation’s police chief said the woman was a “lone wolf” assailant and followed Islamic State’s ideology. … Read More >Jakarta police shoot woman ‘with ISIS beliefs’ in gun battle days after suicide bombers attack church

Categories EU

EU Commission takes Poland to Europe’s top court in bid to ‘protect independence’ of country’s judges

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The EU Commission has taken Poland to the European Court of Justice over a reform it thinks undermines the independence of the country’s judiciary. Poland claims the EU has no legal right to meddle in its internal politics. … Read More >EU Commission takes Poland to Europe’s top court in bid to ‘protect independence’ of country’s judges

Categories Asia & Pacific

WHO says Sinopharm and Sinovac Covid-19 vaccines have efficacy levels compatible with its requirements

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The World Health Organization (WHO) has said the data it has been given by Chinese firms Sinopharm and Sinovac suggest that their vaccines meet the WHO’s efficacy requirements for emergency-use listing. … Read More >WHO says Sinopharm and Sinovac Covid-19 vaccines have efficacy levels compatible with its requirements

Categories EU

Finland’s govt backs down on plan to lock city dwellers in their homes as proposed anti-Covid measures deemed unconstitutional

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Finland’s government has withdrawn a proposal to impose strict lockdowns in five cities, including the capital Helsinki. PM Sanna Marin has accepted the measures were deemed illegal by the country’s constitutional law committee. … Read More >Finland’s govt backs down on plan to lock city dwellers in their homes as proposed anti-Covid measures deemed unconstitutional