Thursday, March 18, 2021

Covid spike likely to derail Germany's reopening plans

Germany has recorded yet another major jump in new coronavirus infections - with cases up 22% compared to this time last week. 

The spike has left lawmakers debating plans on whether to continue to with reopening plans or extend the country's lockdown. 

Trent Murray reports from Berlin 

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EU health regulator to issue guidance on AstraZeneca jab

The EU's health regulator will on Thursday decide what steps need to be taken following reports of bleeding and blood clots in those recently vaccinated with the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. 

17 EU member states including Germany, France, Italy have suspended use of the shot pending the outcome of EMA's probe.

It comes as the EU threatened to block exports of vaccines to any country unwilling to share its own supply. 

Lucy Hough has more from Brussels. 

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AID AGENCIES APPEAL FOR $1.2 BILLION FOR SOUTH SUDANESE REFUGEES

International aid agencies are appealing for US$1.2 billion to provide vital humanitarian assistance for more than 2.2 million South Sudanese refugees living in five countries in 2021.

In a briefing in Geneva this week, the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch said although some progress has been made in the peace implementation, humanitarian and protection needs remain high for South Sudanese refugees.

Patrick Oyet reports

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Afghanistan peace talks held in Moscow

Moscow is hosting the latest round of Afghanistan peace talks on Thursday ahead of an impending U.S. withdrawal. Representatives from the Afghan government, the Taliban and the United States are all attending. Julia Chapman has more. 

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Tanzania’s President John Pombe Magufuli dies



Tanzania's President Dr. John Pombe Magufuli has died at the age of 61, Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan has announced.

Isaac Lukando reports 



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Tanzania’s President John Pombe Magufuli dies


Tanzania's President Dr. John Pombe Magufuli has died at the age of 61, Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan has announced.

Isaac Lukando reports 



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In a Televised speech"...

Fresh coronavirus cases in India continue to surge

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India on Thursday reported its highest daily increase in Covid-19 infections in more than 100 days, with 35,871 confirmed new cases.

The state of Maharashtra - of which Mumbai is the capital - accounts for almost two thirds of those fresh infections.

Rebecca Bundhun reports from Mumbai.

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Tanzania’s President John Pombe Magufuli dies


Tanzania's President Dr John Pombe Magufuli has died at the age of 61, the Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan has announced.

Isaac Lukando reports 



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In a Televised speech on TBC...

Australia – Vaccine booking system under pressure

Australians are being asked for patience as the next stage of the country's vaccine rollout begins.


All Australians aged over 70 become eligible for the vaccine from Monday but many have reported problems booking appointments at GP clinics.


Shaun Bindley reports

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COURTESY AIR NEWS MEDIA - AUSTRALIA



Man charged with murder in connection with 8 killings at massage parlours in Atlanta, Georgia

The man who allegedly shot and killed eight people at massage parlours in the US state of Georgia, has been charged with murder.


Police say 21-year-old Robert Long may have been a patron and has claimed to have a "sex addiction".


Six of the victims were Asian but police say they cannot yet confirm if the attacks were racially motivated.


It comes amid a sharp increase in crimes against Asian-Americans, which President Joe Biden has condemned, as Kate Fisher reports from Washington


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Hong Kong government says Sinovac vaccine is victim of smearing campaign

The Hong Kong government says China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine is the victim of a smearing campaign. It's accusing unnamed organisations of deliberately misleading the public into believing the vaccine is dangerous. 

Richard Kimber reports from Hong Kong.


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Two Michaels Set to Face Trial in China


The trial of two Canadians, held in prison for over two years in China, will go ahead in the coming days.

Canada's embassy in Beijing was notified of the development just as Washington is set to meet Beijing in Alaska for the first high level talks between the two sides since Joe Biden took office.

Patrick Fok reports from Beijing.

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Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Federal Reserve forecasts stronger rebound for US economy in 2021


The Federal Reserve says the US economy will bounce back stronger from the coronavirus pandemic than previously predicted, forecasting 6.5 percent GDP growth this year.


The Fed also signalled it's not expecting to raise interest rates until at least 2023.


Our Washington correspondent Giles Gibson has more.


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Dow jumps 200 points as Fed holds interest rates

Shares jumped on Wall Street with the announcement the Federal Reserve
will leave interest rates at their historically low level.

People in the US are also being given more time to file their taxes.

Sarah Walton reports from New York.

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US set for first in-person China meeting

[Editors - meeting scheduled for Thursday Alaska time]
The US has pledged to hold Beijing to account on human rights issues
at its first face-to-face meeting with Chinese officials under the
Biden administration.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is meeting his counterparts in
Alaska following several years of worsening ties between the world's
top two economies.

Nick Harper reports from the Alaskan city of Anchorage.

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Moscow recalls ambassador to Washington for consultations

Russia has recalled its ambassador to the United States to assess the relationship between the two countries. The decision follows comments from President Joe Biden that he thinks Vladimir Putin is "a killer". Julia Chapman has more.

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Atlanta shootings: Gunman denies race was a factor

Authorities in Atlanta, Georgia say the man suspected of killing eight people at three massage parlours may have acted as a form of vengeance.

Six of the victims are of Asian descent but the suspect denies that race was a motivating factor.

William Denselow reports from Atlanta.

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Officials say too early to say whether Georgia spa attack was racially motivated

Officials in the US state of Georgia say its too soon to tell whether a Tuesday night attack that left primarily Asian victims dead was racially motivated.

Police say the suspect claims to have battled "sex addiction" and may have been a patron of the massage parlours he targeted.

Our US correspondent Rebecca Foster reports.

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EU MULLING SOFTER CRITERIA FOR BLOCKING COVID-19 VACCINE EXPORTS

The European Union's warning that if AstraZeneca fails to deliver enough doses of its Covid-19 vaccine to the bloc, the EU may prevent exports to the UK where the vaccine's also produced.

She claimed that Biontech/Pfizer and Moderna had both delivered on their commitments — but that AstraZeneca had under-produced and under-delivered -- reducing the speed of the EU vaccination campaign.

Stuart Smith has more from Brussels.

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Two Jurors Dismissed from Chauvin Trial

A judge has dismissed two jurors seated for the trial of a former police officer accused in George Floyd's death. 

Floyd died after the policeman kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes on a Minneapolis street last May. 

His death sparked Black Lives Matter protests across the globe.

US Correspondent Rachel Silverman has details.   



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