International

Wednesday, January 13th 2021 - 09:20 UTC
China's Sinovac vaccine is 50,38% effective according to leading Brazilian research center

Trials in Brazil show the Chinese COVID-19 vaccine Sinovac to be 50.38% effective, nearly 30 percentage points below the initial results released last week. The Instituto Butantan, the São Paulo-based research institute responsible for developing the vaccine and conducting trials in the country, announced last week the vaccine had a 78% overall efficacy, with total protection against severe cases.
Wednesday, January 13th 2021 - 09:18 UTC
US tightens sanitary ring: arriving air travelers will need to present a negative coronavirus test

All air travelers arriving in the United States will need to present a negative coronavirus test, according to the latest announcement. Under the rules taking effect Jan. 26, travelers including U.S. citizens must show a negative test within three days of departure or documentation of recovery from COVID-19, under an order signed by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Robert Redfield.
Wednesday, January 13th 2021 - 09:08 UTC
Brexit fallout: Ireland expects to receive Euros 1,05bn from EU

Ireland is set to receive 1.05 billion Euros (US$ 1.28 billion) this year from a European Union fund for countries worst affected by Britain's exit from the European Union, Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said on Tuesday.
Tuesday, January 12th 2021 - 09:49 UTC
BioNTech doubling deliveries with improved production lines and syringes

BioNTech, the co-producer of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine, boosted the 2021 delivery target for their product to 2 billion doses, up from 1,3 billion previously as they bring new production lines on stream and as more doses can be extracted per vial.
Tuesday, January 12th 2021 - 09:26 UTC
US openly supports Guyana: joint coast guard exercise and visit of top Navy commander

The United States is doubling its support for Guyana in the territorial dispute with Venezuela, another flank in Washington's campaign to force Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro out of power.
Tuesday, January 12th 2021 - 09:10 UTC
Germany and France blast the “digital oligarchy” for shutting out Trump from social media platforms

Germany and France surprisingly backed United States President Donald Trump after he was banned from social media platforms including Twitter and Facebook extending Europe's battle with big technology.
Tuesday, January 12th 2021 - 08:56 UTC
Ford after a century in Brazil, closes its three factories with a loss of 5,000 jobs

Carmaker Ford said on Monday losses exacerbated by the coronavirus epidemic and fiscal uncertainties would see it close its three factories in Brazil, where it has operated for a century, terminating some 5,000 jobs.
Tuesday, January 12th 2021 - 08:16 UTC
Beijing announces WHO team will arrive on Thursday to investigate origin of Covid-19 pandemic

The World Health Organization (WHO) will send experts to China on Thursday and work with Chinese peers to investigate the origin of COVID-19, said China's National Health Commission (NHC).
Tuesday, January 12th 2021 - 08:05 UTC
Taipei releases new passport which prominently displays the word TAIWAN

Taiwan has released a new passport and lawmakers and officials were among the people who lined up early to apply for the redesigned document, which prominently displays the word “Taiwan,” while minimizing the English name “Republic of China” (ROC).
Monday, January 11th 2021 - 09:55 UTC
Algae blooms in the South West Atlantic caught on satellite images

In austral spring and summer, conditions in the South Atlantic off Patagonia often become just right for phytoplankton, and populations of the plant-like organisms explode into enormous blooms.