Health & Science

• Friday, September 25th 2020 - 08:58 UTC

  Relentless Covid-19: Rio de Janeiro's carnival festivities indefinitely postponed

  

  Rio de Janeiro's world-famous carnival parades became the latest casualty of the coronavirus pandemic on Thursday as officials announced they were indefinitely postponing the February 2021 edition, with Brazil still reeling from COVID-19.

• Friday, September 25th 2020 - 07:45 UTC

  Royal Household freeze on pay and new hiring, and cutting non-essential expenditure

  Britain's Royal Household on Friday defended taxpayer-funded trips, including a golfing jaunt by the beleaguered Prince Andrew, as it warned of a financial hit stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Thursday, September 24th 2020 - 08:45 UTC

  Pork rib dishes soar in China following the ban on German pig meat imports

  

  The cost of China's much-loved pork rib dishes is soaring after Beijing suspended imports of pig meat from major supplier Germany, hurting restaurants still recovering from the coronavirus hit earlier this year.

• Thursday, September 24th 2020 - 08:35 UTC

  COVID-19: Countries urged to take stronger action to stop spread of harmful information

  

  The World Health Organization (WHO) together with the UN, specialized agencies, and partners called on countries to develop and implement action plans to promote the timely dissemination of science-based information and prevent the spread of false information while respecting freedom of expression.

• Wednesday, September 23rd 2020 - 08:47 UTC

  Brazil on course to post a record budget primary deficit of US$ 147 billion

  

  Brazil’s government is on course to post a primary budget deficit of 861 billion reais (US$ 157 billion) this year, the Economy Ministry said in its bimonthly revenue and expenditure report on Tuesday, factoring in extended emergency transfers to the poor through the end of December.

• Wednesday, September 23rd 2020 - 08:30 UTC

  Trump accuses China of unleashing Covid-19; Xi poses as global leader of multilateralism

  

  U.S. President Donald Trump told the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday that China must be held accountable for having “unleashed” COVID-19 on the world, prompting Beijing to accuse him of “lies” and abusing the U.N. platform to provoke confrontation.

• Wednesday, September 23rd 2020 - 06:29 UTC

  In a dramatic speech, PM Johnson calls for more action to combat second wave of Covid-19

  

  Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the British people on Tuesday to work from home where possible and ordered restaurants and bars to close early to tackle a fast-spreading second wave of COVID-19, with new restrictions lasting probably six months.

• Tuesday, September 22nd 2020 - 08:51 UTC

  Latin American countries plan to join WHO's virus vaccine COVAX; ask for more time to sign

  

  Brazil and Argentina, Latin American nations seeking more time to commit to the global COVID-19 vaccine facility known as COVAX, said they intend to so as soon as possible after missing Friday’s deadline.

• Tuesday, September 22nd 2020 - 08:27 UTC

  Mexico confirms 700,000 coronavirus cases, but admits true figures are higher

  

  Mexico’s confirmed coronavirus caseload rose past 700,000 on Monday, according to updated data from the health ministry officials, along with a reported death toll of 73,697.

• Tuesday, September 22nd 2020 - 08:16 UTC

  Cyanobacteria neurotoxins killed more than 300 elephants in Botswana

  

  Toxins in water produced by cyanobacteria killed more than 300 elephants in Botswana this year, officials said on Monday, announcing the result of an investigation into the deaths which had baffled and alarmed conservationists.