International

Tuesday, January 5th 2021 - 09:30 UTC
Assange's extradition to US denied on mental health problems

A British judge ruled on Monday that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should not be extradited to the United States to face criminal charges including breaking a spying law, saying his mental health problems meant he would be at risk of suicide.
Tuesday, January 5th 2021 - 09:30 UTC
UK becomes first country to roll out the Oxford vaccine; but Johnson also orders new lockdown in England

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday ordered England into a new national lockdown to contain a surge in COVID-19 cases that threatens to overwhelm parts of the health system before a vaccine program reaches a critical mass.
Tuesday, January 5th 2021 - 09:17 UTC
China suspends imports from pork plant in southern Brazil

China has suspended imports from a Brazilian pork plant operated by privately-owned Aurora Alimentos over coronavirus concerns, according to a statement from meat trade group on Monday, in the latest suspension since the health crisis began.
Tuesday, January 5th 2021 - 09:15 UTC
Qatar Airways and LATAM expand South America networks

Qatar Airways is pleased to announce it has increased São Paulo services to 10 weekly flights and expanded codeshare cooperation with LATAM Airlines Brasil optimizing connectivity for both airline’s passengers to and from destinations in Asia, the Middle East and South America. The new codeshare agreement will further strengthen the two airlines’ strategic partnership, first initiated in 2016 and recently expanded in June 2019.
Tuesday, January 5th 2021 - 09:10 UTC
UK/Brazil sign agreement to accelerate digital transformation in public services

An agreement has been signed between Brazil and the UK to accelerate digital transformation and innovation in public services delivery in the Latin American country.
Monday, January 4th 2021 - 05:36 UTC
Brazil health regulator approves import of 2 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine

Brazil's health regulator Anvisa said over the weekend it had approved the import of 2 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford, although the jab is not yet approved for use in the country.
Monday, January 4th 2021 - 05:03 UTC
China calls on meat processors to tighten sanitary measures before exporting

China’s meat importers and processors have asked exporters in countries with Covid-19 outbreaks to step up disinfection procedures before shipping them to the Asian country.
Monday, January 4th 2021 - 05:00 UTC
Johnson, Scottish independence referendum a “once in a generation” vote; Sturgeon, “we'll be back soon”

Boris Johnson has reiterated his position that a Scottish independence referendum should be a “once-in-a-generation” vote. Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr program, the prime minister said the gap between referendums on Europe - the first in 1975 and the second in 2016 - was “a good sort of gap.”
Monday, January 4th 2021 - 04:55 UTC
Opec meeting via videoconference to decide on February production level

Members of the Opec group of oil producers and their partners will meet via videoconference next Monday to decide on production levels for February, hoping to turn the corner on a difficult year. The Opec+ ministerial meeting comes after oil consumption tanked in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and a price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia.
Monday, January 4th 2021 - 04:06 UTC
People killed in large commercial airline crashes higher in 2020 than 2019

The number of people killed in large commercial airplane crashes rose in 2020 to 299 worldwide, even as the number of crashes fell by more than 50%, a Dutch consulting firm said.