International

Friday, January 15th 2021 - 09:29 UTC
PAHO warns new Covid-19 variants make it urgent to continue with public health measures

The appearance of new variants of the COVID-19 virus in several countries of the Americas, combined with an acceleration in the virus’s spread in virtually every country in the Americas, makes it urgent to continue public health measures such as social distancing, wearing masks, and washing hands often, Pan American Health Organization Director Carisa F. Etienne said.
Friday, January 15th 2021 - 09:17 UTC
In 2021 the Earth is forecasted to spin faster making astronomical days shorter

In 2020, the Earth broke the previous record for shortest astronomical day, set in 2005. In effect the Earth broke the record 28 times in 2020, and it's still spinning faster. While Earth is, on average, pretty reliable and takes 86,400 seconds to rotate around its axis, this is not perfect.
Friday, January 15th 2021 - 08:44 UTC
Urgent meeting of WHO emergency committee to address South Africa, Britain and Amazon Covid-19 variants

The World Health Organization's emergency committee met on Thursday, two weeks ahead of schedule to discuss the new coronavirus variants from South Africa and Britain that have rapidly spread to at least 50 countries and sparked widespread alarm.
Thursday, January 14th 2021 - 09:58 UTC
Global deforestation gobbles an area bigger than Germany in a decade, WWF

More than 43 million hectares of forest - an area bigger than Germany - have been lost in a little over a decade in just a handful of deforestation hot spots, conservation organization WWF said on Wednesday.
Thursday, January 14th 2021 - 09:00 UTC
Ruling coalition in Italy loses majority in the midst of the worst recession since WW2

Italy's former premier Matteo Renzi pulled his small party out of government on Wednesday, stripping the ruling coalition of its parliamentary majority and triggering political chaos even as the nation battles a resurgent COVID-19.
Thursday, January 14th 2021 - 08:44 UTC
Britain trying to contain the coronavirus Brazil variant from reaching UK

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Wednesday the government was looking at ways to stop a variant of the novel coronavirus found in Brazil from entering Britain.
Thursday, January 14th 2021 - 08:39 UTC
New sanitary rules in UK to help overcrowded hospitals discharge patients

Britain on Wednesday altered its rules to allow coronavirus patients who have completed 14 days of isolation without showing symptoms of Covid-19 to move directly into care homes from hospitals without being re-tested for the disease.
Wednesday, January 13th 2021 - 09:33 UTC
Premier Oil becomes Harbor Energy; merges with Chrysaor to make North Sea's largest oil and gas producer

Premier Oil announced on Tuesday that shareholders voted in favor of a reverse takeover of private equity-backed Chrysaor to create the British North Sea’s biggest oil and gas producer in which Premier shareholders will hold about 5.5%.
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.