International

Thursday, December 31st 2020 - 08:01 UTC
Covid-19 outbreak in Wuhan had most probably ten times more cases, China public health report

The scale of the Covid-19 outbreak in Wuhan early this year may have been nearly 10 times the recorded tally, a study conducted by China's public health authorities indicates, leaving the city where the coronavirus first took hold still well short of the immunity required to protect against a potential resurgence.
Thursday, December 31st 2020 - 08:00 UTC
Australia's Antarctic Program MPV Everest scheduled to leave Hobart next 9 January

MPV Everest arrived in Hobart, Tasmania, on Wednesday to commence work for the Australian Antarctic Program, resupplying Australian stations and changing over personnel this summer.
Thursday, December 31st 2020 - 07:19 UTC
Labour supported Brexit accord, “a thin deal better than a chaotic no-deal rupture”, Keir Starmer

The House of Commons on Wednesday approved by an ample majority the EU/UK post Brexit deal, but this did not impede some lawmakers complain about being given only five hours in Parliament to scrutinize a deal that will mean profound changes for Britain’s economy and society.
Thursday, December 31st 2020 - 07:04 UTC
French truckers warn about red tape and “smart borders” as UK/EU deal customs becomes effective

Red tape, new “smart borders” that don't talk to one another and ill-prepared traders threaten border chaos, French truckers warned a day before Britain restores a hard frontier with Europe.
Wednesday, December 30th 2020 - 08:52 UTC
Sophisticated Roman baths uncovered in Amman during building of a major drainage system

The discovery of the ruins of old Roman baths during the construction of a major drainage system in the heart of Jordan's capital has posed a dilemma: how to preserve the country's ancient past while providing for its modern future?
Wednesday, December 30th 2020 - 08:24 UTC
WHO warns vaccines have yet to prove that they are effective at preventing Covid-19 transmission

Officials at the World Health Organization warned that the COVID-19 pandemic that has ravaged every corner of the world “is not necessarily the big one” — and that the novel coronavirus may never truly go away.
Wednesday, December 30th 2020 - 08:11 UTC
Coronavirus new variant “does not appear to cause more severe illness”, Public Health England

A new variant of the novel coronavirus does not appear to cause more severe illness than other variants, according to a matched study by Public Health England. Scientists say the new variant can spread more rapidity It was found in England in mid-December and led to other countries imposing travel restrictions to the United Kingdom. Several other countries have reported the variant.
Wednesday, December 30th 2020 - 08:10 UTC
Boris Johnson considering tougher measures extending tier 4 restrictions

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has approved placing more parts of the country into tier 4 restrictions, as the country battles a new variant of Covid-19 which scientists say can spread more rapidly, The Times reported.
Wednesday, December 30th 2020 - 08:00 UTC
Greenest and craziest 180,00 tons cruise vessel Mardi Gras offers a roller coaster and brewery for craft beers

In cold, dark Finland, in the middle of the pandemic, shipyard workers at Meyer Turku were hard at work setting a roller coaster on top of a cruise ship - a world first. Others were installing a brewery that could produce craft beers with filtered seawater, intended for a staggering on-board audience of up to 6,500 passengers.
Wednesday, December 30th 2020 - 08:00 UTC
Ireland's most liberal Catholic prelate, Archbishop of Dublin, retires

Ireland's most liberal Roman Catholic prelate, the Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin, is to step aside having reached the normal retirement age for bishops of 75, the Vatican said on Tuesday.