International

• Thursday, March 4th 2021 - 08:00 UTC

  France bans extreme right group which incited hatred, violence and attacks immigrants

  

  France agreed on Wednesday to ban the far-right group Generation Identity. Interior minister Gerald Darmanin said it took into account the group's “structure and military organization,” adding that GI can be regarded “as having the character of a private militia.”

• Wednesday, March 3rd 2021 - 08:56 UTC

  Merck & Co to the rescue of Johnson & Johnson single shot Covid-19 vaccine

  

  Merck & Co will help make rival Johnson & Johnson's single-shot Covid-19 vaccine in a partnership set to be announced on Tuesday by US President Joe Biden, a White House official said. J&J's vaccine production has been slower than promised.

• Wednesday, March 3rd 2021 - 08:38 UTC

  Louise De Sousa is the new British Ambassador to Chile

  

  Ambassador Mrs. Louise De Sousa will lead the British Embassy’s efforts further strengthening ties and co-operation between the United Kingdom and Chile. Ambassador De Sousa’s priorities will focus on UK and Chile co-operation responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and a clean, resilient global economic recovery; promoting meaningful action to tackle climate change in the lead-up to the COP26 climate conference; and further strengthening trade and prosperity between the UK and Chile. The ambassador’s work will also include defence and security co-operation, science and innovation, educational and cultural links, and gender equality, reflecting UK global priorities.

• Wednesday, March 3rd 2021 - 08:26 UTC

  World leaders congratulate Gorbachev on his 90th birthday; most Russians not convinced with his reforms

  

  Mikhail Gorbachev turned 90 on Tuesday, with several world leaders sending well-wishes to the former leader of the Soviet Union. The ex-leader of the Soviet Union and secretary-general of the Communist Party is considered by some as one of the greatest reformers of the 20th century — but remains a controversial figure at home.

• Wednesday, March 3rd 2021 - 08:18 UTC

  Scottish leaders' quarrel: Conservatives call for the resignation of First Minister Sturgeon

  

  Scotland's first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, should resign, the main opposition party said on Tuesday amid a dispute involving her predecessor that threatens to damage the independence movement.

• Tuesday, March 2nd 2021 - 09:39 UTC

  Pablo Escobar's original four hippos in Colombia, could number 1,400 by 2034

  

  Hippopotamuses are increasing in Colombia despite being an alien species in South America. Their existence in the country began with the import of four individuals by drug lord Pablo Escobar. The four hippopotamuses later escaped into the wild.

• Tuesday, March 2nd 2021 - 09:31 UTC

  EU will formally propose a digital vaccination passport by end of March

  

  European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU executive would propose a digital vaccination passport later this month, she said on Monday. Members of the bloc will then decide whether to press ahead with the scheme to allow each other to recognize citizens' proof of vaccination.

• Tuesday, March 2nd 2021 - 08:55 UTC

  UK officials tracking one of six individuals affected with a Covid-19 Manaus variant

  

  U.K. health officials are anxious to trace one of six individuals infected with a more contagious variant of the coronavirus, initially identified in Brazil. Up to six cases of the new strain — dubbed P.1 and considered a “variant of concern” by global health experts — have been detected in the U.K., with three cases in Scotland and three in England.

• Tuesday, March 2nd 2021 - 08:53 UTC

  WHO warns it is unrealistic to think the pandemic will be done by end of the year

  

  The World Health Organization warned on Monday that it is unrealistic to think the world will be done with the Covid-19 pandemic by the end of the year. WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan said it might however be possible to take the tragedy out of the coronavirus crisis by reducing hospitalizations and deaths.

• Tuesday, March 2nd 2021 - 08:20 UTC

  Successful first flight test of pilotless fighter jet, a Boeing and Australian Air Force project

  

  Boeing Co and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) said on Tuesday they had completed the first flight test on a pilotless fighter-like jet designed to operate in conjunction with crewed aircraft.