International

• Saturday, October 10th 2020 - 08:19 UTC

  Covid-19 disrupting mental health services in most countries, WHO survey finds

  

  The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted or halted critical mental health services in 93% of countries worldwide while the demand for mental health is increasing, according to a new WHO survey. The survey of 130 countries provides the first global data showing the devastating impact of COVID-19 on access to mental health services and underscores the urgent need for increased funding.

• Friday, October 9th 2020 - 09:55 UTC

  After rejecting Mercosur trade deal on climate demands, EU parliament votes to drastically cut greenhouse gases by 2030

  

  European Union lawmakers have backed a plan to cut greenhouse gases by 60% from 1990 levels by 2030, hoping member states will not try to water the target down during upcoming negotiations.

• Friday, October 9th 2020 - 09:45 UTC

  EU seals Covid-19 vaccine deal with Johnson & Johnson, securing 1,1 billion doses for its 450 million population

  

  The European Union has sealed a deal with Johnson & Johnson to supply up to 400 million doses of its potential COVID-19 vaccine, as the bloc builds up stocks amid a global scramble to secure shots.

• Friday, October 9th 2020 - 09:30 UTC

  Drone captures a white shark circling a surfer off the Australian coast

  

  A dramatic close encounter between Australian world championship surfer Matt Wilkinson and a shark off the east coast of the country was captured by a drone, showing the shark circle him, close in, and then dart away from his feet.

• Friday, October 9th 2020 - 08:56 UTC

  A woman will lead WTO for the first time: South Korean and Nigerian ministers in the final round

  

  The World Trade Organization (WTO) announced on Thursday that South Korea’s trade minister and a Harvard-trained former Nigerian finance minister have qualified as the two finalists to become the next director-general, ensuring a woman in the top job for the first time.

• Friday, October 9th 2020 - 08:51 UTC

  Two women won the Chemistry Nobel Prize for genome editing technology

  

  Scientists Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna won the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the development of a method for genome editing.

• Friday, October 9th 2020 - 08:20 UTC

  Francis denounces global financial speculation amid spiraling corruption at the heart of the Holy See

  Pope Francis told European anti-money laundering experts that the Vatican was committed to “clean finance,” as he denounced financial speculation amid a spiraling corruption investigation in the heart of the Holy See.

• Friday, October 9th 2020 - 08:08 UTC

  Prince William announces the Earthshot Prize to reward innovative solutions for the planet's challenges

  

  Britain's Prince William on Thursday launched a “prestigious” environmental prize aimed at turning “pessimism into optimism” by rewarding innovative solutions to the planet's biggest problems.

• Friday, October 9th 2020 - 08:05 UTC

  Nobel Literature for US poet Louise Gluck; Swedish Academy overcomes a 2019 controversial Prize

  

  The Nobel Literature Prize on Thursday went to US poet Louise Gluck, the jury at the Swedish Academy said, honoring a writer known for themes of childhood and family life. Gluck, 77, was honored ”for her unmistakable poetic voice that with austere beauty makes individual existence universal,” the Academy said.

• Friday, October 9th 2020 - 08:01 UTC

  The Royal Ballet leaps back into action with classics Romeo and Juliet and Don Quixote

  

  The Royal Ballet, Britain's largest ballet company, leaps back into action on Friday after seven months of COVID-19 gloom with an extravaganza that mixes classics such as Romeo and Juliet and Don Quixote with playful modern dance.