International

Wednesday, December 9th 2020 - 08:05 UTC
Panda diplomacy survives current US/China confrontation

Giant pandas will remain at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington for another three years under an agreement reached with Chinese wildlife officials, the zoo said on Monday.
Wednesday, December 9th 2020 - 08:01 UTC
Venice off guard and under water as flood gates did not function on time

Venice was underwater on Tuesday as heavy rain and strong winds pushed into the lagoon city, catching the authorities off guard before they could activate the huge flood barriers that were rolled out two months ago.
Wednesday, December 9th 2020 - 08:00 UTC
India buys 1,6 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines, Novavax, Oxford and Sputnik

India has bought 1.6 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines, which is more than any other country, according to a global analysis. Using its massive manufacturing clout, the country purchased 500 million doses of the Oxford University-AstraZeneca vaccine candidate, one billion from the American company Novavax and 100 million doses of the Sputnik V candidate from Russia's Gamaleya Research Institute, said the USA-based Duke University Global Health Innovation Centre.
Tuesday, December 8th 2020 - 14:44 UTC
British granny 90, first person to receive the Pfizer Covid 19 vaccine: “Go for it”

Ms Margaret Keenan, the 90-year-old grandmother who became the first person in the world to receive the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine outside of a trial in Britain on Tuesday, has a message for others: “Go for it” to beat the devastating disease.
Tuesday, December 8th 2020 - 14:26 UTC
Nepal and China agree that Mount Everest is 86cm higher: 8,848.86m

The highest point on Earth got a bit higher on Tuesday as China and Nepal finally agreed on a precise elevation for Mount Everest after decades of debate. The agreed height unveiled at a joint news conference in Kathmandu of 8,848.86m is 86cm higher than the measurement previously recognized by Nepal, and more than 4m above China's official figure.
Tuesday, December 8th 2020 - 09:41 UTC
Curbing Amazon deforestation conditions EU/Mercosur trade deal

Until Brazil makes a political commitment to curb deforestation in the Amazon rainforest, the trade deal between the European Union and South America’s Mercosur trade bloc will not advance toward ratification in Europe, the EU’s envoy in Brasilia said.
Tuesday, December 8th 2020 - 08:31 UTC
China's November exports jumped 21,1% as the economy is back on solid recovery

China's exports jumped to record levels in November, offering fresh evidence of the world's second-largest economy's solid recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic that continues to ravage many major economies, while slower growth in imports also underscored persistent pressure on domestic demand from the virus.
Tuesday, December 8th 2020 - 08:00 UTC
Bob Dylan sells the rights of his entire catalogue to Universal Music Group

US singer-songwriter Bob Dylan has sold the rights to his entire back catalogue to Universal Music Group (UMG). The deal is one of the biggest acquisitions in Universal's history and means the company will collect all future income from the songs.
Tuesday, December 8th 2020 - 07:10 UTC
Unidentified infection spreads in the south of India: 400 hospitalized mostly children

One person has died and more than 400 have been hospitalised in southern India due to an unidentified infection that caused many to fall unconscious following seizures and nausea, a senior health department official said on Monday.
Monday, December 7th 2020 - 09:20 UTC
World's largest iceberg approaching South Georgia: concerns it could get stuck in shallow waters

The world’s largest iceberg has been captured on camera drifting through the Southern Antarctic Front near the overseas British territory of South Georgia. British Forces South Atlantic Islands (BFSAI) used high-speed digital cameras attached to a military transport aircraft to capture rare images of the iceberg as it travelled towards the island.