Vietnam finds new virus variant, hybrid of India, U.K. strains
Vietnam has discovered a new coronavirus variant that’s a hybrid of strains first found in India and the U.K., the Vietnamese health minister said Saturday.
World News
EU Drugs Agency Approves COVID Vaccines For Children
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has approved vaccinating children against the coronavirus despite concerns about side effects. Germany already said it plans to start in early June, Germany’s broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW) reported Friday.
Hong Kong Jails Pro-Democracy Leader And Activists
Pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai has been sentenced to 14 months in prison for participating in an unauthorized assembly in 2019.
U.S. tells Russia it won’t rejoin Open Skies arms control pact
The Biden administration informed Russia on Thursday that it will not rejoin a key arms control pact, even as the two sides prepare for a summit next month between their leaders.
Former nuclear inspector says ‘time is running out’ on Iran
A day after the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency warned that Iran’s uranium enrichment program was “very concerning,” a former inspector from the international nuclear watchdog agency cautioned that there might be “unforeseeable developments.”
BBC Presenter Dies After Taking AstraZeneca’s COVID Vaccine
A radio presenter of British broadcaster BBC presenter has died after she took the AstraZeneca COVID-19 shot, her family said Thursday.
Afghanistan Military Massively Surrenders To Taliban As US Withdraws
Many Afghan military units surrender to the Islamist militant Taliban group as American troops withdraw, a report said Thursday.
Russia Prohibits Austrian Airlines To Enter Moskou
Russia has prevented an Austrian Airlines flight from entering Moscow because it refused to cross over Belarusian airspace.
Belarus President Condemns Sanctions, Defends Detention Journalist On Plane
Belarus’ authoritarian president has condemned Western nations for imposing sanctions after he ordered a Ryanair flight to land in his country where an opposition journalist was detained.
US to move sole aircraft carrier in Asia-Pacific to the Middle East
In a rare move intended to facilitate the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier is expected to be redeployed from the Asia-Pacific region to the Middle East, Voice of America reports.
‘US Seeks To Resume Nuclear Talks With North Korea’
The United States has “signaled a desire” to resume stalled nuclear negotiations with North Korea, the South Korean president reportedly said Wednesday.
Nigeria Boat Tragedy Kills 150 Mainly Women And Children
More than 150 people, including many women and children, were feared drowned after an overloaded boat sank in a river in north-western Nigeria, officials said Thursday.
Russia deploys 3 nuclear-capable bombers to Syria
The Russian military said Tuesday it has deployed three nuclear-capable long-range bombers to its base in Syria, a move that could strengthen Moscow’s military foothold in the Mediterranean.
IAEA chief: Iran’s uranium enrichment now at levels of ‘countries making bombs’
The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog has said Iran is enriching uranium to levels that only countries seeking to make atomic weapons reach, and that the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program can no longer be returned to where it stood when a landmark 2015 deal was struck with world powers.
Cyclone Yaas Hammers Eastern India, Bangladesh
A powerful cyclone made landfall in eastern India and Bangladesh Wednesday, causing at least two deaths, flooding and damage to structures.
Biden and Putin will have summit meeting in Geneva next month
Amid rising tensions over a variety of issues between them, US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet face-to-face at a summit in Geneva on June 16, the Times of Israel reports.
EU Bans Belarus Airlines Over Detention Journalist
The European Union on Tuesday banned Belarusian airlines from European skies after a flight was diverted to Minsk on Sunday and a dissident journalist arrested.
Mysterious air base pops up on volcanic island off Yemen
A mysterious air base is being built on a volcanic island off Yemen that sits in one of the world’s crucial maritime chokepoints for both energy shipments and commercial cargo.
Chinese Propaganda Outlet Paid Millions to American Newspapers and Magazines, Records Show
A news agency controlled by the Chinese Communist Party paid millions of dollars to American newspapers and magazines over the past six months, even as U.S. officials have sounded the alarm on Beijing’s propaganda activities.
Super blood moon and total lunar eclipse will be seen on Wednesday
Skywatchers are anticipating a doubly spectacular display during pre-dawn hours on Wednesday, as a super blood moon and a total lunar eclipse become visible across the western USA, and parts of South America and Asia. This will be the second and final supermoon of the year, USA Today reports.