Tens of thousands of people, many of them far-right supporters, protested in Vienna on Saturday against coronavirus restrictions a day after Austria’s government announced a new lockdown and said vaccines would be made compulsory next year. Whistling, blowing horns, and banging drums, crowds streamed into Heroes’ Square in front of …
Read More »Yearly Archives: 2021
Iraq announces 568 new COVID-19 cases, 14 deaths in the last 24 hours
Iraq recorded 568 COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, the Ministry of Health said today, Saturday. The daily epidemiological report on the COVID-19 situation stated that 14 COVID-19 deaths were registered today. On the other hand, 1,006 patients have achieved full recovery. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 in …
Read More »Fuel rationed, travel limited in flooded western Canada
Officials in flood-stricken western Canada announced travel and fuel restrictions Friday as the region grapples with supply difficulties, the latest on a list of struggles caused by torrential rains. Record rainfall hit southwestern British Columbia Sunday and Monday resulting in landslides and flooding which destroyed roads and infrastructure and forced …
Read More »Fire breaks out near Place de L’Opera in central Paris (Videos)
A large fire broke out in a building on boulevard des Capucines, near the Place de L’Opera square in central Paris on Saturday, sending clouds of smoke rising into the air. #France??:A large #fire broke out in a building on boulevard des Capucines, near the #Place de L'Opera square in …
Read More »Taliban to start paying overdue salaries of government employees
Afghanistan’s Taliban administration will begin paying the overdue salaries of government workers from Saturday, officials said. Thousands of Afghan government workers are owed at least three months of salary, one of the many crises faced by the Taliban since the extremist group took over the country in August. “The finance …
Read More »‘Burning the metro’: Chile election divides voters between protest and order
For many Chileans, Plaza Baquedano, a broad rotary in central Santiago that for decades served as a center of social protest, has become a powerful symbol of hope. For two years, city residents have regularly gathered here to protest pensions that are too low, public transit fees that are too …
Read More »Poland reports fewer attempts to cross its border with Belarus
The number of migrants trying to force their way into Poland from Belarus fell again on Friday after an apparent change in tack by Minsk that could help calm a crisis that has escalated into a major East-West confrontation. The Polish Border Guard said on Twitter that there were 195 …
Read More »Two in hospital after police fire on Dutch COVID-19 protesters
Two people were being treated in hospital in the Dutch city of Rotterdam on Saturday after they were seriously injured when police fired shots during a violent protest against COVID-19 measures, authorities said. Crowds of several hundred rioters torched cars, set off fireworks, and threw rocks at police during the …
Read More »An attack targets the US-led Coalition in Iraq
An explosive device blew up on Friday targeting the US-led Coalition in Dhi Qar, southern Iraq. No causality was reported. There was no claim of responsibility. A few months ago, the Iraqi authorities issued warnings of repeated targeting of foreign forces and diplomatic missions. On January 5, the Iraqi parliament …
Read More »The US is seeking to expand its biggest overseas spy base. Why?
RAF Menwith Hill, America’s largest overseas spy base, located in the UK, is to be expanded, and for reasons, we can only guess at – although they’re unlikely to be positive. A planning application by the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) that was recently submitted to a borough council in …
Read More »Migrant boat with 10 dead bodies arrives in Sicily
A boat carrying the bodies of 10 migrants found dead at sea arrived in Sicily on Friday, along with dozens of people it rescued this week as they tried to cross the Mediterranean. The crew of the Geo Barents vessel, run by charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF), found the corpses …
Read More »Iraqi Marshes of Chabayish records an unprecedented number of tourists
Al-Chabayish Tourism and Environment Organization in Dhi Qar Governorate announced the recording of the highest number of Iraqi and foreign tourists entered this season on Friday. The director of the organization, Raad al-Asadi, said in a press statement, “The marshes area in the district of Chabayish, the far south of …
Read More »FDA clears Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 boosters for all US adults
The Food and Drug Administration opened booster shots for the Pfizer / BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to all adults today, the companies announced, expanding eligibility outside of the initial, vulnerable groups they were cleared for earlier this fall. Although the COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States are still …
Read More »Man City’s De Bruyne tests positive for COVID-19
Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne has tested positive for COVID-19 on international duty with Belgium, manager Pep Guardiola said on Friday. De Bruyne, 30, played in Belgium’s 1-1 draw with Wales in Cardiff on Tuesday. He will miss City’s home matches against Everton in the Premier League on Sunday …
Read More »India’s Modi backs down on farm reforms in victory for protesters
In a surprise announcement on Friday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he would repeal agriculture laws that farmers have been protesting against for more than a year, sparking celebrations for what farmers called a hard-fought victory. Modi’s decision is a significant climb-down for the combative leader and comes as …
Read More »Harris to become first woman with presidential power while Biden is under anesthesia for routine colonoscopy
President Joe Biden on Friday will temporarily transfer power to Vice President Kamala Harris while he is under anesthesia for a routine colonoscopy, White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters. “The Vice President will work from her office in the West Wing during this time,” Psaki said in a …
Read More »France to ‘fight every day’ for more fishing licences in row with UK
France said on Friday it was still waiting for Britain to issue 150 more fishing licences to French vessels in a post-Brexit row that has strained British-French relations, and that it would “fight every day” to obtain them. The dispute has dragged on since Britain left the European Union, with …
Read More »Iraqi Coordinating Committee of the Demonstrations: Our demands are to prosecute the counterfeiters and whoever ordered and executed the shooting of demonstrators
The Coordination Committee of the Demonstrations and Sit-ins protesting the election results commended the Iraqi Judiciary’s decision in favor of eight candidates from the defeated Shiite political forces. The Committee’s statement said that the “honest Judiciacy” redressed the candidates and retrieved their votes and seats. “This resonates with what prompted …
Read More »UK sees progress on N.Ireland trade without triggering emergency measures
A senior British minister said on Friday that he was confident London could break an impasse with the EU over post-Brexit trade arrangements for Northern Ireland without having to trigger emergency measures to safeguard the movement of goods. Britain and the EU agreed to intensify efforts to resolve Northern Ireland …
Read More »US warns China after South China Sea standoff with Philippines
The United States on Friday warned China after a standoff in the South China Sea between China and the Philippines, saying it stood by Manila amid an “escalation that directly threatens regional peace and stability”. Beijing “should not interfere with lawful Philippine activities in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone”, U.S. …
Read More »