Author: Fworld
German Coronavirus Vaccine Developer CureVac Denies US Bid
18/03/2020
CureVac, the German biotech firm at the center of an argument over alleged U.S. attempts to gain access to an experimental coronavirus vaccine it is developing, denied Tuesday it had received U.S. offers for the company or its assets.European Union leaders said they would discuss Tuesday via videoconference how to prevent hostile U.S. takeovers of …
British Court Convicts Manchester Bomber’s Brother of 22 Murders
18/03/2020
A British court has found the younger brother of Manchester bomber Salman Abedi guilty of the murders of 22 people at an Ariana Grande concert in May of 2017. The brother, Hashem Abedi, was in Libya during Salman Abedi’s suicide bombing, but was involved in planning the attack and manufacturing the explosive. Hashem Abedi was convicted of …
European Leaders Videoconference Over Refugee Crisis, Coronavirus
18/03/2020
Turkish, French, German and British leaders met by videoconference Tuesday to commit themselves to joint actions on the Syrian refugee crisis and coronavirus pandemic.The last-minute conference due to the COVID-19 outbreak replaced an Istanbul summit between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. …
Virus Dampens St. Patrick’s Day Revels Around the World
17/03/2020
St. Patrick’s Day celebrations around the world have fallen victim to the new coronavirus — but even a pandemic could not quash the desire to celebrate the color green, Guinness and all things Irish. Parades and parties were canceled around the globe Tuesday as governments imposed restrictions on human contact to slow the spread of the virus. A deserted O’Connell …
Will Coronavirus Change Europe Permanently?
17/03/2020
The bells are tolling in the villages of the north Italian region of Lombardy, registering yet another coronavirus death. North Italy has suffered epidemics before, albeit much more deadly contagions in the 17th and 18th centuries, which left more than 300,000 dead. But Italians never thought they would encounter again a contagion powerful enough to …
Four European Nations Curb Stock Trading to Halt Coronavirus Stampede
17/03/2020
France, Italy, Spain and Belgium curbed stock market trading on Tuesday, banning short-selling to shield some of Europe’s biggest companies from a sell-off triggered by the coronavirus. The move will temporarily halt bets on falling shares at scores of companies from the world’s largest brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev, to Spanish bank Santander and Air France-KLM.The radical …
UK to Unveil Business Rescue Package as Coronavirus Hammers Economy
17/03/2020
Britain will on Tuesday unveil a rescue package for businesses threatened with collapse by the coronavirus outbreak as budget forecasters said the scale of the borrowing needed might resemble the immense debt splurge during World War II. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who told people to avoid pubs, clubs, restaurants, cinemas and theaters on Monday, …
EU Borders to Shut, France under Lockdown: Macron
17/03/2020
The European Union’s external borders will be closed to non-essential travel for 30 days as of Tuesday to fight the spread of the coronavirus, while France is following Italy and Spain in imposing a nationwide lockdown for at least 15 days.In an address to the nation Monday night, President Emmanuel Macron announced France was at war against COVID-19. He announced new measures …
Spain Adopts Italy-Style Measures to Contain Coronavirus
17/03/2020
Spain is suffering Europe’s worst coronavirus contagion after Italy, according to government officials who have declared a “state of alarm” to implement the type of emergency measures instituted in Italy, forcing people to stay indoors even at the risk of economic paralysis. According to Spanish health authorities, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases rose past 9,000 …
Terrorism Charge Brought Against Russian Journalist Prokopyeva
17/03/2020
Russian journalist Svetlana Prokopyeva has been formally charged with justifying terrorism in a case that has drawn criticism from rights and media watchdogs.Prokopyeva, a freelance contributor for RFE/RL’s Russian Service, said on March 16 she had been handed the indictment document at the prosecutor’s office in Pskov.She denies the charge, which stem from comments made …
Spain’s Coronavirus Cases Rise to 8,744, Death Toll Up at 297
16/03/2020
Spain’s tally of coronavirus cases rose to 8,744 on Monday and the number of fatalities rose to 297, said Fernando Simon, the head of the country’s health emergency center. The previous tally was 7,753 cases on Sunday, with 288 fatalities …
Russia’s Constitutional Court Approves New Term for Putin
16/03/2020
Russia’s Constitutional Court has approved amendments that, among other changes, would allow Vladimir Putin to run again for president in 2024. The constitutional changes are due to be put to a nationwide vote in April.In January, Putin announced a major shake-up of Russian politics and a constitutional overhaul, which the Kremlin described as a redistribution of …
Spanish King Renounces Inheritance From Father Amid Scandal
16/03/2020
Spain’s King Felipe VI has renounced any future personal inheritance he could receive from his father, King Emerit Juan Carlos I, over the alleged financial irregularities involving the former monarch, the country’s royal house announced Sunday.The royal house said in a statement that in addition to renouncing his inheritance, Felipe is stripping Juan Carlos of …
Germany Tries to Stop US From Luring Away Firm Seeking Coronavirus Vaccine
16/03/2020
Berlin is trying to stop Washington from persuading a German company seeking a coronavirus vaccine to move its research to the United States, prompting German politicians to insist no country should have a monopoly on any future vaccine.German government sources told Reuters on Sunday that the U.S. administration was looking into how it could gain …
Boris Johnson Steps Up Plans To Tackle Coronavirus As Criticism Mounts
16/03/2020
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will step up government action this week in a bid to slow the spread across Britain of the potentially deadly coronavirus by accelerating plans to make the elderly stay at home — possibly for months — and for whole families to self-quarantine when any family member displays COVID-19 symptoms.The acceleration …
Putin Formally Signs Off on Constitutional Changes Allowing Him to Extend Power
15/03/2020
Vladimir Putin has formally signed off on constitutional amendments that would allow the Russian leader to run again for president in 2024, the Interfax news agency reported on March 14.The announcement comes a day after it was reported that all of Russia’s regional parliaments had voted in favor of the measures.In January, Putin announced a …
France Votes in Local Elections, Under Coronavirus Cloud
15/03/2020
People across France voted in the first round of municipal elections Sunday — one of the few major events that authorities haven’t canceled or postponed over the coronavirus outbreak. Voters may punish President Emmanuel Macron’s young party. French authorities have shuttered schools, restaurants and non-essential commerce across the country to help slow the coronavirus outbreak that …
Vatican to Observe Holy Week Behind Closed Doors
15/03/2020
The Vatican has taken an unprecedented decision due to the coronavirus outbreak. All Holy Week services with Pope Francis will be held without a congregation, including Easter Sunday mass.It will be a very different Holy Week for the faithful this year, particularly for those in Rome. No one will be allowed to attend any of …
France Votes Despite Coronavirus Outbreak
15/03/2020
French voters are going to the polls Sunday to cast their votes in municipal elections, despite an outbreak of the coronavirus and an outcry that the virus and the fear of contamination will keep many voters home. President Emmanuel Macron has insisted that the democratic continuity of the nation would be in jeopardy if the vote …
Romanian Lawmakers Approve Orban’s New Government
14/03/2020
Romanian lawmakers on Saturday voted overwhelmingly to approve Prime Minister Ludovic Orban’s new government, the same one ousted last month as the result of losing a no-confidence vote.Orban’s nomination by President Klaus Iohannis came amid Romania’s efforts to limit the spread of the coronavirus, which has already infected 109 people in the country. After Orban …
Spain Follows Italy Into Lockdown as Virus Cases Soar
14/03/2020
Spain decided Saturday to follow Italy in declaring a nationwide lockdown to slow the accelerating spread of the coronavirus epidemic, Spanish media reported.Spain’s decision came as European countries took ever more severe, though widely varying, measures to reduce contact between their citizens and slow the pandemic. China — where the virus first emerged late last …
US Ban on Most European Visitors Takes Effect
14/03/2020
The U.S. travel ban on most flights from Europe, a part of the U.S. strategy in preventing the spread of the deadly coronavirus, has gone into effect. U.S. President Donald Trump announced the ban Wednesday night in an address from the Oval Office. The 30-day ban blocks most foreign visitors from 26 countries in Europe, while …
Putin Approves Law That Could Keep Him in Power Until 2036
14/03/2020
Vladimir Putin has formally signed off on constitutional amendments that would allow the Russian leader to run again for president in 2024.His approval comes a day after it was reported that all of Russia’s regional parliaments had voted in favor of the measures.In January, Putin announced a major shake-up of Russian politics and a constitutional …
US Ban on Most European Visitors Begins
14/03/2020
The U.S. travel ban on most flights from Europe, a part of the U.S. strategy in preventing the spread of the deadly coronavirus, has gone into effect. U.S. President Donald Trump announced the ban Wednesday night in an address from the Oval Office. The 30-day ban blocks most foreign visitors from 26 countries in Europe, while …
A Green Wave in French Municipal Elections?
14/03/2020
Amid stalls of vegetables and cheap clothes, party faithful push campaign flyers at Saint-Denis’ weekly market near the French capital under scudding clouds. Some shoppers brush past, unconvinced by the political offers. Others accept the colorful manifestos, stuffing them between bags of cassavas and oranges. Located a few miles outside Paris, this gritty suburb is …
Kosovo Not Ready to Lift 100% Tariff on Serbia, Bosnia Goods
14/03/2020
Kosovo will not lift its 100% tariffs on goods from Serbia and Bosnia anytime soon because the coalition government cannot agree on whether the import taxes should be phased out or abolished all at once, the country’s prime minister said Friday.Prime Minister Albin Kurti said his left-wing Self-Determination Movement, or Vetevendosje, wanted to lift the …