World leaders pledge billions to fight AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria on UN sidelines
United Nations/New York City, US Reuters The Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria on Wednesday reached $US14.25 billion pledged as world leaders seek to fight the killer diseases after progress was knocked off course by the COVID-19 pandemic. US President Joe Biden, who hosted the conference in New York on the sidelines of […]
Russia wages all-out assault to encircle Ukraine troops in east
Kyiv/Sloyvansk, Ukraine Reuters Russian forces waged an all-out assault on Tuesday to encircle Ukrainian troops in twin cities straddling a river in eastern Ukraine, a battle which could determine the success or failure of Moscow’s main campaign in the east. Exactly three months after President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into Ukraine, authorities in its second-largest […]
Global donors pledge 9.1 billion euros to support Ukrainian refugees
Brussels, BelgiumReuters Donors including the Canadian Government and the European Commission on Saturday pledged a €9.1 billion in donations, loans and grants to support refugees fleeing the war following Russia’s invasion. The fundraising event in Warsaw, Poland, €1.8 billion to support internally displaced people inside Ukraine, and €7.3 billion for refugees who have fled the […]
EU has exported more than one billion COVID-19 vaccines, von der Leyen says
Brussels, BelgiumReuters More than a billion COVID-19 vaccines produced in the European Union have been exported since December, 2020, making the bloc the biggest exporter of the shots, European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday. The vaccines had gone to more than 150 countries, and the EU had exported as many doses […]
In Europe, enthusiasm over COVID-19 vaccines tempered by talk of protectionism and hoarding
Vilnius, LatviaReuters Europe urged pharmaceutical companies on Tuesday to honour their commitments to supply coronavirus vaccines, as delivery cuts and delays dim hopes of a quick fix to COVID-19 and increase talk of protectionism and hoarding. Countries around the world, anxious to reboot economies and restart travel by the European summer, hailed the rapid development […]
World leaders pledge $US8 billion to fight COVID-19 but US steers clear
Brussels, BelgiumReuters World leaders and organisations pledged $US8 billion to research, manufacture and distribute a possible vaccine and treatments for COVID-19 on Monday, but the United States refused to contribute to the global effort. Organisers included the European Union and non-EU countries Britain, Norway and Saudi Arabia. Leaders from Japan, Canada, South Africa and dozens […]
EU unveils climate law, Thunberg calls it “surrender”
Brussels, BelgiumReuters The European Commission unveiled a “climate law” on Wednesday to make the EU’s 2050 net zero emissions target legally binding, but Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and NGOs said more urgent action was needed to beat the climate crisis. The European Union’s executive approved the proposed regulation at a meeting attended by Thunberg. European […]
Europe launches ‘Green Deal’ as Thunberg denounces climate inaction
Brussels, Belgium/Madrid, SpainReuters Europe sought on Wednesday to bolster the world’s faltering battle against climate change with its “Green Deal” to slash fossil fuel dependence, while teen activist Greta Thunberg rebuked global leaders for dragging their feet. With fires, floods and droughts ruining millions of lives around the world, the European Union’s new executive cast […]