WORLD
WHO lauds US' decision to lift patent protections on Covid jabs
US Trade Representative Katherine Tai announced the decision on Wednesday saying that President Joe Biden's "administration believes strongly in intellectual property protections, but in service of ending this pandemic, supports the waiver of those protections for Covid-19 vaccines".
Germany bans Islamic group over suspected terror financing
The ban was enforced in 10 of Germany's federal states in the early hours of Wednesday, with around 1,000 officers conducting searches, according to the Ministry of the Interior (BMI). Around 150,000 euros ($180,000) in cash have been seized so far, reports Xinhua news agency. The Dusseldorf-based Islamist association stands accused of sending funds to terrorist groups abroad including the Al-Nusra Front in Syria
Israel sees 350% jump in foreign tourist arrivals
The number of tourists who visited Israel last month thus increased to 30,200, from 6,700 in March and only 600 in April 2020, reports Xinhua news agency. This increase came after Israel reopened its skies in mid-March, following a ban on incoming and outgoing flights imposed on January 26.
Afghanistan conflict intensifies amid US forces' withdrawal
According to the security officials, the Taliban has intensified activities in Helmand, Zabul, Baghlan, Herat, Farah, Faryab, Takhar and Badakhshan provinces, and scores of militants and security personnel have been killed, reports Xinhua news agency.Confirming impetus in fighting, a spokesman for the Defence Ministry Fawad Aman told local media on Wednesday that violent incidents have increased over the past three days
IS blows up 2 oil wells, kills 2 security members in Iraq
A statement by the media office of the Iraqi Ministry of Oil said the IS militants on Wednesday blew up two oil wells and set them ablaze in the Bai Hassan oil field in the al-Dibis area northwest of the namesake provincial capital Kirkuk, some 250 km north of the capital Baghdad, reports Xinhua news agency. The attack resulted in the killing and wounding of some security forces, the statement added, without giving further details.
Republican Party going through mini-revolution amid Cheney drama: Joe Biden
"It seems as though the Republican Party is trying to identify what it stands for. And they're in the midst of significant sort of mini-revolution going on in the Republican Party," Biden told reporters at the White House on Wednesday after addressing his administration's implementation of the 'American Rescue Plan'.
UN's primacy, relevance remains unmatched since establishment: UNGA President
"The counter-factual is hard to establish, what the world might have been like without the UN, the conflicts not averted, the human suffering not eased. In any case, imperfect as it may be, the primacy and relevance of the United Nations remains unmatched after more than 75 years," Bozkir said on Wednesday in his opening remarks in the UNGA Interactive Dialogue to Commemorate and Promote the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace.
Russia approves bill on quitting Open Skies Treaty
As the legal procedure requires, Putin will then submit the bill to Parliament for deliberation and approval, and finally sign it into law, officially terminating Russia's participation in the Treaty, Xinhua news agency quoted the government as saying on Wednesday. The Russian Foreign Ministry announced on January 15 that the country had started domestic procedures for the pullout from the Treaty on Open Skies, following Washington's decision to withdraw.
US backs patent waivers for Covid vax proposed by India, but faces oppn at WTO
US Trade Representative Katherine Tai announced the decision on Wednesday saying that President Joe Biden's "administration believes strongly in intellectual property protections, but in service of ending this pandemic, supports the waiver of those protections for Covid-19 vaccines".
Russian opposition criticizes planned 'anti-Navalny' law
It is another "anti-Navalny law," Leonid Volkov, a close confidant of the 44-year-old leading opposition figure, wrote on Twitter. Several deputies had introduced a bill in the Russian parliament on Tuesday that would deprive members of extremist organizations of their voting rights for years. This could soon affect many Navalny supporters.
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