Key PointsLONDON — The U.S., Canada and U.K. are among some of the high-income countries actively blocking a patent-waiver proposal designed to boost the global production of Covid-19 vaccines.It comes as coronavirus cases worldwide surge to their highest level so far and the World Health Organization has repeatedly admonished a "" in the distribution of vaccines amid the pandemic.Members of the World Trade Organization will meet virtually in Geneva, Switzerland on Thursday to hold informal talks on whether to temporarily waive intellectual property and patent rights on Covid vaccines and...…Key PointsLONDON — The U.S., Canada and U.K. are among some of the high-income countries actively blocking a patent-waiver proposal designed to boost the global production of Covid-19 vaccines.It comes as coronavirus cases worldwide surge to their highest level so far and the World Health Organization has repeatedly admonished a "" in the distribution of vaccines amid the pandemic.Members of the World Trade Organization will meet virtually in Geneva, Switzerland on Thursday to hold informal talks on whether to temporarily waive intellectual property and patent rights on Covid vaccines and...WW…

Key PointsLONDON — The chairman of the European Super League has said plans to form are designed "to save" soccer, pushing back against widespread criticism by claiming that change is necessary because young people "are no longer interested" in the sport.In an interview with Spanish television show El Chiringuito de Jugones on Monday, Florentino Perez, who is also the president of Spanish club Real Madrid, said: "Whenever there is a change, there are always people who oppose it ... and we are doing this to save football at this critical moment.""Audiences are decreasing, and rights are...…Key PointsLONDON — The chairman of the European Super League has said plans to form are designed "to save" soccer, pushing back against widespread criticism by claiming that change is necessary because young people "are no longer interested" in the sport.In an interview with Spanish television show El Chiringuito de Jugones on Monday, Florentino Perez, who is also the president of Spanish club Real Madrid, said: "Whenever there is a change, there are always people who oppose it ... and we are doing this to save football at this critical moment.""Audiences are decreasing, and rights are...WW…

Key PointsLONDON — The head of the World Health Organization said Friday that an alarming rise in Covid cases has pushed global infections toward their highest level in the pandemic."Around the world, cases and deaths are continuing to increase at worrying rates," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a briefing focused on Papua New Guinea and the western Pacific."Globally, the number of new cases per week has nearly doubled over the past two months. This is approaching the highest rate of infection that we have seen so far during the pandemic," he continued."Some...…Key PointsLONDON — The head of the World Health Organization said Friday that an alarming rise in Covid cases has pushed global infections toward their highest level in the pandemic."Around the world, cases and deaths are continuing to increase at worrying rates," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a briefing focused on Papua New Guinea and the western Pacific."Globally, the number of new cases per week has nearly doubled over the past two months. This is approaching the highest rate of infection that we have seen so far during the pandemic," he continued."Some...WW…

Key PointsLONDON — A group consisting of some of the world's most powerful oil producers on Thursday decided to gradually curb existing output cuts beginning next month.Starting in May an additional 350,000 barrels per day will be added to production, with another 350,000 coming on the market in June. Come July output will be increased by 450,000 barrels per day.The OPEC+ alliance is currently cutting by just over 7 million barrels per day in an attempt to prop up prices and reduce oversupply. OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia has voluntarily added an additional 1 million barrels per day to those...…Key PointsLONDON — A group consisting of some of the world's most powerful oil producers on Thursday decided to gradually curb existing output cuts beginning next month.Starting in May an additional 350,000 barrels per day will be added to production, with another 350,000 coming on the market in June. Come July output will be increased by 450,000 barrels per day.The OPEC+ alliance is currently cutting by just over 7 million barrels per day in an attempt to prop up prices and reduce oversupply. OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia has voluntarily added an additional 1 million barrels per day to those...WW…

Key PointsIreland, Netherlands suspend AstraZeneca vaccine over blood clot fearsLONDON — Germany, France, Italy, Ireland and the Netherlands have joined the that have suspended the use of the vaccine developed by and the University of Oxford over blood clot concerns.The Dutch government said Sunday that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine would not be used until at least March 29, while Ireland said earlier in the day that it had temporarily suspended the shot as a precautionary step.On Monday, the German government also said it was suspending its use, with the vaccine regulator, the Paul...…Key PointsIreland, Netherlands suspend AstraZeneca vaccine over blood clot fearsLONDON — Germany, France, Italy, Ireland and the Netherlands have joined the that have suspended the use of the vaccine developed by and the University of Oxford over blood clot concerns.The Dutch government said Sunday that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine would not be used until at least March 29, while Ireland said earlier in the day that it had temporarily suspended the shot as a precautionary step.On Monday, the German government also said it was suspending its use, with the vaccine regulator, the Paul...WW…

Key PointsLONDON — An insatiable global appetite for sand, one of the world's most important but least appreciated commodities, is unlikely to let up anytime soon. The problem, however, is that this resource is slipping away.Our entire society is built on sand. It is the world's most consumed raw material after water and an essential ingredient to our everyday lives.Sand is the primary substance used in the construction of roads, bridges, high-speed trains and even land regeneration projects. Sand, gravel and rock crushed together are melted down to make the glass used in every window,...…Key PointsLONDON — An insatiable global appetite for sand, one of the world's most important but least appreciated commodities, is unlikely to let up anytime soon. The problem, however, is that this resource is slipping away.Our entire society is built on sand. It is the world's most consumed raw material after water and an essential ingredient to our everyday lives.Sand is the primary substance used in the construction of roads, bridges, high-speed trains and even land regeneration projects. Sand, gravel and rock crushed together are melted down to make the glass used in every window,...WW…

Key PointsLONDON — The European Union on Friday published a redacted version of the contract signed with , as the bloc piles pressure on the drugmaker to deliver the Covid vaccine supplies it promised.The EU, which has been criticized for its slow rollout of inoculations, was delivered a blow by AstraZeneca last week when the company said it would only be able to deliver a fraction of the shots agreed upon for the first quarter.AstraZeneca has denied that it has failed to honor its commitments, saying delivery figures to the 27-nation bloc were targets rather than promises. The company also...…Key PointsLONDON — The European Union on Friday published a redacted version of the contract signed with , as the bloc piles pressure on the drugmaker to deliver the Covid vaccine supplies it promised.The EU, which has been criticized for its slow rollout of inoculations, was delivered a blow by AstraZeneca last week when the company said it would only be able to deliver a fraction of the shots agreed upon for the first quarter.AstraZeneca has denied that it has failed to honor its commitments, saying delivery figures to the 27-nation bloc were targets rather than promises. The company also...WW…

Key PointsLONDON — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday criticized the growing influence of U.S. social media giants, saying their impact on society means they are now able to compete with elected governments.Speaking at the World Economic Forum for the first time since 2009, Putin discussed a wide range of topics, including the coronavirus pandemic, his recent phone call with President Joe Biden and economic inequality worldwide.Putin made no mention of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, who was arrested as soon as he returned to Russia earlier this month after being treated in...…Key PointsLONDON — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday criticized the growing influence of U.S. social media giants, saying their impact on society means they are now able to compete with elected governments.Speaking at the World Economic Forum for the first time since 2009, Putin discussed a wide range of topics, including the coronavirus pandemic, his recent phone call with President Joe Biden and economic inequality worldwide.Putin made no mention of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, who was arrested as soon as he returned to Russia earlier this month after being treated in...WW…

Key PointsLONDON — The coronavirus vaccine developed by - is likely to be just as effective against a highly transmissible mutant strain of the virus that was first discovered in the U.K., according to a study by the two companies.The variant, known as B.1.1.7., was estimated to have first emerged in the U.K. in September 2020. It has an unusually high number of mutations and is associated with more efficient and rapid transmission.The characteristics of the variant had led to concerns about the effectiveness of Covid vaccines against it.However, research on preprint server bioRxiv showed...…Key PointsLONDON — The coronavirus vaccine developed by - is likely to be just as effective against a highly transmissible mutant strain of the virus that was first discovered in the U.K., according to a study by the two companies.The variant, known as B.1.1.7., was estimated to have first emerged in the U.K. in September 2020. It has an unusually high number of mutations and is associated with more efficient and rapid transmission.The characteristics of the variant had led to concerns about the effectiveness of Covid vaccines against it.However, research on preprint server bioRxiv showed...WW…

Business News and FinanceVIEW IN APPA Facebook iconA Twitter iconA LinkedIn iconAn email iconKEY POINTS LONDON — The U.S., Canada and U.K. are among some of the high-income countries actively blocking a patent-waiver proposal designed to boost the global production of Covid-19 vaccines.It comes as coronavirus cases worldwide surge to their highest level so far and the World Health Organization has repeatedly admonished a "" in the distribution of vaccines amid the pandemic.Members of the World Trade Organization will meet virtually in Geneva, Switzerland on Thursday to hold informal talks...…Business News and FinanceVIEW IN APPA Facebook iconA Twitter iconA LinkedIn iconAn email iconKEY POINTS LONDON — The U.S., Canada and U.K. are among some of the high-income countries actively blocking a patent-waiver proposal designed to boost the global production of Covid-19 vaccines.It comes as coronavirus cases worldwide surge to their highest level so far and the World Health Organization has repeatedly admonished a "" in the distribution of vaccines amid the pandemic.Members of the World Trade Organization will meet virtually in Geneva, Switzerland on Thursday to hold informal talks...WW…