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G7 to provide 1 billion Covid vaccine doses to the world: UK

Over 100 million people in the 27-nation European Union, or 22.6 percent of its population, have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19

Jun 11, 2021

By AFP bureaus

European Union United Kingdom Japan France

Biden to announce mass vaccine donations as first overseas tour begins

With the world still crawling out from under the wreckage of Covid-19, Biden has cast his diplomatic marathon as a return to badly needed US leadership.

Jun 10, 2021

By Jerome Cartillier with Sebastian Smith in Washington

US approves first new Alzheimer's drug in almost two decades

Alzheimer's, the most common form of dementia, is thought to affect 50 million people worldwide and usually starts after age 65.

Jun 8, 2021

By Issam Ahmed

Brazil braces for third wave of Covid-19

Covid-19 has already claimed more than 470,000 lives in Brazil, second only to the United States.

Jun 8, 2021

By Jordi Miro

Brazil

Pandemic proves value of homecare

The COVID-era surge in homecare is only an acceleration of long-developing trends.

Jun 7, 2021

By Thomas Ryan

US to give 80 mn vaccine doses to priority nations, 75% via Covax

Earlier this year, Biden pledged to export 60 million Covid-19 vaccine doses to countries around the world -- then bumped it up to 80 million.

Jun 4, 2021

By Michael Mathes

NASA announces two new missions to Venus

NASA's last Venus orbiter was Magellan, which arrived in 1990, but other vessels have made fly-bys since then.

Jun 3, 2021

By AFP News

NASA

Brazil raids target top officials accused of pandemic fund embezzlement

Bolsonaro meanwhile faces mounting criticism and a Senate inquiry into his government's controversial coronavirus response.

Jun 3, 2021

By AFP News

Brazil

China reports first human case of rare bird flu; could it spread like COVID?

The 41-year-old patient developed fever symptoms on April 28

Jun 2, 2021

By Danielle Ong

WHO switches to Greek alphabet for coronavirus variant names

The WHO has been trying to come up with simplified new nomenclature for the variants for several months.

Jun 1, 2021

By Robin Millard

Mass exodus as new eruption of DR Congo volcano feared

The UN humanitarian agency OCHA said more than 4,500 homes were destroyed, affecting some 20,000 people.

May 28, 2021

By Heritier Baraka Munyampfura

Volcano

Competitor fears Elon Musk's SpaceX could 'monopolise' space

In all, SpaceX has requested FCC authorisation for up to 42,000 satellites.

May 28, 2021

By AFP News

Germany to vaccinate children over 12 from June 7

More than 40 percent of adults have now had their first jab, and 15 percent are fully vaccinated.

May 28, 2021

By AFP News

European Union

Millions in Australia's second city ordered into snap Covid lockdown

Australia has recorded about 30,000 cases and fewer than 1,000 deaths from Covid-19 -- the vast majority in Victoria during last year's devastating second wave.

May 27, 2021

By AFP News

First man in the world to get COVID-19 vaccine has died of unrelated stroke

William Shakespeare died months after his first jab in December at University Hospital Coventry.

May 26, 2021

By Tanya Diente

Japan newspaper sponsoring Tokyo Olympics urges cancellation

It comes less than two months until the Games are set to begin, and days after the US State Department issued a travel warning for Japan over virus risks.

May 26, 2021

By AFP News

Japan