July 14

EU launches big climate plan for "our children and grandchildren"

BRUSSELS, July 14 (Reuters) - European Union policymakers on Wednesday unveiled their most ambitious plan yet to tackle climate change, aiming to turn green goals into concrete action this decade and set an example for the world's other big economies to follow.

Reuters  Details here

May 5

World Hand Hygiene Day 2021

Seconds save lives – clean your hands!

The SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands global campaign, launched in 2009 and celebrated annually on 5 May.

For World Hand Hygiene Day 2021, WHO calls on health care workers and facilities to achieve effective hand hygiene action at the point of care.

To be effective and prevent transmission of infectious microorganisms during health care delivery, hand hygiene should be performed when it is needed (at 5 specific moments) and in the most effective way (by using the right technique with readily available products) at the point of care.

WHO Details here

March 25

Preview of the 93rd Oscars ceremony ONLINE Click here!

Oscars 2021: Stars prepare for in-person ceremony

Stars are preparing for Sunday's Academy Awards, which will take place across multiple locations worldwide.

Unlike recent awards ceremonies such as the Golden Globes, Baftas and Emmys, the Oscars have asked nominees to attend one of the locations in person. Mank leads the nominees with 10, but is unlikely to win the night's top prizes. Instead, films including Nomadland, Minari, and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom could perform strongly in some of the major categories.

Here's what to expect from the 93rd Academy Awards.

BBC News Details here

#Oscars2021 Countdown, LIVE! Preview of the 93rd Oscars ceremony ONLINE Click here!

April 24

US Dragon spaceship arrives at International Space Station

US Dragon spaceship arrives at International Space Station Close SpaceX's Dragon Endeavour spacecraft has docked with the International Space Station. Americans Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, Frenchman Thomas Pesquet and Japanese flier Akihiko Hoshide were greeted with hugs by the crew already onboard.

BBC News Video here

April 8

Prince William: Banks must do more to protect environment

The Duke of Cambridge has urged banks to "invest in nature" to help fight global climate change.

Speaking at an IMF and World Bank meeting, Prince William said protecting nature continued to play only a small part in combating global warming.

He said investing in reforestation and sustainable agriculture were "cost effective" ways of tackling the issue.

Banks have come under increasing pressure to step up efforts to help fight climate change.

BBC News Details here

EPA

From Europe to Alaska, parts of the world are exceptionally cold right now

Frigid air, spilling south from the Arctic, has invaded Europe and Alaska, setting back spring and challenging long-standing records.

In Europe, the cold has come as a shock, gripping the region just days after a burst of summerlike warmth.

The Washington Post Details here

March 28

Container ship blocking the Suez Canal finally on the move

After almost a week blocking the Suez Canal, a a 400m-long (1,300ft) container ship is finally on the move again.

BBC News Details here

March 25

Scientists to test Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID vaccine as a nasal spray

Scientists are planning to test the effectiveness of the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine when it's administered using a nasal spray.

The University of Oxford is recruiting 30 healthy volunteers aged 18 to 40 who will receive the vaccine via an intranasal spray device - unlike the intramuscular injection given in the national rollout.

Sky News Details here

March 24

Coronavirus: EU and UK try to end row with 'win-win' on vaccines

The UK and the European Union have said they are working together to improve their relationship, after weeks of tensions over Covid vaccine supplies.

In a joint statement, they said they wanted to "create a win-win situation and expand vaccine supply for all".

BBC News Details here

The World Is Facing a Coffee Deficit in Supply Chain ‘Nightmare’

Coffee supplies in the U.S. are shrinking and wholesale prices are surging, with the hard-hit market bracing for further fallout from a global shortage of shipping containers that’s upended the food trade.

Coffee stockpiles have sunk to a six-year low in the U.S. even with Brazil’s record crop, and a large drop in output after a drought in the South American country is expected to shift the world balance to a deficit in coming months just as demand rebounds.

Bloomberg Details here

March 23

Elon Musk Says SpaceX Will Be Landing Rockets On Mars ‘Well Before 2030’, Says Europe Is Aiming Low

SpaceX chief Elon Musk tweeted Tuesday that Europe must aim higher with its rocket technology or risk becoming obsolete as the company continues to outcompete European companies, with Musk saying that SpaceX will be landing rockets and establishing a base on Mars “well before” Europe even begins to look into producing competitive rocketry.

Forbes Details here

March 12

Covid pandemic: Biden eyes 4 July as ‘Independence Day’ from virus

President Joe Biden has said he is hopeful that America can "mark independence" from Covid-19 on 4 July if people get vaccinated.

In his first primetime address as president, Mr Biden said he would order states to make all adults eligible for vaccinations by 1 May.

Current measures prioritise people by age or health condition.

BBC News Details here

Covid vaccinations: No reason to stop using AstraZeneca jab, says WHO

Countries should not stop using AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine over fears it causes blood clots as there is no indication this is true, the World Health Organization says.

Bulgaria is the latest country to suspend use of the vaccine. But a WHO spokeswoman told a briefing on Friday there was no link between the jab and developing a clot. Margaret Harris said it was an "excellent vaccine" and should continue to be used. Around 5 million Europeans have already received the AstraZeneca jab.

Bulgaria's decision to pause its rollout follows similar steps by Denmark, Iceland and Norway as well as Thailand. Italy and Austria have stopped using certain batches of the drug as a precautionary measure. "I order a halt in vaccinations with the AstraZeneca vaccine until the European Medicines Agency dismisses all doubts about its safety," Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov said.

AstraZeneca said the drug's safety had been studied extensively in clinical trials.

Other countries, including the UK, Germany, Australia and Mexico, have said they are continuing their rollout.

BBC News Details here

Oxford-AstraZeneca: EU regulator says 'no indication' vaccine linked to blood clots

There is no indication that the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine is linked to an increased risk of blood clots, the EU's medicines regulator says.

It said the number of cases in vaccinated people was no higher than in the general population. The statement came after a number of countries, including Denmark and Norway, suspended the use of the jab.

BBC News Details here

Japan rebuilt an entire tsunami-flattened city on a man-made hill, but many still can't face life there

Japan marked the 10th anniversary on Thursday of the devastating earthquake, tsunami and nuclear plant accident that left more than 22,000 people dead or missing along the country's northeast coast.

CBSNEWS Details here

March 9

Extremely rare meteorite found in wake of spectacular U.K. fireball may contain the "building blocks of life"

Late last month, a spectacular fireball lit up the night sky over the United Kingdom and Northern Europe. Now, locals are starting to recover leftover meteorite fragments — and scientists say they may contain the "building blocks of life."

CBSNEWS Details here

March 8

International Women's Day (IWD) is a global holiday celebrated annually on March 8 to commemorate the cultural, political, and socioeconomic achievements of women. It is also a focal point in the women's rights movement, bringing attention to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence against women.

IWD originated from labor movements in North America and Europe during the early 20th century.