Новости за 13.10.2020

US pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson sought Tuesday to reassure investors after its stock slumped on an announcement that it was pausing a Covid-19 vaccine trial over a sick participant. The company is one of several working on a vaccine, but on Monday it announced the unexplained illness, closing enrollment for the 60,000-patient trial while an independent patient safety committee is convened. The announcement sent shares tumbling 2.3 percent at the close of trading Tuesday, even as the... Читать дальше...

When voters in Guinea head to the polls on Sunday, they will have to choose between 12 candidates for the presidency, including incumbent Alpha Condé. While the 82-year-old president’s supporters are certain of a victory, so are those of his main opponent, Cellou Dalein Diallo. FRANCE 24’s Malick Diakité, Elimane Ndao and Emmanuelle Landais report.

In 2016, Donald Trump’s upset victory in Michigan was key to his winning the White House. This year, Joe Biden is counting on bringing the state back into the Democratic fold. Travelling across the Midwestern battleground, FRANCE 24 met voters on both sides who are bracing for catastrophe if their candidate loses.

US pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly on Tuesday paused a late-stage trial of its experimental lab-produced antibody treatment against Covid-19 over an unspecified safety concern, the company said. "Lilly is supportive of the decision by the independent DSMB (data safety monitoring board) to cautiously ensure the safety of the patients participating in this study," a spokesperson told AFP in a statement. The Phase 3 randomized control trial is a study of hospitalized Covid-19 patients that began in... Читать дальше...

An FBI agent testified Tuesday that the heavily armed right-wing militia that plotted to kidnap Michigan's governor also discussed similar action against Virginia's governor. In a bond hearing for five of the 13 men charged last week, agent Richard Trask told the federal court in Grand Rapids, Michigan, that the men, angry about Covid-19 lockdown measures, among other issues, talked about "taking a sitting governor," specifically mentioning Michigan and Virginia, US media reported. Trask said that... Читать дальше...

Joe Biden heads for Florida on Tuesday to court elderly Americans who helped elect Donald Trump four years ago but appear to be swinging to the Democratic candidate for the White House this time around amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Brazen attacks on French police have highlighted the divide between law enforcement and youths in France’s most deprived suburbs. Analysts say bridging the chasm requires changing the entrenched culture of a police force that is answerable to the state, not the people.

Schools in the Argentine capital began reopening Tuesday as part of a gradual return to in-person classes amid the pandemic. Final-year pupils at around a dozen public schools returned to classes on Tuesday, the mayor's office reported. "This is a very important step, reincorporating school to close a key stage in their educational life," said deputy mayor Diego Santilli. Some primary school students are due to resume classes next week. "Between state and private school management, 70,000 boys... Читать дальше...

The Netherlands will return to a "partial lockdown" on Wednesday, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said, closing bars and restaurants as it battles to control the coronavirus in one of Europe's major hotspots.

The Interview welcomed the former UN special envoy for Libya, Ghassan Salamé. He discussed the tragic explosion that shook Beirut and urged the Lebanese to form a new government as soon as possible. He appeared optimistic about the peace negotiations in Libya, considering that "the situation has never been so propitious for a solution of the Libyan crisis". Regarding the American election, he is worried about Trump's contempt for multilateralism, wishing for "a more multilateralist approach from the largest nation on earth".

Suspected Islamist militants killed 25 people including 13 soldiers in multiple attacks in central Mali, burning down an army base and ambushing troops sent as reinforcements, the army and local authorities said on Tuesday.

Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo has tested positive for COVID-19, Portugal's Football Federation said in a statement on its website on Tuesday.

Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett is vowing to bring no "agenda” to the court, batting back senators' questions Tuesday on abortion, gun rights and the November election, insisting she would take a conservative approach to the law but decide cases as they come.

European Union countries on Tuesday approved a series of guidelines aimed at facilitating free movement across the bloc and avoiding further disruption during the coronavirus pandemic.

The European Union adopted on Tuesday a "traffic light" system to guide member states whether to require Covid-19 testing or quarantines for non-essential EU travellers such as tourists. The recommendation aims to end a confusing patchwork of restrictions and to restore free movement. With cases spiking across Europe, only a few areas would currently qualify for the lowest-risk "green" band allowing unrestricted travel. They include most of eastern Germany, parts of the Nordic and Baltic countries, some areas of Bulgaria and Greece. Читать дальше...

An Indian government unit established to develop soaps and medicinal products from cow dung has branched out with a "chip" it claims can protect people from cellphone radiation. Without explaining how the technology works, the head of the National Cow Commission -- set up last year -- said the device could simply be placed inside a mobile phone's protective cover. "We have seen that if you keep this chip in your mobile, it reduces radiation significantly," chairman Vallabhbhai Kathiria told a news conference. Читать дальше...

Belarus's exiled opposition leader on Tuesday gave strongman President Alexander Lukashenko a deadline of two weeks to resign, halt violence and release political prisoners, warning he would otherwise face a crippling general strike. Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who maintains she was the true winner of an August 9 election, issued what she said was a "people's ultimatum", demanding Lukashenko quit power by October 25 and halt the "state terror" unleashed by authorities against peaceful protesters. "If our demands are not met by October 25... Читать дальше...

In the past decade, the number of elephants in East Africa has almost halved. But Kenyan authorities say the country's pachyderm population has actually doubled since 1989. Kenya is setting the example in the fight against poaching and now has around 35,000 elephants. Reserves have had to adapt and step up security. But while ivory hunters are no longer such a threat, conservation groups are worried by cohabitation between wild animals and local communities, which can prove difficult. But even here, things are improving. Читать дальше...

China rushed to test an entire city of nine million people within days on Tuesday after a minor coronavirus outbreak, underlining the country's capacities at a time when European countries in particular are struggling to contain surging new infections. The virus is still spreading rapidly worldwide, with over one million deaths and 37 million infections, and many nations that suppressed their first outbreaks are now battling with a second wave. In the absence of a vaccine, governments are wary of allowing the virus to spread unchecked... Читать дальше...

The global economic crisis will not be quite as grim as feared this year, but GDP will still contract 4.4 percent and the ongoing pandemic means the outlook remains uncertain, the IMF said Tuesday. Massive injections of government aid kept economies from plunging further, but growth in 2021 is expected to be slightly slower than forecast in June and even weaker in the next few years due to the lasting damage inflicted by Covid-19, the IMF said in its latest World Economic Outlook. The recession... Читать дальше...

A French museum won backing from scholars on Tuesday for its decision to halt an exhibition about Mongol leader Genghis Khan because of a censorship attempt by the Chinese government. The history museum in the western French city of Nantes announced Monday that it was delaying the opening of the exhibition about the legendary founder of the 13th-Century Mongol Empire by more than three years. Preparations for the show, planned in collaboration with the Inner Mongolia Museum in Hohhot, China, ran... Читать дальше...

India coach Ravi Shastri on Tuesday urged South African batsman A.B. de Villiers to come out of international retirement after he hit an explosive 73 in the Indian Premier League. The 36-year-old, who ended his international career two years ago, smashed six sixes in a 33-ball blitz in Sharjah on Monday that set up a big win for the Royal Challengers Bangalore over the Kolkata Knight Riders. Accolades poured in for the former Proteas captain, with Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli calling his teammate "super-human". Читать дальше...

Police arrested 21 protesters Tuesday during a Bangkok rally that saw dozens of people give a royal motorcade a three-fingered salute -- a show of defiance by Thai pro-democracy activists calling for reforms to the monarchy. Since July, Thailand has seen frequent youth-led demonstrations demanding the resignation of Premier Prayut Chan-O-Cha, a former army chief. Some in the leaderless movement have also called for reform to the monarchy -- a once-taboo topic due to Thailand's harsh royal defamation laws. Читать дальше...

Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya said on Tuesday she will announce a country-wide strike unless President Alexander Lukashenko announces his resignation, halts violence and releases political prisoners by Oct. 25.

The United States on Tuesday demanded that Turkey pull back an energy research ship that it has sent back to waters contested with Greece, calling the move a "calculated provocation." In a strongly worded statement, the State Department said the US "deplores" the decision by Turkey that came just after tensions with Greece had subsided. "We urge Turkey to end this calculated provocation and immediately begin exploratory talks with Greece," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement. Читать дальше...