Archive for March, 2021
Covid-19 variants ‘stronger and faster,’ WHO emergencies chief warns as ‘worrying shift’ shows more young people in intensive care
Global Covid-19 deaths and cases have continued to rise, the World Health Organization has said as health chiefs warn of the threat of stronger variants and the growing number of young people in intensive care
Active hunter-gatherers ‘don’t burn more energy daily than sedentary Westerners’
While many in the fitness industry bemoan the sedentary lifestyle which predominates in industrialized nations around the world, as it turns out, even the most active hunter-gatherer ways of life don’t actually burn more calories.
EU fights to speed up Covid vaccine rollout, with delivery of 107 million doses by end of March
The European Commission has said the bloc will receive a shipment of 107 million Covid jabs from three pharma firms before the end of March, significantly below initial targets, as it battles to speed up
Most of Sweden ‘very vulnerable’ as govt delays easing of Covid measures by 3 weeks after worst infection day this year
The planned relaxation of some of Sweden’s Covid-19 measures has been delayed until at least May 3, Prime Minister Stefan Lofven has said after the country recorded its highest number of new coronavirus cases this
Harmful content not ‘fault of faceless machines,’ Facebook VP Nick Clegg says while blaming users for ‘polarizing’ content
Facebook VP of global affairs Nick Clegg has blamed users for spreading “polarizing” content on the platform in a blog defending its algorithms, saying the spread of harmful posts is “not simply the fault of
Germany drops probe against ex-Nazi guard deported from US, after he refuses to be questioned
The case against a former Nazi concentration camp guard, recently deported from the US to face charges in Germany, has been closed due to lack of evidence, after the 95-year-old declined to be questioned, prosecutors
Chinese city on Myanmar border imposes week-long lockdown in response to new coronavirus cluster
The southwestern city of Ruili, which abuts China’s border with Myanmar, has imposed a quarantine and launched a mass testing campaign after new locally transmitted cases of Covid-19 were detected. Six of the new cases
Space sweepstakes: 2 lucky winners selected for first ALL-CIVILIAN SpaceX flight into orbit
The roster of a four-person SpaceX crew that will man the first all-civilian spaceflight has been finalized after the last two team members were selected as part of a charity drive. The historic flight was
As Germans flirt with idea of first Green Chancellor, a key opposition figure warns of the party’s ‘cultural Marxist’ agenda
By Damian Wilson, a UK journalist, ex-Fleet Street editor, financial industry consultant and political communications special advisor in the UK and EU. With Germany’s federal elections less than six months away and Angela Merkel’s alliance in
US orders evacuation of ‘non-emergency’ diplomats & families from Myanmar amid calls for intervention
Citing “civil unrest,” the US has ordered non-emergency government employees and their family members to leave Myanmar, the State Department said as online activists ramped up calls for “humanitarian intervention” against Yangon. The one-sentence State
‘Collateral Crucifixion’: Enormous mural tribute to Julian Assange unveiled on Berlin building
A new mural of WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange, dubbed Collateral Crucifixion, has been unveiled in Berlin, graphically depicting the whistleblower’s persecution by American and British governments. WikiLeaks shared an image of the 20-meter-high Berlin mural
Watch: Trailer of Malayalam film, Nizhal, starring Nayanthara and Kunchacko Boban, released
The makers of the upcoming Malayalam film Nizhal released the trailer on Monday, 29 March, on the occasion of the Holi festival. Directed by Appu N Bhattathiri, the film features Nayanthara and Kunchacko Boban in
Joy Filmfare Awards Bangla 2020: Gumnaami, Parineeta lead nominations
In the Best Film category, Gumnaami, Parineeta, Konttho, Mitin Mashi, Sanjhbati, and Vinci Da have been nominated. The nominations for the Joy Filmfare Awards (Bangla) 2020 have been announced. The winners will be announced on
18 crew members of Madhuri Dixit-Nene’s reality show Dance Deewane test positive for COVID-19, confirms FWICE
The production has reportedly arranged for new crew members and will continue with the shoot as per the schedule. As many as 18 crew members of Madhuri Dixit Nene-judged popular dance reality show Dance Deewane
Christopher Nolan’s Tenet to release on Amazon Prime Video on 31 March
Tenet will hit Amazon Prime Video in English as well as Hindi, Tamil and Telugu on 31 March. John David Washington in a still from Tenet Filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi espionage thriller Tenet will be
Slovakia’s PM Matovic resigns to end coalition chaos sparked by Russian Sputnik V vaccine purchase
Slovak Prime Minister Igor Matovic, who bought Sputnik V for his country amid the EU’s sluggish Covid-19 vaccination drive, resigned on Tuesday as his coalition partners vigorously protested the arrival of the Russian jab. President
14 nations express ‘concerns’ over lack of data in WHO report on Covid-19 origins after agency chief flags access issues in China
Fourteen countries including the US and UK have expressed “concerns” over a new report into the origins of Covid-19 by the World Health Organization (WHO) after the agency’s own chief also highlighted data-access issues. “It
Brazil’s 3 armed forces chiefs to be replaced, govt says after defense & foreign ministers quit Bolsonaro’s cabinet
The commanders of Brazil’s Army, Navy and Air Force will be replaced, the Ministry of Defense said in a statement, just 24 hours after the country’s defense and foreign ministers resigned from the cabinet. General
France accused of violating international law in Mali air strike that killed 19 civilians
A UN report has accused France of killing 19 civilians in violation of international humanitarian law when fighter jets launched an airstrike that hit a wedding party in central Mali. Paris has refuted the report’s
Another SpaceX Starship prototype explodes during high-altitude flight test (VIDEO)
SpaceX has crashed another prototype of its Starship, which the company’s boss, Elon Musk, hopes will someday take people to the Moon and Mars. The rocket exploded during landing after a high-altitude test. Starship prototype
Prosecutors request jail term for IKEA France’s ex-CEO and €2 million fine for company over alleged spying on staff
Public prosecutors in France have called for IKEA’s French subsidiary to be hit with a €2 million ($2.34 million) fine and a former CEO to be jailed during the trial over the company’s alleged spy
Sicily’s Covid chief quits amid investigation into claims he rigged coronavirus data to avoid tougher lockdown
The councilor for health of the Sicilian region, Ruggero Razza, resigned on Tuesday amid an investigation into allegations that data presented to national officials was rigged to avoid tougher lockdown restrictions in the area. The
Iran seemingly rejects new reported nuclear proposal from Biden… before US even formally proposes it
Iran has signaled that it will not scale down its nuclear program until Washington removes its unilateral sanctions, in an apparent rebuke of a new proposal reportedly being prepared by the Biden administration. President Joe
Canada halts AstraZeneca vaccine roll-out for people under 55, citing ‘substantial uncertainty’ amid blood clot concerns
Canada has suspended its use of AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine for those younger than 55, pointing to safety concerns following a number of reports of serious blood clotting among recipients in Europe. The move comes after
Dhanush wraps shooting for Aanand L Rai’s upcoming film Atrangi Re
Dhanush announced the wrap of Atrangi Re by sharing a picture of him with director Aanand L Rai and writer Himanshu Sharma. South star Dhanush on Monday said he has finished shooting for filmmaker Aanand
Holi 2021: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Abhishek Bachchan, Karan Johar urge for a socially-distanced, safe celebration
On Holi 2021, celebrities took to social media platforms to wish their fans and shared how they are celebrating the festival of colours. Holi, the festival of colours, is here but India is celebrating it
Fatima Sana Shaikh under home quarantine after testing positive for coronavirus
Fatima Sana Shaikh took to Instagram and said she is following all the health and safety protocols after contracting the virus. Actor Fatima Sana Shaikh on Monday said she has tested positive for COVID-19 and
Céline Sciamma’s Petite Maman, which premiered at Berlinale, masterfully explores themes of grief and loss
One could argue that the elements in Céline Sciamma’s new film — pain, grief and loss — are very much present in her previous four feature films. A still from Petite Maman. That quote from