Delayed vaccine schedule chart

Beijing has declared that only "patriots" should rule Hong Kong - and unveiled plans to change the city's electoral system to ensure just that. Candidates for election to the Legislative Council - Hong Kong 's parliament - will be vetted, according to the proposed changes. And elections scheduled for 2020, already postponed for a year, will be pushed back to 2022. "The rioting and turbulence that occurred in the Hong Kong society reveals that the existing electoral system in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has clear loopholes and deficiencies," said Wang Chen, vice chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, according to state media. The NPC, China 's annual parliament, is meeting in Beijing this week. The changes to Hong Kong's electoral system are only a proposal but will almost certainly be approved given the rubber stamp nature of the NPC. "Loopholes" is one of Beijing's favourite terms for describing aspects of … [Read more...] about Beijing declares only ‘patriots’ should rule Hong Kong as elections delayed again

Australia's prime minister on Friday said he "understands" why Italy blocked the planned export of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine . Nevertheless, Australia asked the European Commission on Friday to review the decision. Italy, backed by the European Union's executive arm, used export controls to stop around 250,000 doses leaving for Australia earlier this week, after the drug manufacturer failed to fulfill its European Union order. "Australia has raised the issue with the European Commission through multiple channels," Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt told reporters on Friday. Watch video 05:39 Share EU vaccination shortfall Send Facebook Twitter reddit EMail Facebook Messenger Web Whatsapp Web Telegram linkedin Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/3prGQ EU vaccine export ban 'must be on the table,' says MEP Manfred Weber Morrison acknowledges greater urgency in Italy Despite the hold-up, … [Read more...] about Coronavirus: Australia wants EU to ‘review’ Italy’s vaccine block

Staff at Norway's Bergen Aquarium this week began vaccinating a group of Gentoo penguins that has been living under quarantine for months. Cases of a highly infectious bird flu strain, H5N8, were detected in the country in December. The type had not been registered in Norway before, but scientists say it has a 90% mortality for birds. Though devastating for birds, transmission to humans is rare, but not impossible. "Because of this, the Food Health Authority enacted a curfew: all birds in captivity must be kept under a roof," aquarium director Aslak Sverdrup told AFP on Thursday. So far, none of the birds at the Bergen Aquarium caught the flu. A colony of emperor penguines in Antarctica Which penguines will get vaccinated first? Twelve penguins have to be vaccinated. The birds in the highest risk group, the oldest, received their first doses on Wednesday. Thursday was the youngest's turn. The zoo posted a video of a few of the penguines getting vaccinated on … [Read more...] about Norwegian penguins get vaccinated and can end isolation

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro said on Thursday that people needed to "stop whining" about COVID-19 in his latest outburst against the protective measures to contain the crisis. The far-right leader's comments come as Brazil goes through its deadliest week of the coronavirus pandemic, with more than 1,300 deaths per day. "Stop whining. How long are you going to keep crying about it?" Bolsonaro said as he called for easing restrictions. "We regret the deaths ... But where's Brazil going to end up if we just close everything?" The South American country of 212 million people has had an outbreak of cases, partly due to a variant of the virus detected in the Amazon rainforest. Bolsonaro previously compared COVID-19 to a "little flu" and promoted hydroxychloroquine as medication, despite studies showing its inefficiency against the virus. At least 260,000 people died in Brazil because of COVID-19. Watch video 03:04 Share Virus runs rampant … [Read more...] about Coronavirus digest: Brazil’s Bolsonaro tells people ‘stop whining’