World

Putin vows a 'quick and tough' Russian response for its foes

White House offers new tax credit to help spur vaccinations

The White House is trying to overcome diminishing demand for Covid-19 shots by offering businesses a tax incentive to give employees paid leave to get vaccinated. The move comes as the United States is set to meet President Joe Biden's goal of administering 200 million coronavirus doses in his first 100 days in office.

Nancy Pelosi floats new proposal for bipartisan January 6 commission

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is renewing her push for a bipartisan commission to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, floating a new proposal to Republicans that would evenly split the panel's membership between the two parties.

FDA inspection found problems at factory making Johnson & Johnson vaccine

The Baltimore factory contracted to make Johnson & Johnson's Covid-19 vaccine was dirty, didn't follow proper manufacturing procedures and had poorly trained staff, resulting in contamination of material that was going to be put in the shots, US regulators said Wednesday.

Ohio Republicans aim to rename state park after Donald Trump

A GOP-backed bill introduced Monday would change the name of an Ohio state park to honor former President Donald Trump.

Florida school superintendent charged with perjury

The superintendent of the Florida school district where 17 students and staff died in a 2018 high school massacre was arrested Wednesday on a perjury charge.

Alexei Navalny's life in 'serious danger', must be taken abroad: UN experts

IOC upholds Rule 50 prohibiting athlete protests at Olympic Games

Sports/Olympics: Athlete protests and political messages will remain banned at the Olympics, the IOC said Wednesday, after a survey found that a majority of competitors were in favour of keeping the ban in place.

Australia cancels Belt and Road deals; China warns of further damage to ties

China's embassy in Australia on Wednesday said Canberra's cancellation of two Belt and Road Initiative agreements was "bound to bring further damage to bilateral relations".

Pfizer confirms fake COVID vaccines found in Mexico, Poland black markets

Bogus COVID-19 vaccines – some selling for $1,000 a shot and using an anti-wrinkle substance as an ingredient – were found in black markets around the world, Pfizer confirmed to The Wall Street Journal.

US launches probe of Minneapolis police after Derek Chauvin conviction

US Attorney General Merrick Garland on Wednesday launched a sweeping investigation into policing practices in Minneapolis following a jury's verdict that former city police officer Derek Chauvin murdered George Floyd. The probe "will assess whether the Minneapolis Police Department engages in a pattern or practice of using excessive force, including during protests," Garland told a news conference.

Hitting latest vaccine milestone, Joe Biden pushes shots for all

The US is set to meet President Joe Biden's latest vaccine goal of administering 200 million Covid-19 shots in his first 100 days in office, as the White House steps up its efforts to inoculate the rest of the public. With more than 50% of adults at least partially vaccinated, Biden on Wednesday will reflect on his efforts to expand vaccine distribution and access in his first three months in the White House.

Bombing in hotel parking lot kills at least 4 in SW Pakistan

International: It was unclear who was behind the bombing at Serena Hotel.

France expects to lift domestic travel restrictions on May 3

Domestic travel restrictions imposed to tackle the spread of the Covid-19 virus are expected to be lifted on May 3, the government said on Wednesday after a cabinet meeting.

Thailand sticks with Sinovac vaccine after cases of 'stroke-like' side effects

Thailand will continue to use Covid-19 vaccine from China's Sinovac Biotech following six reports of unusual "stroke-like" side effects among recipients, government-appointed experts said on Wednesday.

Biden talks with Trudeau about sending more COVID-19 vaccine doses to Canada

News/World: Canada could be getting another batch of vaccines from the United States, U.S. President Joe Biden indicated Wednesday as his country's vaccination process gallops ahead. Biden spoke with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and later hinted that more doses may be coming.

Any other Derek Chauvin verdict would have been 'travesty of justice': UN

The UN rights chief hailed Wednesday the guilty verdict against Derek Chauvin, a white former Minneapolis police officer, for murdering African-American man George Floyd, saying it was the only just outcome.

Xi Jinping to attend Joe Biden's climate summit

Pakistan: 3 dead in luxury hotel blast

Pakistan|: Quetta: An explosion at a luxury hotel killed three people and wounded 11 in southwest Pakistan on Wednesday, police said. "An explosion has rocked the parking area of Serena hotel," police official Nasir Malik told Reuters. The hotel is in Quetta, the capital of southwestern Baluchistan province that has long been the scene of low-level insurgency from local nationalists.

Facebook says Palestinian intelligence used platform to spy on citizens

International: In a report, the US social media giant also said it had identified and disabled “politically motivated” espionage operations by a group believed to be based in Gaza and affiliated with Hamas.