Author: Amnewsworld

Despite the largest-ever deployment of Russian military on the Ukrainian border, the EU will not impose more sanctions. Its response to the treatment of hunger-striking Putin critic Alexei Navalny: Nothing but appeals. The EU foreign ministers have imposed additional sanctions against the military junta in Myanmar, in this case against two of its corporations, the Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC) and Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd (MEHL). But concerning the more than strained relationship with Russia — the one issue truly at the heart of the conference — the Europeans did not get beyond appeals to President Vladimir Putin. Massive deployment “It is the…

UNHCR’s operation in Costa Rica has received only 11 per cent of the US$32 million needed to help refugees meet their most basic needs and support the authorities to expedite processing of asylum claims. More than 108,000 Nicaraguans have been forced to flee their country since 2018, with two thirds of them seeking refuge in Costa Rica. UNHCR commends the steps taken by the government to give them protection and assistance. But since the onset of COVID-19 in 2020, the capacity of refugees to cope with the situation has been undermined. Assessments in the country showed that pandemic-related restrictions have…

Up to 65,000 Nigerians are on the move following a series of attacks by armed groups on Damasak town, in Borno State. Initial reports indicate that eight people were killed, and a dozen injured. UN Refugee Agency, is deeply concerned as up to 65,000 Nigerians are on the move following a series of attacks by armed groups on Damasak town, in northeast Nigeria’s restive Borno State. Initial reports indicate that eight people were killed, and a dozen injured. Following the latest attack on Wednesday 14 April, the third in seven days, up to 80 per cent of the town’s population…

According to local authorities, an estimated 21,000 people, mainly women and children, have been displaced since 28 March by clashes between Luba and Kuba ethnic groups in Kasai’s Bakwakenge locality. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is alarmed by a resurgence of violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Great Kasai Region, that has already displaced thousands of civilians. According to local authorities, an estimated 21,000 Congolese – mainly women and children – have been displaced since 28 March by clashes between Luba and Kuba ethnic groups in Kasai’s Bakwakenge locality. There have also been reports of at least 13…

Cryptocurrency trading platform Coinbase had a spectacular start on Nasdaq earlier this week. But DW’s Daniel Winter warns its success doesn’t mean that cryptocurrencies are now really for the mainstream. Instead of tearing the ground asunder and swallowing Wall Street whole, Coinbase’s direct listing on Wednesday was a conventional, though thoroughly successful, affair. Seen as a litmus test for cryptocurrencies in mainstream finance, investors snapped up the shares and sent the price soaring more than 50% higher directly after launching on the Nasdaq. Briefly topping out at $100 billion, the valuation of the cryptocurrency exchange was not far off Facebook’s back in…

Strong foreign trade has helped the world’s second-largest economy recover from the coronavirus crisis since lockdown measures were eased. China’s GDP expanded by 18.3% in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the same period last year, official data showed on Friday. The increase is the biggest since China started keeping quarterly records in 1992. As the virus has hit global markets, the world’s second-largest economy seems to be recovering from the coronavirus slump, accelerated by industrial activity and better-than-expected exports. While the disease first emerged in central China, the country was also the quickest to get a grip on the pandemic after…

In the first quarter of 2021, China sees its biggest increase in economic growth since records began. But a closer look at the figures suggests caution is warranted. In a world starved of good news, a record rise in Chinese economic growth data comes as a welcome respite from COVID-19 uncertainty and gloom. China’s gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 18.3% in the first quarter of 2021, compared with the same period last year, marking the highest increase since China began to publish quarterly data in 1992. The jump was way ahead of what analysts had expected, and markets responded…

A thick layer of ash covered parts of St. Vincent after the Caribbean island’s only active volcano erupted after decades of inactivity. Power and water outages have been reported across the island. Residents of St. Vincent faced another turbulent day on Sunday, as thick ash damaged property and the La Soufriere volcano rumbled for the third straight day. The Caribbean island also saw reports of widespread power failures and water outages early in the day. A thick layer of ash covered large parts of St. Vincent after the island’s only active volcano erupted after decades of inactivity. There have been no reports…

Conservative ex-banker Guillermo Lasso won Ecuador’s presidential runoff on Sunday with 52.5% of the vote, declaring himself president-elect with more than 96% of ballots counted. His opponent, socialist economist Andres Arauz, received 47.4% of the votes and conceded the race. “It’s a day in which all Ecuadoreans decided their future, they have used their vote to express the need for change and the desire for better days,” Lasso told supporters in a victory speech. “I congratulate him on his electoral triumph today and I will show him our democratic convictions,” Arauz said in comments conceding the race to Lasso. Arauz previously declared victory…

Merkel loyalist Armin Laschet and Bavarian leader Markus Söder have both said they are ready to run for Germany’s chancellor. The conservative Christian Democrat-Christian Social Union bloc must now decide. Germany’s ruling conservative bloc met on Sunday to discuss who would stand as the successor to Angela Merkel as the bloc’s candidate for chancellor in this year’s election. The leading candidates to fill Merkel’s shoes are Armin Laschet, the state premier of North Rhine-Westphalia, and Markus Söder, the state premier of Bavaria. Laschet is seen as Merkel’s favorite and currently leads her Christian Democratic Union (CDU), while Söder serves as the head of Bavaria’s Christian…