Author: Amnewsworld

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…

“People fleeing violence arrived in a place ill-equipped to receive them, with many sleeping in makeshift camps at a school and public basketball court in the city of Arauquita,” said CARE. At least 5,500 people from Venezuela had crossed the border between Apure and the Colombian department of Arauca in the last two weeks. They are escaping violent clashes between the Venezuelan military and Colombian irregular armed groups operating in their territory. Women and girls crossing are at risk of gender-based violence or sexual abuse while crossing into Colombia. Even more, arrivals are expected in the following days, with people…

Most parts of the country are facing critical water shortages. We are facing widespread food insecurity, malnutrition, population displacement and disease. We need funding now to save lives. The Federal Government of Somalia and the humanitarian community are deeply concerned about the worsening drought conditions in Somalia. Most parts of the country are facing critical water shortages, with more than 50 districts with the moderate to severe drought conditions. The situation is particularly concerning as forecasts indicate a second consecutive season of below-average rainfall during April to June of the season. Current forecasts indicate little to no rainfall for most…

This is the second attack targeting humanitarians in the past two months in northeast Nigeria, and the fourth attack on Damasak town and its surrounding area this year. Armed men launched an attack on Damasak town in northeast Nigeria. During the attack, compounds belonging to multiple relief agencies and warehouses containing humanitarian stock were looted and set on fire. This is the second attack targeting humanitarians in the past two months in northeast Nigeria, and the fourth attack on Damasak town and its surrounding area this year. Statement by Eric Batonon, Norwegian Refugee Council Country Director in Nigeria “Yesterday’s brutal…

Heavy rains in Timor-Leste over the weekend left 32 people dead, over 10,000 people homeless and countless missing. According to Timor-Leste deputy prime minister José Reis, this is the worst floods the country has experienced in 40 years. The floods left the presidential palace water-logged, most roads in Dili inaccessible, and power supply cut off. Speaking during the daily briefing, Director General, National Directorate of the Civil Protection, Mr Ismail Babo noted that out of the total 2,065 households that were affected by floods, over 70% of the victims (1,579 households) are from Dili. “As of today, 2,065 households have…

Wednesday 24 March was a sunny day in the town of Palma in the north of Mozambique. Children were playing football with a soft drink can. Even though everything seemed ordinary, people could feel that the atmosphere was not normal. Then rumors spread that the city was going to be attacked. “I was home, it was around 4 pm,” said Maria, a mother of two who found shelter with her family in a temporary accommodation center in Pemba — having endured the 24-hour ferry ride adown the 400 km coastline from Palma. “I heard gunshots from afar followed by screams. I…