US VP Kamala Harris and Emmanuel Macron talk Covid-19, climate change
Harris's office released a statement saying she had expressed her commitment "to revitalizing the transatlantic alliance."
AFP
PUBLISHED ON FEB 16, 2021 06:20 AM IST
Kamala Harris spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday to discuss topics including the pandemic and climate change, in a rare phone call between a US vice president and a foreign leader.
Harris's office released a statement saying she had expressed her commitment "to revitalizing the transatlantic alliance."
"Vice President Harris and President Macron agreed on the need for close bilateral and multilateral cooperation to address COVID-19, climate change, and support democracy at home and around the world," the statement said.
"They also discussed numerous regional challenges, including those in the Middle East and Africa, and the need to confront them together.
"The Vice President thanked President Macron for his leadership on the issue of gender equality and for France's contribution to NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance rover."
The rover is due to land Thursday on Mars in a pioneering search for signs of ancient microbial life on the Red Planet.
The French government confirmed the phone call and its contents as detailed by the US statement.
Macron spoke with US President Joe Biden in a phone call on January 24 and reportedly suggested that they broker a settlement on the long-running trade dispute between aircraft manufacturers Boeing and Airbus.
Singapore airline’s frequent flyer data affected in cyber attack: Reports
Bloomberg
PUBLISHED ON MAR 06, 2021 02:24 PM IST
- Servers of air transport information technology company SITA were breached on Feb. 24, according to a report in Business Times.
Hundreds gather in Sydney in protest against Myanmar's military coup
Reuters
PUBLISHED ON MAR 06, 2021 02:10 PM IST
The Southeast Asian country has been plunged into turmoil since the military overthrew and detained elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1, with daily protests and strikes in which least 50 people have been killed.
3 killed in blast in Afghanistan's Helmand province
ANI, Kabul
PUBLISHED ON MAR 06, 2021 02:09 PM IST
The blast resulted in the death of Sayed Mahmood Sadat, in charge of the National Directorate of Security (NDS) prosecutors' office in Helmand.
Egypt: Officials say at least 18 killed in road accident outside Cairo
AP
PUBLISHED ON MAR 06, 2021 02:02 PM IST
The country's chief prosecutor's office said in a statement the crash took place late Friday on a highway near the town of Atfih, 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of Cairo.
Pakistan PM Imran Khan wins trust vote in National Assembly
PTI
PUBLISHED ON MAR 06, 2021 01:56 PM IST
Prime Minister Khan secured 178 votes in the 342-member lower house of Parliament during a special session convened on the directives of President Arif Alvi. A total of 172 votes was needed for a simple majority.
Myanmar asks India to return 8 cops who fled across border
Reuters
UPDATED ON MAR 06, 2021 02:03 PM IST
Around 30 Myanmar police and their family members came across the border seeking refuge in recent days, as the junta's suppression of protesters turned increasingly violent, with dozens killed since the February 1 coup.
Iraqi Shiite leader reaffirms coexistence after meeting pope
AP, Najaf
PUBLISHED ON MAR 06, 2021 01:34 PM IST
Pope Francis met Saturday with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, one of the most senior clerics in Shiite Islam, in Iraq's holy city of Najaf.
Thumbs Down: Democrat Senator Kyrsten Sinema evokes 'Maverick' McCain
By hindustantimes.com | Edited by Mallika Soni
UPDATED ON MAR 06, 2021 01:26 PM IST
- In a video footage which has been widely shared on social media, Sinema can be seen standing on the House floor, flashing a ‘thumbs down’ when her name was called to vote.
Pope to visit Iraq church damaged by IS militants
AP
PUBLISHED ON MAR 06, 2021 01:22 PM IST
On Sunday, a new scene will play out for the world to watch at the Church of the Immaculate Conception and new memories will be created. Where the extremists once damaged, Pope Francis will now pray.
Speedy Covid-19 variants power virus surge sweeping Europe
AP, Milan
PUBLISHED ON MAR 06, 2021 01:16 PM IST
Europe recorded 1 million new Covid-19 cases last week, an increase of 9% from the previous week and a reversal that ended a six-week decline.
Countries urge WTO to destroy US intellectual rights on any Covid-19 innovations
PTI, Washington
PUBLISHED ON MAR 06, 2021 01:14 PM IST
In the letter, Senators Mike Lee, Tom Cotton, Joni Ernst and Todd Young urged Biden to reject the upcoming proposal at the WTO.
Increasing evidence that Myanmar's military forces are shooting to kill: Report
Written by Prashasti Singh, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON MAR 06, 2021 12:55 PM IST
A CNN report quotes Amnesty International's Deputy Regional Director for Research, Emerlynne Gil as saying that since the government is silent on the usage of shoot to kill tactics, it may be possible that it has authorised it.
US labour market stronger than before, but road to full recovery remains long
Reuters, Washington
PUBLISHED ON MAR 06, 2021 12:23 PM IST
The Labour Department's closely watched employment report on Friday showed at least 4.1 million Americans have been out of work for more than six months, accounting for 41.5% of the unemployed population in February.
WHO incapable of holding China accountable for coronavirus, says dissident
ANI
PUBLISHED ON MAR 06, 2021 12:15 PM IST
Jianli, in an opinion article for The Hill, wrote that it is the lesson learned after the World Health Organization (WHO) team's visit to China produced no answers to key questions about how and where the coronavirus started.
Pak PM Imran Khan threatens party lawmakers ahead of Vote of Confidence
Posted by Shivani | ANI, Islamabad
UPDATED ON MAR 06, 2021 12:04 PM IST
Khan's party Pakistan -- Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) -- has 157 members in the 342-member National Assembly. Opposition Pakistan Muslim Leauge-Nawaz and Pakistan Peoples' Party have 84 and 54 members, respectively.