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RM 155612900

Thailand mulls COVID-19 vaccine passports to boost tourism sector

Thailand is considering COVID-19 vaccine passports and quarantine exemption amid efforts to boost the ailing tourism sector as inoculation rolled out worldwide. Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered the foreign ministry to conduct a study into the vaccine passports. SOUNDBITE (Thai): WISSANU KREA-NGAM, Thai Deputy Prime Minister "If we decide to unveil the plan, China will be among the first countries that we're going to negotiate with." The preliminary plan will involve issuing certifications for inoculated visitors to Thailand, lifting them from the two-week mandatory quarantines and relaxing some restrictive measures, said Wissanu, adding that equal treatment will be required from other countries for inoculated Thai visitors. However, he said the government still needs time to go through details and specific measures for implementation. Thailand welcomed about 40 million foreign visitors in 2019, but only 6.7 million trickled in last year. The Southeast Asia's second-largest economy contracted 6.1 percent year on year last year in its sharpest decline since 1998. The Bank of Thailand, the country's central bank, has seen tourism sector, which accounts for more than 15 percent of Thailand's economy, as a key to economic recovery. Xinhua News Agency Correspondents reporting from Bangkok. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月7日

RM 155602764

Ethiopia's COVID-19 cases surpass 165,000

The Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health on Saturday evening reported 956 new COVID-19 cases over the last 24 hours, taking its national count to 165,029. Meanwhile, 16 new deaths were recorded, bringing the death toll to 2,420, the ministry added. With 354 more recoveries registered, the total recoveries rose to 137,785, it said. The Ethiopian government recently started a campaign to encourage face mask wearing in the public as part of COVID-19 precautionary measures so as to contain the spread of the virus. The East African nation has so far conducted 2,171,913 COVID-19 tests, including 6,406 new ones during the last 24 hours, said the ministry. Ethiopia is one of the African countries which have conducted the most COVID-19 tests, mainly next to South Africa and Morocco, according to recent figures from the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Addis Ababa. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月7日

RM 155601675

France registers 23,306 new coronavirus cases, 170 deaths

France registered 23,306 new coronavirus infection cases and 170 related deaths in the past 24 hours, official data showed on Saturday. The cumulative number of coronavirus cases in France now stands at 3,882,408, and the total number of fatalities at 88,444 since the outbreak of the pandemic in the country, according to data posted on the government's website. The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients fell for the fifth straight day, by 140, to 24,625. Among them, 3,689 patients are receiving treatment in intensive care units, nine more than a day earlier. Official data also showed that over 3.58 million people have received at least one shot of vaccines. France plans to inoculate 10 million citizens by mid-April, 20 million by mid-May and a total of 30 million, or two-thirds of the adults, by the summer. Also on Saturday, the French Order of Doctors said in a statement that it was concerned that not enough health workers have accepted to get vaccinated against COVID-19, reported Radio France International (RFI). The professional organization said that more than two-thirds of doctors in France have been vaccinated, but only 30 percent of health workers have received a jab, RFI reported. As the world is struggling to contain the pandemic, vaccination is underway in an increasing number of countries with the already-authorized coronavirus vaccines. Meanwhile, 261 candidate vaccines are still being developed worldwide -- 79 of them in clinical trials -- in countries including Germany, China, Russia, Britain, and the United States, according to information released by the World Health Organization on March 5. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Paris. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月7日

RM 155601671

U.S. continues to see drop in new COVID-19 cases as over 85 mln vaccine doses administered

The United States continues to see a decline in new COVID-19 cases, deaths and hospitalizations as more than 85 million vaccine doses have been administered. Key indicators of COVID-19 transmission in the United States have continued to fall since early January. A total of 66,481 new cases and 1,840 new deaths were reported on Thursday, according to the data updated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday. The seven-day average of newly reported cases declined for 43 consecutive days since Jan. 11, CDC data show. There has been an overall decline of 74.9 percent of the seven-day moving average since the highest seven-day average of 249,360 on Jan. 11. Meanwhile, the seven-day average of new deaths has declined by 43.1 percent since Jan. 13, according to the CDC. Hospital admissions of patients with confirmed COVID-19 decreased 67 percent from the national seven-day average peak of 16,540 admissions on Jan. 9 to a seven-day average of 5,490 admissions on March 2, CDC data show. The average number of daily admissions fell by 14.8 percent this week compared to the previous week. Though key indicators have dropped recently, the baseline level of new cases remains high. Over 114 million vaccine doses have been distributed across the United States as of Friday, and more than 85 million doses have been administered, CDC data show. More U.S. states have announced decisions to drop mask mandates despite emerging coronavirus variants, drawing criticism from experts. A total of 2,753 infection cases of coronavirus variants had been reported in the United States as of Thursday, according to the CDC. The vast majority of these cases, 2,672, were caused by the variant known as B.1.1.7, which was originally detected in Britain. Studies are underway to determine whether variants cause more severe illness or are likely to evade immunity brought on by prior illness or vaccination, according to the CDC. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Washington D.C. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月7日

RM 155601206

Erdogan, Merkel hold video conference over pandemic, regional issues

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and German Chancellor Angela Merkel held a video conference on Friday over the COVID-19 pandemic and regional issues, Turkey's Directorate of Communications said. Erdogan told Merkel that Turkey continues its vaccination program against the coronavirus at a rapid pace, and a gradual and controlled normalization process has already started, the directorate said in a statement. "President Erdogan stated that barrier-free and safe tourism would resume in April following positive developments," the statement noted. Turkey launched its vaccination program in mid-January with China's Sinovac vaccine and a gradual normalization process at the beginning of this week. The two leaders also addressed the latest developments in the region, according to the statement. Erdogan urged the European Union to provide financial and technical support for Syrians who want to voluntarily leave Turkey to return home, it said. Turkey is home to over 3.6 million Syrian refugees. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Istanbul. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月7日

RM 155594918

New Zealand reports 1 new case of COVID-19

New Zealand reported one new case of COVID-19, said the Ministry of Health in a statement on Sunday. The new case of COVID-19 was a recent returnee tested positive on the first day of arrival in managed isolation. There was no new case of COVID-19 in the community reported. The total number of active cases of COVID-19 in New Zealand was 72, and the total number of confirmed cases reached 2,043, according to the ministry. The total number of tests processed by New Zealand laboratories to date reached 1,779,213, it is said. The Auckland region moved to COVID-19 Alert Level Two from 6:00 a.m. Sunday morning for one week. At Alert Level Two people can go to school and work, travel between regions, and attend gatherings of up to 100 people. The remainder of New Zealand is at COVID-19 Alert Level One. Masks are still mandatory on domestic flights and all public transport at Level One. The general public were urged to stay vigilant against the virus. "We must all remain vigilant and continue to do our bit," read the ministry statement. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Wellington. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月7日

RM 155594767

Africa reports nearly 3.95 mln COVID-19 cases

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Africa has reached 3,948,029 as of Saturday evening, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said. Africa CDC, the specialized healthcare agency of the 55-member African Union (AU), said the death toll related to the pandemic stood at 105,275, while some 3,526,325 patients across the continent have recovered from the disease. The most affected countries in terms of the number of confirmed positive cases are South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, and Ethiopia, it said. South Africa has reported 50,566 deaths from the disease, the most among African countries, followed by Egypt, at 10,916, and Morocco, at 8,673, according to the agency. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Addis Ababa. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月7日

RM 155592566

U.S. Senate passes 1.9-trln-USD relief bill after marathon overnight session

The evenly split U.S. Senate on Saturday narrowly passed a 1.9-trillion-U.S.-dollar COVID-19 relief bill after a marathon overnight session that continued until midday, with lawmakers voting along party lines. After a session that lasted more than 24 hours, the upper chamber approved the bill by a vote of 50 to 49, with Senator Dan Sullivan, a Republican from Alaska, missing the vote. The so-called "vote-a-rama," a long series of amendments votes, initially began on Friday morning and was delayed for hours as Democrats struggled to convince Senator Joe Manchin from West Virginia, a moderate, to support their provision on unemployment benefits. After a lengthy negotiation, Manchin and Senate Democrats finally reached a deal, allowing the "vote-a-rama" to resume shortly before midnight. A motion to adjourn until Saturday morning proposed by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell narrowly failed. The amended bill includes a 300-dollar weekly federal unemployment benefit through September, instead of the 400 dollars in the House-approved package. It also added a provision to make the first 10,200 dollars of unemployment payments tax-free for households with incomes of less than 150,000 dollars. The 1.9-trillion measure, a major legislation for President Joe Biden, also includes a new round of up to 1,400 dollars of direct payments for Americans, 350 billion dollars for state and local governments, support for hard-hit small businesses, as well as funding to directly combat the pandemic. Senators voted through the night and until midday on a series of amendments, most of which by Republicans, who called the bill partisan and too expensive, and proposed to slash spending. Democrats, who highlighted the urgency to fight the pandemic and support businesses and families, voted down dozens of Republican amendments. Earlier on Friday, a group of Democratic senators, including Manchin, joined Senate Republicans in voting against Bernie Sanders' proposal to increase the federal minimum wage to 15 dollars per hour. Senate parliamentarian ruled last week that an increase to the federal minimum wage violates the budget reconciliation process and cannot be included in the COVID-19 relief bill. Earlier this week, Republican Senator Ron Johnson objected to waiving the reading of the legislation, insisting that the entire 628-page bill be read out loud, a process that took nearly 11 hours. "If they're going to add nearly $2T to the national debt at least we should know what's in the bill," Johnson said on Twitter, calling it a Democratic wish list after listening to the reading. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, however, said the American Rescue Plan is one of the most popular bills in decades, calling it a bold COVID-19 relief for people across the country. "The American Rescue Plan will deliver more help to more people than anything the federal government's done in decades. This bill is broader, deeper, more comprehensive in helping working people and lifting people out of poverty," said Schumer. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, meanwhile, said in a statement that instead of working together to fight COVID-19, Democrats decided to "exploit this crisis" by jamming through unrelated liberal policies they couldn't pass honestly. Noting that Congress passed five pandemic rescue packages totaling 4 trillion dollars in a bipartisan way last year, McConnell said Democrats pushed through the major legislation on "razor-thin and purely partisan majorities in both chambers." Most legislation requires 60 votes in the Senate to advance, but Democrats in early February moved to pass a procedural step in both chambers, allowing them to push through the big relief bill with only a simple majority in the Senate, which means they could pass the bill without Republican support. Republicans criticized the Democrats' use of the budget reconciliation process, calling it a "partisan" move. Biden, however, said what Republicans proposed is "either to do nothing or not enough." "If I have to choose between getting help right now to Americans who are hurting so badly, and being bogged down in a monthly negotiation or compromising on a bill that's up to the crisis, it's an easy choice," said the U.S. president. The Senate-approved bill will have to go back to the House for another vote before it is sent to Biden's desk. Democrats have been rushing to get the new relief bill approved in Congress, as federal unemployment benefits are set to expire in mid-March. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonpartisan watchdog group, said in a statement that while experts across the political spectrum have raised concerns about the size of the package, it could ultimately cost twice as much. "If temporary provisions in the bill were extended or made permanent, we estimate the plan would add over 4 trillion dollars to the debt over a decade," said Maya MacGuineas, president of the group. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Washington D.C. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月7日

RM 155608722

GLOBALink | Fighting COVID-19 "top priority" in China-Africa cooperation: FM

Helping African countries contain the COVID-19 pandemic and bring their economies back on track is the top priority of the China-Africa cooperation, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a press conference Sunday on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 13th National People's Congress. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月7日

人物：王 毅

RM 155601629

Online tutoring market booming in China: survey

More than 87 percent of Chinese parents have signed their children up for online tutoring sessions to supplement their education, according to a recent survey from China Youth Daily. English and math have proven the most popular online courses, respectively attracting 68.7 percent and 58.5 percent of surveyed parents, said China Youth Daily on Thursday. Entertaining classes that encourage kids to pursue personal hobbies were ranked third most popular, with the Chinese language coming in fourth. A total of 1,523 parents took part in the survey. They mainly attributed the booming online tutoring market in China to the fact that the courses are immune to anti-COVID-19 measures. Online courses also spare parents the stress of taking their children to extracurricular training centers and bringing them back home after their classes, according to respondents. Most respondents (83.5 percent) expressed positivity toward the quality of online tutoring, while just 0.5 percent expressed complete disapproval. Their biggest concern was the impact of online classes on their children's eye health, with 49.3 percent of respondents citing this issue. More than 95 percent of respondents called on authorities to enhance scrutiny over online training platforms in terms of advertisement content, operation licensing and financial safety. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月7日

RM 155595001

Chinese mainland reports 13 new imported COVID-19 cases

Thirteen new imported COVID-19 cases were reported Saturday on the Chinese mainland, bringing the total number of imported cases to 5,072. Of the new imported cases, seven were reported in Sichuan, four in Guangdong, and two in Shanghai, the National Health Commission said in its daily report Sunday. Of the imported cases, 4,907 had been discharged from hospitals after recovery while 165 remained hospitalized, the commission said. One new suspected case arriving from outside the mainland was reported in Shanghai. No new deaths related to the disease were reported, it added. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月7日

RM 155641579

Rangers Fans Amass Outside Ibrox Stadium to Celebrate League Championship Win

Fans of Rangers FC gathered en masse outside Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow, Scotland, after the team secured the Scottish Premiership title on on March 7. A draw between Celtic FC and Dundee United on Sunday cemented the Rangers's victory, giving the Glasgow club their 55th title and dashing Celtic's hopes to continue their nine-year wining streak. A large crowd of fans gathered outside the team's home stadium to celebrate, despite recommended COVID-19 safety protocol and local mandates banning gatherings. "I congratulate [Rangers FC] on the title win & recognise what a moment this is for fans. But gathering in crowds just now risks lives, and could delay exit from lockdown for everyone else. If those gathering care at all about the safety of others & the country, they will go home," tweeted First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon. Credit: @TrashPandaArt via Storyful ( Original Title: Rangers Fans Amass Outside Ibrox Stadium to Celebrate League Championship Win )

日付：2021年3月7日

RM 155551042

Third batch of China's Sinopharm vaccine arrives in Serbia

SOUNDBITE (Serbian): ALEKSANDAR VUCIC, Serbian President "Behind me is our largest A-330 plane, which delivered 500,000 of China's Sinopharm vaccines. I came here once again to show my gratitude and respect to Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Chinese people. And we also tell the citizens of Serbia that tonight we have a total of 2.62 million vaccines, that we made agreements to obtain a total of 13.35 million vaccines and that I should call on people to be vaccinated, to save lives, and to fight for our Serbia." Serbia on Friday received the third shipment of COVID-19 vaccines from China, President Aleksandar Vucic has said. Vucic welcomed the shipment at the Belgrade Airport on Friday evening and posted a video on social media, in which he expressed gratitude to China and urged citizens to take part in the vaccination campaign. The first and second batches of Chinese COVID-19 vaccines reached Serbia on Jan. 16 and Feb. 10 respectively. On Jan. 19, Serbia started its national vaccination campaign to rein in the spread of the novel coronavirus. In the past several days, the daily number of new COVID-19 cases across the European country has been peaking above 4,000, while 4,161 COVID-19 patients are currently hospitalized, according to the health ministry. So far, Serbia has confirmed 478,878 COVID-19 cases, while 4,525 patients have died of the disease. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Belgrade. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月6日

RM 155549311

Nigerian president, health workers to receive first doses of COVID-19 vaccines: official

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, his deputy Yemi Osinbajo, as well as frontline health workers have been scheduled to receive the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccines from the COVAX Facility to the country, an official said on Thursday. Faisal Shuaib, the executive director of the National Primarily Health Care Development Agency, which is coordinating the administering of vaccines in Nigeria, told reporters at a press briefing in Abuja that the frontline health workers would be vaccinated on Friday at the National Hospital, Abuja, while Buhari and Osinbajo would get their own shots on Saturday. SOUNDBITE (English): FAISAL SHUAIB, executive director of the National Primarily Health Care Development Agency "The plan is to vaccinate the frontline health workers that work in the treatment center of the National Hospital. After that, the plan is to vaccinate the president, vice president and strategic leaders on Saturday. We are hopeful that when Nigerians see leaders like the president and vice president take this vaccine, it will increase their confidence around the safety of the vaccines." The country on Tuesday received 3.94 million doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccines, the much-awaited first batch of vaccines from the COVAX Facility. It is the first of such shipments expected to be made to Nigeria in the efforts to control the spread of the COVID-19. Xinhua News Correspondents reporting from Abuja. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月6日

RM 155549194

Chinese company donates face masks, stationery to aid education of Ghanaian school pupils

A Chinese company on Friday donated a batch of face masks and stationery to aid the education of school pupils in the project community. The CRCC Harbor & Channel Engineering Bureau Group Co., Ltd, which undertakes the construction of the China-aided Jamestown Fishing Port Complex project, donated 500 pieces each of disposal face masks and KN95 face masks, and stationery including school bags, exercise books, pens and pencils. Deputy Manager of the project Yan Qingshou said the company values education and the COVID-19 pandemic requires collective efforts to defeat in order to promote the education of the children. Headmaster of the Christ the King of Kings Preparatory School Charles Amissah emphasized the timely manner of the donation, saying that it will boost academic work and help fight the pandemic. Sub-metro Chairman for the Ashiedu Keteke of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly Raymond Tetteh commended the Chinese company for assisting the local people whenever they called on them and appealed to the company to continue with its good work in the country. SOUNDBITE (English): RAYMOND TETTEH, Sub-metro Chairman for the Ashiedu Keteke of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly "Today we are gathered here for you to demonstrate once again your commitment to the school, on behalf of the Mayor of Accra, and on my behalf, I commend you for the good work and encourage you to keep it up." Xinhua News Correspondents reporting from Accra. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月6日

RM 155548849

Art exhibition kicks off in Barcelona hospital to raise funds for COVID-19 research

Art exhibition in Barcelona hospital aims to raise funds for COVID-19 research. Art in the service of medical research is the idea behind a new exhibition in the Modernist Site of Barcelona's Santa Creu i Sant Pau Hospital. The exhibition "Art Solidari" (Solidarity Art) in the hospital's UNESCO-recognised venue brings together around a hundred works by 11 distinguished local artists, including paintings, sculptures, illustrations, artistic installations, engravings and lithographs. All proceeds from the sale of the works will go to Covid-19 research projects in the hospital. SOUNDBITE 1 (Spanish): PATRICIA CANCELO, exhibition curator "Covid has brought the worst with it, but it has also brought opportunities like this. As artists, we never thought we could help fight Covid, and less so in conjunction with the Modernist Site of the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau Private Foundation." The artists featured in the exhibition include such world renowned names as Antoni Tapies and Miquel Barcelo, as well as contemporary artists, such as Carlos Azcon, Ma Jose Hernandez and the exhibition's curator, Patricia Cancelo. SOUNDBITE 2 (Spanish): PATRICIA CANCELO, exhibition curator "The first thing was to find people with a sense of solidarity, some of whom I know personally and who have exhibited in many places, but above all people interested in what was going on out there." The idea for the exhibition came at the start of the health crisis when Cancelo donated 10 sculptures to raise funds for a project to study the effects of coronavirus on pregnant women. SOUNDBITE 3 (Spanish): PATRICIA CANCELO, exhibition curator "Right now solidarity is not about doing something that makes you feel good or shows that you're a good person, right now it is a responsibility and we have to help each other." The Solidarity Art exhibition is open every day until March 26 and is free to enter. Xinhua News Correspondents reporting from Barcelona, Spain. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月6日

RM 155548497

Guinea launches vaccination campaign with Chinese vaccines

Guinea launched its official vaccination campaign against COVID-19 with Chinese vaccines on Friday here in its capital. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): REMY LAMAH, Guinean Minister of Health "The response vaccination campaign against COVID-9 that starts today was made possible thanks to the support of the various bilateral and multilateral partners engaged alongside our country, to squash this pandemic." SOUNDBITE 2 (English): MOHAMED CONDE, Guinea's first health worker to receive the Chinese vaccine shot "It is a joy to have been elected as zero patient of the Chinese vaccine, to prove to the whole world and to the Guinean population that if we health workers, on the front line of the fight, agree to lose the vaccine, it is to protect ourselves and tell the population not to be afraid and continue to take this vaccine." A batch of China-donated COVID-19 vaccines arrived in Conakry on Wednesday. As of Friday, the country has recorded 16,420 COVID-19 cases with 93 deaths and 15,091 recoveries. Xinhua News Correspondents reporting from Conakry. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月6日

RM 155547907

Iran's FM slams U.S. continued "maximum pressure" amid COVID-19

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif denounced on Friday the U.S. continued sanctions against Iran amid the COVID-19 pandemic. "Even amid COVID-19, the U.S. continues to exert Trump's failed 'maximum pressure' on Iranians. Isn't it time to try something that may actually work?" Zarif wrote on social media as quoted by official news agency IRNA. The Iranian diplomat posted the image of a 6-year-old Iranian girl who was affected by the U.S. sanctions, as well as a complaint made by her. The girl, called Yasna, said she had a seizure at the age of 6 months, and her parents could not obtain the only medicine effective for her treatment after "ignorant American politicians made a wrong and inhuman decision overnight." According to the letter, Yasna's illness then worsened and led to many seizures, which reduced 99 percent of her speech ability and 90 percent of her decision-making capability. Zarif warned that "her situation isn't unique in Iran." On Dec. 16, 2020, Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabiee said U.S. sanctions have caused trouble to Iran's authorities even to "supply raw materials for medicine and industrial production parts." U.S. sanctions on Iran's financial sector have made it difficult for Iranians to find payment channels for international trade. The local currency, the Iranian Rial, has experienced a dramatic loss of value since May 2018, when then U.S. President Donald Trump pulled his country out of the 2015 international nuclear agreement. Also on Friday, Iranian health authorities registered 8,367 new COVID-19 infections, raising the country's total number of confirmed cases to 1,673,470, IRNA reported. Between Thursday and Friday, 81 new deaths related to the coronavirus were detected, pushing its death toll up to 60,512, spokeswoman for Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education Sima Sadat Lari said at her daily briefing. Among the newly infected, 702 have to be hospitalized. Currently, there are 3,767 COVID-19 patients in critical condition in Iranian intensive care units, according to the spokesperson. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Tehran. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月6日

RM 155543266

Africa's confirmed COVID-19 cases pass 3.94 mln mark: Africa CDC

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Africa reached 3,945,544 as of Saturday noon, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said. The Africa CDC, the specialized healthcare agency of the 55-member African Union (AU), said the death toll related to the pandemic stood at 105,227, while some 3,522,230 patients across the continent have recovered from the disease. The Africa CDC noted that the most affected countries in terms of the number of confirmed positive cases are South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, and Ethiopia. South Africa has lost 50,566 lives to the disease, the most among African countries, according to the agency. Egypt and Morocco have the second and third highest fatalities, with 10,916 and 8,673 COVID-19-inflicted deaths, respectively, the Africa CDC said. The African Union had recently emphasized that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic "is not just a severe health emergency, it is also a grave economic and social crisis." Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Addis Ababa. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月6日

RM 155542351

Over 50,000 people in Rwanda inoculated on first day of nationwide COVID-19 vaccination

More than 50,000 people were vaccinated against COVID-19 on Friday, the first day of the nationwide vaccination campaign, Rwandan Minister of Health Daniel Ngamije said. "Generally the vaccination exercise started smoothly across the country due to adequate preparation in terms of personnel and other necessary requirements," Ngamije said during a news program on the national broadcaster Rwanda Television. The vaccines had been distributed to about 45 hospitals and 508 health centers across the country for the three-day vaccination campaign, which targets risk groups who are identified as priority, including health personnel, frontline workers and those older than 65 years. The central African nation on Wednesday, through the COVAX vaccine sharing program, received AstraZeneca-Oxford and Pfizer jabs that can inoculate 171,480 people. It plans to vaccinate 30 percent of the population by the end of 2021 and 60 percent by the end of 2022, or some 8 million people, to achieve herd immunity against the virus. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Kigali. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月6日

RM 155542260

Ethiopia's floriculture performs by mitigating COVID-19 adverse effects

Ethiopia's floriculture has been performing by mitigating the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA) Executive Director Tewodros Zewdie told Xinhua that the sector is fetching hard currency to the national economy while creating massive employment opportunities and transferring modern agriculture knowledge to Ethiopians, as well as catalyzing a number of economic transactions in the floriculture clusters. Stating that COVID-19 posed quite existential threats on the very existence of the industry initially, especially being quite disastrous in March and April last year, Zewdie said his Association has taken quite pragmatic actions in terms of analysis, thereby managing not to have any layoff in line with the pandemic. Zewdie noted that the sector has managed to secure hundreds of millions of dollars by mitigating the impacts induced by COVID-19. According to Zewdie, the country's floriculture which comprises more than 80 percent female workforce sees a bright future for a number of reasons, including among others, availability of ample fertile land, surface water, and proximity to potential markets as well as the different sector-related initiatives of the government. He added that air transport and railway connections are the competitive advantages for the country. Ethiopia is the second-largest exporter of flowers in Africa, and it is among the top four players in the world. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Addis Ababa. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月6日

RM 155542112

Malawi receives first consignment of COVID-19 vaccine

Malawi has received the first consignment of 360,000 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine through the COVAX Facility and the vaccination campaign is expected to start in the second week of March. The consignment arrived on Friday through the Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) and it was welcomed by the minister of health and population, Khumbize Kandodo-Chiponda, and the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, among others. Minister of information, who is also the government spokesperson, Gospel Kazako, said the distribution of the vaccine across the country will take five days. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): KHUMBIDZE CHIPONDA, Malawi Minister of Health "We have the vaccine that we have been talking about for a long time. Finally, it is here. it has landed on the soils of Malawi. From here the vaccine will go to CHISU (Community Health Integrated Science Unit) where we have enough cold-room to store everything. Come Monday, we will start distribution. The idea is that we distribute to all the districts in Malawi. Transport has already been arranged for the same. We expect our President, as one of the first people, to get the vaccine, to get it this coming week." The Malawi government intends to reach out to at least 3.8 million people with vaccines first. According to the ministry of health, a total of 7.8 million people will have been reached with vaccination in two years. Chiponda says the government will first target frontline health workers as they are at high risk of getting the infection while taking care of patients and suspected cases. Over 1,500 health workers have been infected with COVID-19 since the pandemic was first registered in the country in April 2020. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): KHUMBIDZE CHIPONDA, Malawi Minister of Health "We have a lot of health workers, but we will prioritize those who are working with COVID-19 patients. We are also going to consider the social sector where journalists belong to. This is because they are always interacting with a lot of people putting them at very high risk. We are also considering our teachers because they meet a lot of children coming from different homes, increasing the risk of our teachers as well." The vaccine is the first tranche of allocations for Malawi, which will continue in the coming months and years through the COVAX Facility. Unicef representative in Malawi Rudolf Schwenk says the arrival of the vaccine is a historic step to ensure equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines globally. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): RUDOLF SCHWENK, UNICEF Representative in Malawi "Everything is really on track to start the rollout of the vaccination in the coming weeks. I am very much looking forward to seeing health workers, other frontline workers, people in the risk groups getting vaccinated in the coming weeks." Cameron Chakhaza, a Health Surveillance Assistant at Senzani Health Center was over the moon hearing news of the arrival of the vaccine. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): CAMERON CHAKHAZA, Health Surveillance Assistant "As health workers, we are at risk because we work with people who are affected. To hear that we will be the first to receive the vaccine, I am very glad that I will be protected from COVID-19." The country has lost 1,063 lives to COVID-19 out of 32,357 confirmed positive cases, and 9,539 cases are still active. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Lusaka. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月6日

RM 155536742

Greece administers over 1 mln COVID-19 vaccine doses

Greece has already administered over one million COVID-19 vaccine doses, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Thursday, urging citizens to remain patient during the lockdown. SOUNDBITE 1 (Greek): KYRIAKOS MITSOTAKIS, Greek Prime minister "Today, we exceed the symbolic number of one million doses, which means that every week that passes, we are building the wall of immunity that will allow us to leave behind this ordeal" "Each vaccine is another step towards our goal to beat the pandemic and be all healthy and protected soon," he stressed in a video message released by his office. Greece on Thursday recorded 2,219 new COVID-19 infections in the past 24 hours, bringing the national total to 199,496. The country's death toll rose by 35 in a 24-hour span to 6,632. As the number of new infections were still high, Mitsotakis also urged citizens to not allow the fatigue to destroy what has been achieved. Visiting European Commission Vice President in charge of promoting the European way of life, Margaritis Schinas, congratulated the Greek authorities on the progress of the vaccination campaign, according to an e-mailed press release by Greece's General Secretariat for Civil Protection. SOUNDBITE 2 (Greek): MARGARITIS SCHINAS, European Commission Vice President "It is very important and symbolic that I am here today, the day the country exceeded one million doses. The 6.5 percent of the population has been vaccinated with one dose and 3.5 percent with both doses. (Greece) has developed a program for 1,000 vaccination centers. It has one of the lowest missed dose rates in Europe." Schinas was welcomed by Greek officials in the largest vaccination center in Athens, where 5,760 people can be inoculated each day. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Athens. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月6日

RM 155532437

Mystery person infected with COVID "variant of concern" found in UK: health secretary

British Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed Friday that the mystery person infected with the coronavirus "variant of concern" first emerged in Brazil has now been found in Britain. Speaking at a Downing Street press briefing, Hancock said he is "delighted" in the success of the "flat out work" of health officials to identify the missing case. The "best evidence" shows that the person has stayed at home and there's no sign there has been any onward transmission, said Hancock. However, testing will be increased in the local area as a precaution, he added. The latest development came after six cases of the P1 variant were found in Britain last week, but one of the cases had been unidentified as this person failed to complete the test registration card properly. There are concerns that this variant may spread more easily, might evade the immune system, or that vaccines might be less effective against it. The health secretary has said the current vaccines deployed in Britain had "not yet been studied against this variant" but that work is under way to "understand what impact it might have." SOUNDBITE (English): MATT HANCOCK, British Health Secretary "One of the most dangerous things about this virus - one of those dangerous things - is that around one third of those who get it don't get any symptoms at all and yet can still pass the disease on to others. So rapid, regular testing is a critical part of our response. And we can do so much more because of the huge capacity we've built up in NHS Test and Trace. I would urge you if you're eligible to participate in one of these regular testing programmes like I do, because that is how we will keep this virus under control as we continue to roll out the vaccine." Hancock also confirmed that two-fifths of Britain's entire adult population of have now been vaccinated. The government is "on course" to offering a first vaccine dose to all adults by the end of July, he added. Nearly 21 million people in Britain have been given the first jab of the coronavirus vaccine, according to the latest official figures. England is currently under the third national lockdown since outbreak of the pandemic in the country. Similar restriction measures are also in place in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. On Feb. 22, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his long-anticipated "roadmap" exiting the lockdown. Schools in England will reopen from March 8 as first part of the four-step plan, which Johnson said was designed to be "cautious but irreversible". Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from London. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月6日

RM 155529038

Malta orders closure of restaurants in raft of new COVID-19 restrictions

Malta has ordered the closure of the country's restaurants along with clubs, bars and places of entertainment until April 11 in a raft of measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, Prime Minister Robert Abela said here on Thursday. Abela and his government are facing increased pressure to take decisive action to curb the spread of the virus following a new record of 362 daily cases registered between Wednesday and Thursday. The total number of coronavirus-related deaths in the country has now reached 325, while the number of active cases has shot up to 3,128. Abela told journalists that the country's bars and clubs will remain closed, enforcement will be stepped up and the fine for those breaking the rules will be doubled to 6,000 euros (1 euro = 1.20 U.S. dollars). Restaurants that form part of hotels and guest houses can only cater for their own clients. Under the new regulations, mass gatherings will be banned except for weddings and religious activities, where the attendees will have to follow the restrictions already in place. Private family gatherings will be limited to people from a maximum of four households. Those breaching the rules will face a 100-euro fine. The government has also banned all contact sports for those younger than 16, citing scientific evidence that the new virus variant first identified in the United Kingdom is highly transmissible, especially in children. Non-contact sports can continue, and sports halls will remain open. Abela said that as from Monday, public service employees will be working from home and urged companies in the private sector to allow their employees to telework too because the virus was seen to be spreading more at workplaces. According to the latest figures provided by the health authorities, 86,854 people have already been vaccinated. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Valletta. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月6日

RM 155528367

New Zealand reports 9 new cases of COVID-19

New Zealand reported nine new cases of COVID-19, said the Ministry of Health in a statement on Saturday. The new cases of COVID-19 were recent returnees tested positive at their day 0 routine tests upon arrival. There was no new case of COVID-19 to report in the wider New Zealand community, according to the ministry. The total number of active cases of COVID-19 in New Zealand was 71 and the total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 reached 2,042, it is said. More than 71,000 COVID-19 tests have been processed in the last week, with a seven-day rolling average up to Friday of 10,159 tests processed. The total number of tests processed by New Zealand laboratories to date was 1,772,480, said the ministry. New Zealand's largest city Auckland is currently at COVID-19 Alert Level Three and the rest of the country Alert Level Two. The Alert levels will move down on Sunday, with Auckland to Level Two and the rest of the country to Level One. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Wellington. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月6日

RM 155528337

Swedish government extends crisis support to businesses to offset pandemic impact

The Swedish government has extended crisis support to companies in face of the risk of a third wave of COVID-19 pandemic. Magdalena Andersson, Minister for Finance, said recently that there was a very high risk of a third wave and there is a very serious situation in the labor market, local media SVD reported recently. The support will not only include new crisis support to companies and labor market but will now also include wage support to closed companies. At the same time, several grants will be extended until April. For example, companies can take short-term closure, get deferral of tax payments, borrow money with government guarantee and so on. The Swedish economy grew by 0.5 percent during the fourth quarter last year. According to the Minister of Finance, good margins for dealing with the crisis have continued. At the same time, Andersson said that the government saw the light in the tunnel as vaccination goes on. Latest figure shows about 5.7 percent adult population have been vaccinated for at least one dose as of Thursday. Minister for Minister for Business, Industry and Innovation, Ibrahim Baylan said that it's satisfying that manufacturing industry has been almost back to normal trajectory, especially after the decline last year. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Stockholm. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月6日

RM 155542283

Hong Kong reports 8 new cases of COVID-19

Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection (CHP) reported Saturday eight new cases of COVID-19, taking the tally to 11,074. The new cases included four local infections, of which two were untraceable, according to a CHP press conference. Currently, 212 COVID-19 patients are hospitalized in Hong Kong, with 12 in critical condition, Hong Kong's Hospital Authority said. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Hong Kong. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月6日

RM 155603889

Protests in Asuncion Against Government's Response to Coronavirus Pandemic

Protests against Paraguay's government handling of the coronavirus pandemic continued on the night of March 6 in Asunción. The protests came amid growing anger over the number of COVID-19 infections in the country, which hit record levels and where hospitals were packed to the brim, according to reports. Video footage shows fires lit and protesters gathered near Mburuvicha Róga, the presidential residence, before attempts to disperse them. Sound like gunfire can be heard in the background mid way through the video. Health Minister Julio Mazzoleni resigned on Friday following calls for his ouster. President Mario Abdo Benítez has so far dismissed three of his ministers following the protests. Credit: Diego Oliver via Storyful ( Original Title: Protests in Asuncion Against Government's Response to Coronavirus Pandemic )

日付：2021年3月6日

RM 155564406

Dutch Artist Launches UV Light Installation to 'Clean' Public Spaces of Coronavirus

A Dutch artist has launched an installation which he says aims to make public spaces safer by using UV light to kill the virus causing COVID-19. This video shows artist Daan Roosegaarde's installation, dubbed Urban Sun, on display in Rotterdam. The studio said the project was based on "multiple peer-reviewed journal articles authored by scientists from Columbia University and Hiroshima University" which found coronavirus airborne droplets were killed when exposed to a particular wavelength of ultraviolet-C (UV-C) light. "Research shows that though traditional 254nm UV light is harmful, the new far-UV-C light with a wavelength of 222 nanometers can actually sanitize viruses safely," the studio said. Roosegaarde hopes to install the lights at festivals in the summer as COVID-19 restrictions ease but said it was not a replacement for a vaccine or government rules, Reuters reported. The actors involved in the project, who are seen in this footage, were tested for the coronavirus before filming and were only exposed to the light for a few minutes at a time, the agency reported. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has said UV-C radiation may be effective in inactivating SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, but there is "limited published data about the wavelength, dose, and duration of UV-C radiation required" to do so. The administration also warned that there have been "reports of skin and eye burns resulting from improper installation of UV-C lamps." Credit: Daan Roosegaarde via Storyful ( Original Title: Dutch Artist Launches UV Light Installation to 'Clean' Public Spaces of Coronavirus )

日付：2021年3月6日

RM 155432391

3rd coronavirus wave begins in Ukraine: PM

The third wave of COVID-19 has begun in Ukraine, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said in Kiev on Thursday. "Every day we see an increase in the number of patients, unfortunately, it should be noted that the third wave of the epidemic in Ukraine has begun," Interfax-Ukraine quoted Shmyhal as saying on Thursday. Shmyhal noted that the Ukrainian authorities would reintroduce a nationwide lockdown if most of the regions go into the "red" zone of epidemiological danger. The prime minister's statement followed data showing that on Thursday the daily increase in COVID-19 cases exceeded 10,000 in Ukraine for the first time since the beginning of this year. COVID-19 cases have been growing in Ukraine over the past week against the backdrop of the coronavirus vaccination campaign which started on Feb. 24. According to the press service of the Ministry of Health, 9,568 people have been vaccinated against the coronavirus with the first dose as of Wednesday. A total of 1,374,762 COVID-19 cases and 26,591 deaths have been registered in Ukraine as of Thursday, while 1,182,036 patients have recovered, according to the health authorities. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Kiev. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月5日

RM 155430896

National Gallery of Australia lit up by European masterpieces

From a Self Portrait of Rembrandt to Sunflowers of Vincent van Gogh, the National Gallery of Australia (NGA) gives people a rare chance to view some of the most celebrated paintings in the world. An exhibition with 61 paintings from the National Gallery London spanning nearly 500 years is to start on Friday. It brought together works of 56 of European history's greatest artists including Botticelli, Titian, Velazquez, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Goya, Van Dyck, Canaletto, Turner, Renoir, Cezanne, Monet and Gauguin, and will run until June 14. "These works are outstanding, this exhibition is a 500-year slice of artistic excellence from some of the greatest creative spirits of all time," said Nick Mitzevich, director of the NGA. While many of the works were familiar to audiences, coordinating curator from the NGA Sally Foster noted that people should not underestimate the power of seeing them in real life. "These paintings are absolutely radiant. They light up the room. There is a reason they are considered masterpieces," she said. The exhibition was arranged in seven parts, from Italian Renaissance painting, Dutch painting of the Golden Age, British portraiture, to France and the rise of modern art. Of all the painting a notable piece was Sunflowers that Van Gogh painted in 1888, with various shades of yellow. Although the artist left several paintings with sunflowers as the theme, Foster told Xinhua that this was the one that Van Gogh himself thought was the best. "He talked about the intensity of the yellows," she said. "It's also the work that his friend Paul Gauguin, the artist to who he actually painted it for, thought was the most successful. He thought it was the best painting Van Gogh had ever done." "When you see it, you see how he painted it. And you get close to have a look, you can feel the emotional intensity and the seriousness with which he painted it," said Foster. At the exhibition visitors are also able to see the Self Portrait at the Age of 34 by Dutch painter Rembrandt, one of the most famous of his many self portraits. The pose he took in the painting was based on historic self portraits of Albrecht Durer, Titian and Raphael. In this way Rembrandt was paying homage to and aligning himself with those famous artists in the history. Foster said it was one of her favorite paintings at the exhibition. "I really do feel like when I am standing in front of this painting, I am looking at Rembrandt. I am looking into the eyes of the artist. And he is looking back at us. He is completely aware who he is, aware that he will go down the art history as one of the greatest. " It is the first major international exhibition in Australia since COVID-19 forced international borders to be closed in the country last March. Foster said it was "enormously difficult" to make this exhibition happen. "The logistics of a show like this is always huge," she said. "But just with the complication of COVID... it's amazing to watch it all come together actually in a huge relief." The exhibition was open with limited timed-entry tickets available for 12 sessions per day. "After a year of uncertainty and difficulties for many people, I'm glad we can play a part in bringing joy and inspiration to the community in the form of these extraordinary paintings," said Mitzevich. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Canberra. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月5日

RM 155430230

Kenya distributes vaccines as confirmed cases top 107,329

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday flagged off the countrywide distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, saying health workers and frontline service providers will be the first in line to receive the injection. Kenyatta said other groups of people that will be given priority during the vaccination campaign are teachers and defined emergency service providers. He urged Kenyans to continue supporting frontline health workers especially in the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine, saying the government will provide the logistical support needed to ensure the national exercise succeeds. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): UHURU KENYATTA, Kenyan President: "It's a pleasure and great day of joy as we here to see the launch of the distribution of this vaccine across our country, to all the regional centers, vaccines centers, and ultimately to various health centers across the country, in order to be able to facilitate our people to be injected with this vaccine as part of our process of combating and defeating this deadly disease that has faced us not just here in Kenya but globally." The administration of the jab is set to begin Friday after the vaccines are distributed from the central vaccine storage site. Mutahi Kagwe, the health cabinet secretary, said the country's total confirmed cases are 107,329, with 1,870 deaths and 87,099 recoveries. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Nairobi. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月5日

RM 155429915

Auckland of New Zealand lowers COVID-19 restriction level

New Zealand's largest city Auckland will lower COVID-19 restriction level from 6 a.m. local time on Sunday, after a week of citywide lockdown, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Friday. Auckland moved up to COVID-19 Alert Level 3 from Level 2 at 6 a.m. on Feb. 28, with the rest of the country moved into Alert Level 2 from Level 1, after two community cases were found. One of the cases visited several locations while infectious, Ardern told a press conference. People are asked to stay at home under alert level 3. Life would go back to normal under alert level 2 except the rules that the scale of gatherings would be restricted to 100 people. Life under alert level 1 is normal but social distance should be on mind. From 6 a.m. on Sunday under alert level 2, Aucklanders are able to return to workplace and school, and visit malls and restaurants. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Auckland, New Zealand. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月5日

RM 155408942

Argentine teachers receive Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccine

Teachers in Argentina's largest province, Buenos Aires, on Thursday began to be inoculated against COVID-19 with vaccines developed by Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinopharm. The regional government established vaccination centers in all major cities, including La Plata, 60 km from Argentina's capital. At the city's Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, the vaccination went smoothly, with teachers respecting social distancing and wearing face masks, and volunteers on hand to explain the inoculation procedure. Argentine Minister of Education Nicolas Trotta said Wednesday the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine helped strengthen the cautious return to face-to-face classes, following the inoculation of teachers across the country. Argentina registered its first case of COVID-19 on March 3, 2020 and has reported a total of 2,133,963 cases with 52,644 deaths as of Thursday. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Buenos Aires. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月5日

RM 155408939

Pakistani PM calls for equal access to COVID-19 vaccines for all countries

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday called for COVID-19 vaccines being declared as a global public good to ensure their swift availability to all countries, not only to those who can better afford the vaccines. SOUNDBITE 1(English): IMRAN KHAN, Pakistani Prime Minister "We must ensure that our people secure the earliest possible access to vaccines being produced on an affordable and equitable basis. The vaccine must be declared a global public good because actually no one will be saved from the virus unless everyone is safe." Pakistan has begun its COVID-19 vaccination drive in February, and healthcare workers are being vaccinated on a priority basis, the prime minister said. Talking about the challenges posed by the pandemic, Khan said developing countries have been disproportionately affected due to their limited resources, adding that poverty and inequality have risen, and economies have been affected substantially. The pandemic is not over yet, and the world needs to recover robustly from the economic and health crises induced by COVID-19 by mobilizing national and international resources required for this purpose, he said. SOUNDBITE 2(English): IMRAN KHAN, Pakistani Prime Minister "We must adopt a plan to build resilient healthcare systems to respond to such crises in the future. We must possess the capacity to produce the medical equipment and medicines essential to respond to chronic and infectious diseases." Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Islamabad. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月5日

RM 155408927

Bomb scare at India's tourist destination Taj Mahal turns out hoax

Following massive sanitization and searches in and outside India's iconic tourist destination Taj Mahal, police in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh on Thursday said the bomb scare there turned out to be a hoax. Authorities on Thursday morning asked visitors to vacate the premises of Taj Mahal and sounded an alert after it received a phone call saying a bomb was planted at the tourist destination. The mausoleum was briefly shut and over 1,000 tourists there were evacuated. According to police, the call was made to the police helpline following which Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel deployed at the monument were informed. The CISF personnel swung into action and asked the visitors to vacate the premises immediately. The moves triggered panic in the area, especially among the tourists. "Today morning a man called on police helpline number from his mobile phone saying his recruitment in the army has been cancelled and therefore he has planted a bomb near Taj Mahal," senior police official Babloo Kumar said. "The CISF team along with a team from Archeological Survey of India (ASI), local police and a bomb disposal squad sanitized the area and thoroughly checked it, during which nothing unusual has been found," he said. Kumar said the monument has been declared safe and reopened to visitors. Meanwhile, the hoax call was traced to the Firozabad area in Uttar Pradesh. "Location of the person, who had made the call has been traced. Police teams have been rushed to Firozabad to arrest him," Kumar said. Taj Mahal was reopened to tourists in September last year with strict COVID-19 safety guidelines after being shut for over six months. The monument was closed on March 17 last year over the coronavirus epidemic. The ivory-white marble mausoleum was built between 1631 and 1648 by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife. It is a UNESCO listed world heritage site and one of the world's leading tourist attractions. Indian media reports said prior to COVID-19 Taj Mahal attracted seven million visitors each year including a large number of foreign tourists. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from New Delhi. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月5日

RM 155408909

Lao medical workers to be inoculated against COVID-19 with Chinese vaccines: media report

Some 150,000 medical workers in Laos will get vaccinated against COVID-19 in March and April using the China-donated Sinopharm vaccines, local media reported on Wednesday. According to a report by the Lao daily Vientiane Times, Lao people in at-risk groups between the ages of 18 and 60 will also be given priority in the vaccination drive, including those with a chronic illness and migrant workers. This represents a second round of vaccination, scheduled for mid-March to early April. In the first round, volunteer medical workers received the COVID-19 vaccine at the end of 2020, said the report. Phonepaseuth Ounaphom, Director General of the Department of Hygiene and Health Promotion under the Lao Ministry of Health, on Tuesday updated reporters on the COVID-19 pandemic situation in Laos. He said the vaccination drive has been conducted in line with the country's COVID-19 prevention and control plans which health authorities are now going all out to implement in a bid to keep the coronavirus in check. SOUNDBITE (Lao): PHONEPASEUTH OUNAPHOM, Director General of Department of Hygiene and Health Promotion under Lao Ministry of Health "Through the first phase of the COVID-19 vaccine, we have seen that the people who have been vaccinated have no negative effects on the symptoms. Therefore, the Lao Ministry of Health believes that these vaccines are of high quality, safe and reliable, and improve immunity. I have received two doses of Chinese Sinopharm vaccine, and the vaccination did not negatively affect the symptoms. Therefore, the Lao Ministry of Health decided to distribute these COVID-19 vaccines to all provinces in Laos." Chinese vaccines are considered to be safe and reliable and the Lao people are eagerly looking forward to taking shots, Phonepaseuth said. It is expected that about 20 percent of the Lao population will be vaccinated in 2021, and the coverage is planned to rise to 50 percent in 2022 and 70 percent in 2023, according to the National Taskforce Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control. Lao authorities are also considering acquiring COVID-19 vaccines produced in Germany, Japan, and other countries after they have been approved by regulators, according to the report. As of Tuesday, Laos has tested 114,339 samples and reported 45 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 42 recoveries. Laos recorded its first two confirmed cases of COVID-19 on March 24 last year. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Vientiane. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月5日

RM 155408583

WHO expert says "corona passport" not recommended but "maybe unavoidable"

As COVID-19 transmission rates once again begin to rise across the European region, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge on Thursday urged the region to return to basics when dealing with the pandemic. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): HAN KLUGE, WHO Regional Director for Europe "Last week, new cases of COVID-19 in Europe rose 9 percent to just above one million. This brought a promising six-week decline in new cases to an end." "We are seeing a resurgence in central and Eastern Europe. New cases are also on the rise in several western European countries where rates were already high," Kluge added. However, the WHO official declined to offer the support to the creation of "corona passports" many countries in the EU have been mulling over. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): HAN KLUGE, WHO Regional Director for Europe "It's indeed a very topical issue. So WHO does not recommend passports, but I also believe that as we see already, somehow, it may be unavoidable. And that's why we are assessing the feasibility, and the desirability of such a requirement, taking into account what they call some caveats. First of all, from a scientific point of view, how long there's a vaccine gives immunity. There's not so clear yet. And it may seem a bit contradictory, but if you get a vaccine, it protects you. The person who gets a vaccine, but not stops necessarily transmission from that vaccinated person to someone else. So it's not a watertight thing. What is needed is number one: coherence, and number two: sufficient coverage. Otherwise, this will not work. WHO follows the international health regulations when it comes to travel and trade. In that sense, we see these questions on going is not recommended by WHO the passport itself, the certificate of course yes. And a number of very important considerations, which need to be taken into account." Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Copenhagen. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月5日

RM 155407778

Turkey strengthens inspections of compliance with COVID-19 rules

Turkish authorities on Thursday launched nationwide controls to monitor compliance with the COVID-19-related rules during the normalization period. Throughout the day, local officials and police teams took to the streets, avenues, and main squares in Turkey's most crowded city Istanbul. Thousands of mobile police and gendarmerie vehicles patrolled the city with drones. "We are in a period of controlled normalization amid the pandemic. For our lives to be normal, we must follow all the rules. We are all responsible to each other," police units constantly said via megaphones. The controls were mainly concentrated in cafes and restaurants, which have begun to host customers between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. with half capacity across the city. According to the new normalization plan announced on Monday, all 81 provinces were divided into low, medium, high, and very high-risk categories based on infection rate and vaccination process. A controlled normalization period has begun in low, medium, and high-risk regions. Istanbul, with a population of over 16 million, was categorized as a high-risk province. Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya said on his Twitter account that his teams aim to transform the metropolis into a low-risk category within a short period of time with full controls. Meanwhile, in the Black Sea province of Amasya, which is in the very high-risk category, local authorities urged citizens to stay at home for at least 14 days and not to go out unless necessary. Besides Amasya, the highest COVID-19 density was detected in the eastern Black Sea provinces, such as Samsun, Trabzon, Ordu and Giresun, according to data published on the health ministry's website. All the provinces will be evaluated regularly, and their normalization applications will be updated in line with the new regulation. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Istanbul, Turkey. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月5日

RM 155401875

GLOBALink | Argentina starts nationwide rollout of China's Sinovac vaccine nationwide

Argentina has started the nationwide rollout of China's Sinovac vaccine. The vaccines will accelerate the vaccination among the priority groups. STANDUP (English): NI RUIJIE, Xinhua correspondent "With the incorporation of Chinese vaccines, Argentina is about to accelerate the vaccination among the priority groups, and the Chinese vaccines are also expected to provide more guarantees in terms of health to Argentine students. Yesterday, my colleague and I interviewed one of the directors of the Argentine Postal company, who is responsible for delivering Chinese vaccines throughout the country. He said that the vaccines do not require strict storage and transport conditions, which allows them to be shipped to every single province of the country. The cost of inoculation in Argentina can be reduced to a great extent." Argentina registered 7,432 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, bringing the national tally to 2,133,963, of which 152,942 remain active, the health ministry said. It also reported 191 new deaths from COVID-19 on Thursday, taking the nationwide death toll to 52,644. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Buenos Aires. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月5日

RM 155397521

Italy reports nearly 23,000 new COVID-19 cases as some see "third wave"

Italy on Thursday reported 22,865 new coronavirus cases, up from 20,884 cases recorded on Wednesday and bringing total active infections to 446,439. The Ministry of Health reported that another 339 COVID-19 patients have died, down from 347 deaths on Wednesday and pushing to 98,974 the death toll since the pandemic officially started in the country in late February 2020. Meanwhile, another 13,488 COVID-19 patients have recovered, down from 14,068 recoveries on Wednesday and pushing overall recoveries to 2,453,706. Of the total current infections, the vast majority, or 423,807 people, are isolated at home with mild or no symptoms, while 20,157 are hospitalized with symptoms. Another 2,475 are treated in intensive care units, up by 232 compared to Wednesday. Italy is in the midst of a "vertiginous acceleration due to the variants" while "the mass vaccination campaign is failing to take off" due to "organizational difficulties" in many of Italy's 20 regions, the foundation claimed. Over 4.9 million people in Italy have been given at least the first dose of a coronavirus vaccine, and more than 1.5 million of them have received both shots, the Ministry of Health reported on Thursday. The recipients included health care staff, nursing home residents and staff, people aged over 80, the military, and school staff. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Rome. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月5日

RM 155397462

Egypt starts COVID-19 vaccination for elderly, patients with chronic diseases

Egypt started on Thursday vaccinating elderly people and patients with chronic diseases against COVID-19, the Egyptian cabinet said in a statement. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Health Minister Hala Zayed were present at one of Cairo medical centers to witness the two categories of citizens receiving their first shots of the anti-coronavirus vaccine. Madbouly stressed that the state is carrying out the vaccination process in a scientific manner, starting with testing the vaccines through the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA) until their distribution according to priorities. He noted that the Health Ministry has launched a website to register citizens who would like to be vaccinated, adding that the government will work on increasing the number of recipients of the vaccines. Meanwhile, those who cannot access the website could apply for vaccination at the nearest hospital. In late January, Egypt started vaccinating medical staff of government hospitals with Chinese Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine, which was the first to be approved by the EDA that recently approved Oxford/AstraZeneca and Sputnik V vaccines. For her part, the Egyptian health minister said that the ministry specified 40 vaccination centers that will be eventually increased with the inflow of vaccine doses to Egypt. Egypt has so far confirmed a total of 184,168 COVID-19 cases, including 10,822 deaths and 142,155 recoveries. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Cairo. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月5日

RM 155397262

Israel, Austria, Denmark create R&D fund for producing COVID-19 vaccines

Israel, Austria and Denmark announced on Thursday the establishment of a new research and development (R&D) fund and possibly factories for producing COVID-19 vaccines. "We are establishing a joint R&D fund and we are discussing the possibility of a joint investment to establish vaccine production facilities," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in Jerusalem alongside Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. Kurz said that the coronavirus pandemic could be defeated "only with a global cooperation," adding that his country will need about 30,000,000 vaccines. Frederiksen lauded Israel's vaccine rollout, adding that her country was "very inspired by Israel's ability to roll out the vaccines." Netanyahu said that most of Israelis over the age of 50 have received both shots of the COVID-19 vaccine. "In about four-five weeks, we'll finish vaccinating all the 50+. Within eight weeks, we'll finish all the people in Israel above 16 years old, except those who won't vaccinate for any price," he said. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Jerusalem. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月5日

RM 155648161

Czech Rep. calls for international help as COVID cases overwhelm its hospitals

Date:MARCH 5, 2021 EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: PART AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING A number of Czech hospitals have declared states of emergency as the country fights one of the world's worst outbreaks of coronavirus. The "mass casualty event," which hospitals have declared, means that not all patients may get the standard of care they would normally receive. In one hospital that has declared such an emergency, in Mlada Boleslav, home to carmaker Skoda Auto north-east of Prague, the main problem was lack of staff. "Under normal circumstances, we have two nurses per 10 patients, today the situation is such that we have 15 patients and one nurse to take care of them," said the hospital's deputy director Jan Dudra on Friday (March 5) as nurses in protective gear attended to patients. Earlier on Friday, the central European country asked Germany, Switzerland and Poland to take in dozens of COVID-19 patients, according to the Health Ministry. Many overwhelmed regional hospitals have had to transfer patients elsewhere but these options have narrowed as capacities have thinned across the country. Just 13% of the overall intensive care capacity was free, including beds intended for COVID-19 and all other patients, despite hospitals having halted all non-urgent procedures. On Monday (March 1), the government closed more shops and banned movement between districts for anything other than work purposes, and it ordered regular testing at companies. The country of 10.7 million has so far reported 21,325 coronavirus deaths and 1.3 million infections. (Production: David Cerny, Jiri Skacel, Karolina Bohacova) (Caption:5215CE-HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS_CZECH_O_)

日付：2021年3月5日

RM 155648221

East Africa's biggest economy Kenya starts vaccinations

Date:MARCH 5, 2021 Kenya began vaccinating people on Friday (March 5) against COVID-19 with AstraZeneca shots hoped to help revive the battered tourism-dependent economy of East Africa's richest nation. Nairobi received over a million AstraZeneca doses on Wednesday (March 3), the first of 3.56 million shots via the global, vaccine-sharing COVAX facility. Top of the list are 400,000 health staff and other essential workers. Kenya plans to vaccinate 1.25 million people by June and another 9.6 million in the next phase, with more vaccines expected within weeks. Vaccinations should bolster an economy that shrank 1.1% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2020 compared with 5.8% in the same period the previous year. Tourism has been badly hit, losing 110 billion shillings ($1 billion) of revenues between January and October of 2020. Kenya was the latest nation among various around Africa to receive vaccines through the World Health Organization's co-led COVAX facility which aims to secure about 1.3 billion doses for 92 lower- and middle-income nations. WHO said on Thursday that most African countries will kick-start vaccinations by the end of March in a continent with bigger financial and logistical challenges than others. (Production: Monica Mwangi, Jackson Njehia, Edwin Waita) (Caption:5234WD-HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS_KENYA_O_)

日付：2021年3月5日

RM 155433658

GLOBALink | 12 questions to know about China's "two sessions"

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): HONG YAN, Xinhua correspondent "I'm in the Great Hall of the People, in the heart of Beijing, China's capital." SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ZHAO XU, Xinhua correspondent "What are you doing here?" SOUNDBITE 1 (English): HONGYAN, Xinhua correspondent "I'm here to cover the "two sessions," which are underway here today." "What are the 'two sessions?'" SOUNDBITE 1 (English): HONG YAN, Xinhua correspondent "This term refers to the annual plenary sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC)." SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ZHAO XU, Xinhua correspondent "Such a long name, but why are they called 'two sessions?'" SOUNDBITE 1 (English): HONGYAN, Xinhua correspondent "As you can see, the term was coined because the titles are too difficult to remember." SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ZHAO XU, Xinhua correspondent "I see. How important are the 'two sessions?'" SOUNDBITE 1 (English): HONGYAN, Xinhua correspondent "The 'two sessions' are considered one of the biggest events on the Chinese political calendar. Thousands of national legislators and political advisors discuss many aspects of China's development and the people's wellbeing for the coming year." SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ZHAO XU, Xinhua correspondent "How many years have the 'two sessions' been held?" SOUNDBITE 1 (English): HONGYAN, Xinhua correspondent "NPC sessions from 1954, and CPPCC National Committee sessions from 1949. Please count it yourself." SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ZHAO XU, Xinhua correspondent "What's new about this year?" SOUNDBITE 1 (English): HONGYAN, Xinhua correspondent "Pretty new! This year's 'two sessions' are the first ones during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) period. So plans are expected to be worked out for China to achieve its targets." SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ZHAO XU, Xinhua correspondent "What kind of plans?" SOUNDBITE 1 (English): HONGYAN, Xinhua correspondent "A lot, you know, like socioeconomic development, environmental protection, science and technology, and so on." SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ZHAO XU, Xinhua correspondent "How many national lawmakers and political advisors are there?" SOUNDBITE 1 (English): HONGYAN, Xinhua correspondent "Over 5,000." SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ZHAO XU, Xinhua correspondent That's a lot! Is it okay under the pandemic? SOUNDBITE 1 (English): HONGYAN, Xinhua correspondent "Don't worry. Strict COVID-19 prevention and control measures are in place during the 'two sessions.' All national lawmakers, political advisors, journalists and staff have to do nucleic acids tests. I did it twice! And every corner of the venue has been sterilized to ensure everyone's health and safety. What's more, as journalists, we are not allowed to interview NPC deputies and members of CPPCC National Committee right here during the 'two sessions.'" SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ZHAO XU, Xinhua correspondent "What? You can't even interview them?" SOUNDBITE 1 (English): HONGYAN, Xinhua correspondent "Please don't get me wrong. We just can't do face-to-face interviews. We can do it online, or by phone, email and other means. I've already talked to several deputies yesterday, and they were very happy to share their ideas." SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ZHAO XU, Xinhua correspondent "Oh, that's good. Where are you going now?" SOUNDBITE 1 (English): HONGYAN, Xinhua correspondent "There is an event about to start, and now I'm on my way." SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ZHAO XU, Xinhua correspondent "How long will the 'two sessions' last?" SOUNDBITE 1 (English): HONGYAN, Xinhua correspondent "The sessions this year will last about a week or so, which is shorter than those before the pandemic hit. I have to go to work now. Remember to follow our channel, and we will provide you with the latest and exclusive news of the 'two sessions!'" Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月5日

RM 155430875

Why the world keeps close eye on China's "two sessions"

STANDUP 1 (English): HONG YAN, Xinhua correspondent "Something big is happening in Beijing. Do you know what it is?" SOUNDBITE "Two sessions." STANDUP 2 (English): HONG YAN, Xinhua correspondent "Exactly! The 'two sessions' - China's most important political meetings of the year are underway in Beijing. Thousands of national lawmakers and political advisors from across China have gathered in Beijing to discuss issues that matter to China's future. And the sessions would attract hundreds of millions of viewers on TV or online." "The sessions of China's top political legislature, the NPC, and the top advisory body, the CPPCC, are widely seen as an occasion to bring people and ideas together to draft pathways for China's development, which has been seen as remarkable despite the impact of the pandemic. But before all of these, people involved in these two important meetings, the lawmakers, political advisors and the working staff, need to undergo nucleic acid tests first, to ensure safety of the sessions." SOUNDBITE 1 (Portuguese): RONNIE LINS, Head of the China-Brazil Center for research and business "Some measures taken by China are very critical. First of all, in controlling the spread of the epidemic, the Chinese government, the Party, the army and the people all unite to fight against the epidemic and try to control the infection to a minimum." SOUNDBITE 2 (Korean): LEE WONSEOK, Deputy General of the Center for Trade Studies and Cooperation, KITA "In the process of overcoming COVID-19, we have seen China's various efforts in fighting the pandemic. If Chinese scholars or delegates participating in the "two sessions" can share their wisdom, then I think, for countries that want to resume economic development in the "post-pandemic era," it will have important reference value." STANDUP 3 (English): HONG YAN, Xinhua correspondent "While the anti-virus measures are attracting attention of the world, the issues to be discussed at the sessions are always the focus. Here's what some foreign experts had to say." SOUNDBITE 3 (English): GEORGE TZOGOPOULOS, Director of EU-China programmes and senior research fellow at the International Center for European Studies (CIFE) "I consider the 2021 "two sessions" highly significant for two main reasons. The first is that this year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and the second is that this year also signals the beginning of a new era for China after the announcement of the victory in the titanic work of eliminating poverty." SOUNDBITE 4 (English): TALAT SHABBIR, Director of China-Pakistan Study Centre, Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad "I think this is a very important time, not only for China but for the entire world. This meet-up would also review China's steps taken for the pandemic, as well as, it will also be decided in the meeting for the next 15-year vision of Chinese leadership as to how China would unfold its strategy with regard to economy, with regards to post-pandemic steps, with regards to various socio-political developments inside China." Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月5日

RM 155428928

Dialogue between top China, U.S. epidemiologists elicits positive response

As an encouraging sign of bilateral cooperation in the global battle against the still raging pandemic, leading Chinese respiratory disease expert Zhong Nanshan and top U.S. infectious disease specialist Anthony Fauci have exchanged their views. Foreigners and local residents from south China's Guangdong Province commend their views. According to Zhong and Fauci, governments should gradually map out economic recovery strategies in accordance with the requirement of pandemic control and prevention, instead of taking premature and hasty resumption measures. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): JOSH GREENFIELD, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies "I think both Dr. Zhong Nanshan and Dr. Fauci are incredibly rational voices, and they have a lot of good advice." SOUNDBITE 2 (English): HAZZA, Host with Guangdong Radio and Television (GRT) "When it comes to economic recovery and COVID-19 recovery, I think that countries around the world really should prioritize health over the economy. Because I believe that in order to really get the economy back on track, first you have to make sure that the population is healthy and that they're able to work in a safe environment, and that they can go to work without worrying about getting sick or exposing themselves to the virus." SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): TANG HAOSEN, Lawyer "In fact, we need to strike a balance between economic development and epidemic prevention and control. Like in China, we've been doing a good job in epidemic prevention and control, so we've restored normal life and our economy is back on positive track." Both Zhong and Fauci called for equity in vaccine distribution. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): JOSH GREENFIELD, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies "Well, I do think it's important, especially now that I've been hearing about my family members, some of my friends who are really trying to get vaccines. It is important everywhere. It's not just some of the aging populations or some of the less healthy, maybe more vulnerable populations in some of the developed countries, but also places with lower income and less developed countries." SOUNDBITE 5 (English): HAZZA, Host with the Guangdong Radio and Television (GRT) "When it comes to the distribution of vaccines, I think a multilateral approach is really needed. And I think that countries should work together in this regard. China has actually played a very large role in distributing vaccines to developing countries." SOUNDBITE 6 (Chinese): TANG HAOSEN, Lawyer "Personally, I think vaccines are public goods that should protect everyone in the world equally. We've seen that China recently donated vaccines to African countries such as Guinea, and earlier sent vaccines to Pakistan, Laos and Cambodia. I think this has shown China's leading role in promoting equity in vaccine distribution." Zhong and Fauci also called for global solidarity, unity and cooperation to beat the deadly virus. SOUNDBITE 7 (English): JOSH GREENFIELD, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies "I think now is definitely the time to realize some of our mistakes, realize that we do need to think more about cooperation and facing our common enemy. We have more at stake than just petty squabbles or pride or whatever, and that we really have to be mindful of the cost of lives, not only just from the coronavirus, but even from like global warming, and a lot of issues currently facing us." SOUNDBITE 8 (English): HAZZA, Host with the Guangdong Radio and Television (GRT) "I think that it is something that we should all do; we should all combine our resources, we should all bring the world's best minds together and work together. And solidarity really is the key word because you know one of the main things is nobody is safe until everybody is safe." SOUNDBITE 9 (Chinese): TANG HAOSEN, Lawyer "I think this is a key point. No country is safe because the virus knows no national boundaries. We've seen that China has set a very good example in this regard. We have shared our experience in epidemic prevention and control, as well as vaccine development, which I think is very important." Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Guangdong, China. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月5日

RM 155427872

What to expect from China's economy in 2021 and beyond

STANDUP (English): ZHAO XU, Xinhua correspondent "China's top legislature, the National People's Congress, kicked off its annual session earlier today. China's economic development is one of the issues that have drawn much attention. In 2020, China's GDP secured a growth of 2.3 percent and topped 100 trillion yuan (15.5 trillion USD) for the first time, despite challenges posed by COVID-19. How did China achieve this?" SOUNDBITE (English): JOHN ROSS, Former Director of Economic and Business Policy for the Mayor of London "There are two key factors. The first factor is that China got the virus under control. The second is the superiority of China's economic system." VOICEOVER (English): ZHAO XU, Xinhua correspondent "According to a government work report delivered by Premier Li Keqiang at the NPC session today, China set its GDP target growth at over 6% this year, with more efforts on reform, innovation and high-quality development." SOUNDBITE (Chinese): ZHOU YANFANG, NPC deputy "China's economy has entered a stage of high-quality growth. During the high-quality growth, a crucial thing we need to focus on is the resilience of our economic growth. It's not only the resilience of how we grow our economy, as the impetus of growth has changed, but we care more about the healthy performance of the economy." STANDUP (English): ZHAO XU, Xinhua correspondent "Many experts say China's economy is resilient, has potential, and will maintain sustained growth in 2021 and beyond." SOUNDBITE (Korean): LEE WONSEOK, Deputy General of the Center for Trade Studies and Cooperation, KITA "In the context of the continuous decline of the world economy due to the COVID-19 pandemic, China's economy is still growing continuously and normally. The contribution of China's economic growth to the world economy will be more obvious." SOUNDBITE (English): KRISTALINA GEORGIEVA, International Monetary Fund Managing Director "Gearing its growth more towards domestic consumption is something that China will pursue throughout the year and continue with the process of opening up, especially in the financial services, (which) will help China, will help to inject more growth momentum in the rest of the world." SOUNDBITE (English): WILLIAM JONES, Washington bureau chief of the U.S. publication Executive Intelligence Review "I think things are very optimistic. And it's very important for the world as a whole because China is such a mover such and such a major force in our economic production that if they succeed, the world's going to succeed." SOUNDBITE (English): HARLEY SEYEDIN, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in South China "China represents great opportunities for foreign companies. It is right now ranked the number one preferred investment destination in the world by our member companies. And I think we're going to be investing very heavily in the next several years, and the future of business in China is going to continue to be bright." SOUNDBITE (English): SHAKEEL RAMAY, Director of China Study Center at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute, Islamabad "China is an opportunity. China will be a major country that can pull other countries, can create an opportunity for other countries." Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月5日

RM 155597819

AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccines Arrive in Uganda

Uganda received 864,000 doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine on March 5, shipped under the international COVAX initiative. This footage was taken at Entebbe International Airport on Friday as the vaccines were offloaded and put into trucks. "The long awaited Covid Vaccines are here," tweeted Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Dr. Diana Atwine. "The vaccines are safe and efficacious." The Ministry of Health said that vaccinations would begin on March 10, and proceed in a phased rollout with the most at risk receiving doses first. COVAX is a joint program led by the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and GAVI, a global vaccine alliance. Vaccines have been sent to several other African countries under the initiative, including Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, the DRC, and Rwanda. Credit: UNICEF via Storyful ( Original Title: AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccines Arrive in Uganda )

日付：2021年3月5日

RM 155478081

Protesters March Over New York Bridges, Call for Pandemic Support for 'Excluded Workers'

Workers from various industries marched across the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges in New York City on March 5 as they called for support for workers excluded from unemployment or pandemic-related benefits, local media reported. The demonstration included people working in construction, hospitality, and education, as well as yellow-cab drivers who drove over the bridge alongside people marching. The New York Taxi Workers Alliance (NYTWA) said the demonstration was for undocumented workers, who have been excluded from unemployment benefits and stimulus payments during the pandemic, and said New York City's cab drivers "stand in solidarity" with workers struggling through the pandemic. New York Communities for Change, a political activist group that posted this footage, said its members were marching "for all excluded workers, those who can't pay rent and those who have lost work." The group called for tax hikes for the wealthy and rent cancellation. The demonstration closed lanes on both bridges, according to reports. Credit: @NYChange via Storyful ( Original Title: Protesters March Over New York Bridges, Call for Pandemic Support for 'Excluded Workers' )

日付：2021年3月5日

RM 155445975

'Excluded Worker' Protesters Shut Down Traffic on Brooklyn Bridge

Protesters shut down traffic lanes on the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges in New York City on March 5, calling for financial relief for workers struggling through the pandemic, reports said. Local media said demonstrations were held in support of a "coalition of workers demanding pandemic relief." The New York Taxi Workers Alliance (NYTWA) joined the protest, adding that New York City's cab drivers "stand in solidarity" with workers impacted by the pandemic. The NYTWA said the demonstration was for undocumented workers, who have been excluded from unemployment benefits and stimulus payments during the pandemic. This footage from Make the Road New York shows a crowd of protesters walking along the Brooklyn Bridge on March 5. Credit: @MaketheRoadNY via Storyful ( Original Title: 'Excluded Worker' Protesters Shut Down Traffic on Brooklyn Bridge )

日付：2021年3月5日

RM 155444813

Taxi Drivers Join Pandemic-Stricken Workers in NYC Bridge Protests

Taxi drivers joined protesters in demonstrations on the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges in New York City on March 5, reports said. Local media reported that the demonstration included a "coalition of workers demanding pandemic relief." The New York Taxi Workers Alliance (NYTWA) said the demonstration was for undocumented workers, who have been excluded from unemployment benefits and stimulus payments during the pandemic. The NYTWA said New York City's cab drivers "stand in solidarity" with workers struggling through the pandemic. This footage from the NYTWA shows yellow cabs along the Manhattan Bridge near a throng of protesters. The alliance also released video of taxi drivers and protesters stopped along the Brooklyn Bridge. The demonstration closed lanes on both the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges, according to reports. Credit: @NYTWA via Storyful ( Original Title: Taxi Drivers Join Pandemic-Stricken Workers in NYC Bridge Protests )

日付：2021年3月5日

RM 155647518

Italy to give just one COVID-19 vaccine shot to those previously infected

Date:MARCH 4, 2021 Italy will administer a single vaccine dose to those who have already been infected with COVID-19, the health ministry said late Wednesday (March 3). The recommendation applies to people diagnosed with COVID between three and six months previously. France and Spain announced a similar policy last month, in a move that also appears to be aimed at saving vaccine shots and boosting supplies while EU countries are struggling to run their vaccination campaigns due to supply cuts imposed by drugmakers. At a hospital in Rome on Thursday (March 4), people aged over 80 were receiving a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine as the country continues its vaccination campaign. 97-year-old Virginia was nervous about the possible side effects because of her age but remained calm as she received her first shot. Italy, which has a population of around 60 million, had administered 4.76 million doses of vaccines as of early Thursday, with some 1.5 million people receiving the recommended two shots. (Production: Cristiano Corvino, Gabriele Pileri, Emily Roe) (Caption:4049WD-HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS_ITALY_O_)

日付：2021年3月4日

RM 155647823

Calais pushes on with vaccine drive as possible lockdown looms

Date:MARCH 4, 2021 Local health authorities in the northern French city of Calais on Thursday (March 4) pushed on with vaccinations amid talks of a possible weekend lockdown in the area amid a worsening COVID-19 situation. Two government sources aware of French President Emmanuel Macron's plans said Prime Minister Jean Castex would on Thursday announce a weekend lockdown for the northern Pas-de-Calais area, like that already imposed on the French Riviera, but not for the French capital of Paris and its surroundings. The weekend lockdown in Pas-de-Calais will remain in place for several weeks, one of the officials said. Armand Devignes, the president of the Order of Nurses for Pas-de-Calais, said although the local lockdown has not yet been confirmed, it is "highly possible." He said his vaccination centre will open this weekend as Pfizer doses are set to arrive in the city. France registered 26,788 new coronavirus infections on Wednesday (March 3). Cases have been rising at a steady weekly rate of just above 4% since early January, although this is far below rises of more than 20% seen before and during a nationwide lockdown in November. (Production: Pascal Rossignol, Ardee Napolitano) (Caption:4188WD-HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS_FRANCE_CALAIS_O_)

日付：2021年3月4日

RM 155647853

Pakistan suspends flagship cricket tournament after COVID-19 cases among teams

Date:MARCH 4, 2021 Pakistan is suspending its flagship cricket tournament that started last month after seven team personnel tested positive for COVID-19, the cricket board said on Thursday (March 4). Teams competing in the country's highest profile sporting event, in which international players also participate, were all present in the southern city of Karachi, where matches were being played. "It was a great disappointment for us that we have found ourselves in a situation where neither us, or others, are able to provide what we need to provide, and that is full protection for players. The health and well-being of all the players comes first and foremost, above anything else," CEO of Pakistan Cricket Board Waseem Khan told a news conference in Karachi. Khan said the decision to suspend the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) 6 with immediate effect was made following a meeting with the team owners. The decision was made after seven cases were reported in the competition, which started on Feb. 20. A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official told Reuters that three international players were among the seven who tested positive. Officials did not immediately give a resumption date. Pakistan has so far recorded 585,435 cases of COVID-19 and over 13,000 deaths. The last two days have seen over 130 deaths, according to government data. Pakistan imposed a lockdown only for a few weeks after the first COVID-19 case was detected in March last year, and has gradually lifted the few restrictions it had in place since then. Authorities last week gave permission for the PSL tournament to increase crowd sizes from 20 percent to 50 percent stadium capacity. (Production: Waseem Sattar/Salah Uddin/Sheree Sardar) (Caption:4108SP-CRICKET-PAKISTAN_PSL_O_)

日付：2021年3月4日

RM 155360726

Brazilian Demonstrators Take Part In Protest Against President's Coronavirus Vaccine Response

These Brazilian demonstrators took part in a protest against their president's Coronavirus vaccine response. The protestors walked on the streets in large groups holding posters and banners. They walked and chanted slogans while the police walked beside them as they peacefully protested. ( Original Title: Brazilian Demonstrators Take Part In Protest Against President's Coronavirus Vaccine Response )

日付：2021年3月4日

RM 155350654

100歳を祝ってもらうおじいさん、フェイスシールをしたままロウソクの火を消そうとする＝アメリカ

This 100-year-old grandpa in Ocala, Florida, US, tried to blow out his birthday candles and eat a slice of cake, forgetting that he was still wearing his face shield. Tax Coordinator and Bakery Owner at Laffitte Bakery, Valerie Gomez, was recording a special moment as her family celebrated this milestone for her grandpa, Teobaldo Perez, when she caught this hilarious moment on camera. Valerie said: "He laughed when he realised he was still wearing his mask and obviously everyone at the same time reminded him he was wearing it." Valerie designed her grandpa's golf-themed cake herself in all his favourite colours. ( Original Title: 100 Yo Grandpa Tries to Blow Candles Out With Face Shield )

日付：2021年3月4日

RM 155350690

船で旅する家族が旅の様子を公開

This sailor and her family refused to be stuck at home during the pandemic so they bought a boat and set sail. Budding sailor Taylor Barker, 18, and her family relocated to a Leapord 48 Catamaran in early 2020 when Coronavirus restrictions were being rolled out. Instead of being restless at home, Taylor's family has embarked on plenty of journeys at sea and explored the world from the safety of their boat. Although they haven't permanently relocated, Taylor and her parents live aboard for three to six months at a time. ( Original Title: Life of a Female Sailor )

日付：2021年3月4日

RM 155347371

防護服を着用して研究室にいる犬＝アメリカ

This golden retriever has been trained as a laboratory assistant to its disabled neuroscientist owner - and even has to wear canine PPE. Service dog Sampson is required to wear PPE for safety reasons as he helps disabled neuroscientist Joey Ramp conduct her crucial lab work every day. Joey, 56, suffered traumatic head injuries following a serious riding accident in 2006 and returned to education to gain a better understanding of the human brain. *These videos were filmed throughout 2020/2021. ( Original Title: Cute dog dresses in PPE and works hard in the laboratory )

日付：2021年3月4日

RM 155352452

3月8日から学校は通常授業、暖かくなり人が屋外に出るようになるが不安は残る＝イギリス

From the 8th March 2021, lockdown restrictions will finally start to lift with schools reopening and outside meets being sanctioned. But as the sunnier weather continues and with normality in sight, are the public relaxing too quickly? Parks and public spaces in Greenwich and around London have been the host to many groups, with gatherings sitting and enjoying the sun. This video was shot on the 3rd March 2021. ( Original Title: As the nation prepares for an ease of restrictions, is the warmer weather creating too many crowds? )

日付：2021年3月4日

RM 155351852

New Zealand reports 6 COVID-19 cases in managed isolation

New Zealand reported six COVID-19 cases in managed isolation on Thursday, with no new cases in the community. All the six cases have remained in managed isolation facilities in Auckland, according to the Ministry of Health. No previously reported cases have recovered. The total number of active cases in New Zealand is 68, and the total number of confirmed cases is 2,033, said a ministry statement. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Wellington. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月4日

RM 155351436

Thailand reports 54 new COVID-19 cases, one more fatality

Thailand on Thursday confirmed 54 new COVID-19 cases, mostly domestic, and one more fatality, according to a report from the Center for the COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). Of Thursday's new cases, 44 were domestic infections while 10 others referred to imported cases, the CCSA report said. Thailand has so far confirmed 26,162 cases, 23,353 of them were domestic cases while 2,809 others referred to imported cases. So far, 25,562 patients have fully recovered and been released from hospitals while 515 others are currently hospitalized and 85 fatalities have been reported. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Bangkok. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月4日

RM 155351422

India's COVID-19 tally rises to 11,156,923

India's COVID-19 tally rose to 11,156,923 on Thursday as 17,407 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours, according to the latest data from the federal health ministry. According to the official data, the death toll mounted to 157,435 as 89 COVID-19 patients died since Wednesday morning. There are still 173,413 active cases in the country, while 10,826,075 people have been discharged so far from hospitals after medical treatment. There was an increase of 3,287 active cases during the previous 24 hours. The number of daily active cases had been on the rise over the past few days. January 16 was a crucial day in India's fight against the pandemic as the nationwide vaccination drive kicked off during the day. So far more than 16.6 million people, mainly health workers, have been vaccinated across the country. Two types of vaccines are being administered to the people in India. While the Covishield vaccine, made by the Serum Institute of India (SII), was supplied to all states, the Covaxin vaccine, made by the Bharat Biotech International Limited, was supplied to only 12 states. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from New Delhi. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月4日

RM 155351204

Bangladesh's major ship building, repairing hub returns to business after COVID-19 shocks

With dozens of dockyards Keraniganj in the bank of the river Burigonga that flows past the southwest outskirts of Bangladesh capital Dhaka is a mega hub for building and repairing small vessels, launches and steamers. The chaotic hustle and bustle of the area never sleeps with hundreds of workers dismantling the old ships and cruisers to reuse their parts and machinery in new vessels or repaired ones around the clock. The sector gradually returned to business in recent months amid easing of the COVID-19 situation in Bangladesh. Nur Mohammad is a coating mechanic at a dockyard in Keraniganj. He has been working in the ship coating section for ten years. Due to Coronavirus, he said dockyard activities came to a near halt and workers suffered a lot. SOUNDBITE 1 (Bengali): NUR MOHAMMAD, coating mechanic "Now I'm fine. All the activities returned to normalcy in the country." He said they are busy and well, everything is going on as usual. Md. Shaon is a dockyard worker. He said dockyard sector also felt the pinch of the pandemic. SOUNDBITE 2 (Bengali): SHAON, worker "We live in Keraniganj. I have been working here for four years. I am now fine with family members." Mohammad Ilyas Khan has an equipment making factory and sales-house. SOUNDBITE 3 (Bengali): MOHAMMAD LLYAS KHAN, ship equipment maker "My name is Mohammad Ilyas Khan. I've been in this business for the last twenty years. I make ship fans, gallons, brushes, propellers. I whatever equipment needed for a ship. I have two organizations here together. One is to make equipment and another for selling other finished products." Seventeen workers work in my organizations, he said and added they all suffered serious blows due to the pandemic. Xinhua News Correspondents reporting from Dhaka. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月4日

RM 155351197

Chinese-donated COVID-19 vaccines arrive in Guinea

batch of China-donated COVID-19 vaccines arrived in Conakry, capital of Guinea, on Wednesday. Guinean Minister of Foreign Affairs Ibrahima Khalil Kaba, Guinean Minister of Health Remy Lamah and Chinese Ambassador to Guinea Huang Wei attended the handover ceremony held at the airport. Kaba expressed his heartfelt thanks to the Chinese government and people in his speech. He said that after Guinea raised its demand for vaccines to China, the Chinese side responded quickly and actively and offered help as soon as possible. "I believe that with the support of China, Guinea will surely overcome the epidemic," said Kaba. Huang Wei said that the COVID-19 epidemic is still spreading, and vaccines are an effective "weapon" for mankind to overcome the epidemic. Although the current global supply of vaccines is tight and China is facing huge demand for vaccination, China is doing everything to promote the availability and affordability of vaccines for developing countries, said Huang. Guinea is one of the first countries to receive vaccine assistance from China. It is China's latest concrete measure to actively implement the declaration of vaccines as a global public product, which can help Guinean people to overcome the epidemic as soon as possible, said Huang. It is also another vivid interpretation of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Guinea, said Huang. Guinea has so far reported a total of 16,154 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 91 deaths, and 15,033 cured cases. Xinhua News Correspondents reporting from Conakry. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月4日

RM 155345679

Chinese UN ambassador showcases Chinese achievements in poverty reduction

China's permanent representative to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, on Tuesday showcased his country's achievements in poverty reduction and shared experience with UN member states and agencies. Zhang made the remarks at a virtual briefing, recalling that on Feb. 25, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that China has scored a "complete victory" in its fight against poverty. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations "Zero poverty is a long-held dream of humankind, and a basic right of the people in want of a better life. That is why the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has made No Poverty its top goal. As the largest developing country, China has been working hard to eradicate poverty, especially since the launch of reform and opening up. In the past 8 years, China has placed even greater importance on poverty eradication." This victory has advanced China's economic and social development and opened up broad prospects for achieving sustainable development; has improved human rights in China; has found a viable path to achieve development and prosperity for developing countries; and has made an important contribution to global development and boosted the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, he said. This victory has not come easily, it benefited from the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, a people-centered approach, whole-of-society mobilization, and a targeted strategy, said Zhang. China will enter a new development stage, said the envoy. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations "China will work with all parties to deepen international cooperation in poverty reduction and South-South cooperation. We will continue to give strong support to the work of the UN and the Secretary-General in this regard, and give full play to the China-UN Peace and Development Fund, vigorously promote global poverty reduction and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, accelerate a better recovery and healing from COVID-19, and actively tackle the challenges of climate change. China, as a force for peace, a force for development, a force for progress, and a force for justice, will continue to make even greater contributions to maintaining world peace, promoting common development and upholding fairness and justice." Some 200 diplomats, UN officials and media representatives, including about 60 ambassadors, attended the briefing. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from United Nations. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月4日

RM 155345656

UK records another 6,391 coronavirus cases, 343 deaths

Another 6,391 people in Britain have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 4,188,400, according to official figures released Tuesday. The country also reported another 343 coronavirus-related deaths. The total number of coronavirus-related deaths in Britain now stands at 123,296. These figures only include the deaths of people who died within 28 days of their first positive test. British Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Monday that surge testing has been put in place in parts of England after six cases of the coronavirus variant first found in Brazil have been identified in Britain. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): MATT HANCOCK, British Health Secretary "Fortunately, one of the six cases completed a test but did not successfully complete the contact details. Incidents like this are rare and only occur in around 0.1 percent of tests. I can update the House on the latest information in identifying this case. We have identified the batch of home test kits in question, and our search has narrowed from the whole country down to 379 households in the southeast of England. And We are contacting each one. " The possible impact of the variant to the current vaccines is still unclear, according to the health secretary. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): MATT HANCOCK, British Health Secretary "Our current vaccines have not yet been studied against this variant. And We are working to understand what impact it might have, but we do know that the variant has caused significant challenges in Brazil, so we are doing all we can to stop the spread of this new variant in the UK, to analyse its effects, to develop an updated vaccine that works on all these variants of concern, and to protect the progress that we have made as a nation. " The latest figures were revealed as more than 20.4 million people in Britain have been given the first jab of the coronavirus vaccine. Earlier Tuesday, data from the British Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that coronavirus related deaths in England and Wales are falling fastest among those aged 80 and over thanks to the vaccine rollout in Britain. England is currently under the third national lockdown since outbreak of the pandemic in the country. Similar restriction measures are also in place in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. On Feb. 22, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his long-anticipated "roadmap" exiting the lockdown. Schools in England will reopen from March 8 as first part of the four-step plan, which Johnson said was designed to be "cautious but irreversible". To bring life back to normal, countries such as Britain, China, Germany, Russia and the United States have been racing against time to roll out coronavirus vaccines. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from London. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月4日

RM 155344623

Iraq starts vaccination of health workers with China-donated vaccines

Iraq kicked off its national vaccination program on Tuesday by administering China-donated Sinopharm vaccines to frontline health workers. STANDUP (English): JAMAL HASHIM, Xinhua correspondent "This is Jamal Hashim reporting from Baghdad. Beside me is the Medical City facility in downtown Baghdad, one of the sites in the Iraqi capital that received on Tuesday the first shot of the Chinese donated Sinopharm vaccines. According to the Iraqi Ministry of Health, frontline health workers are the prioritized group to kick off the vaccination process in the country. Speaking to Xinhua, Iraqi Minister of Health Hassan al-Tamimi hailed China's donation of Sinopharm vaccines to Iraq, saying that it is 'a message of friendship from the Chinese people to the Iraqi people'." In a health center of the Medical City, Iraq's largest medical complex, medical workers gathered to register for vaccination with Sinopharm shots. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): SAYF AL-HAIDARI, Supervisor of vaccination program "The Chinese vaccine is one of the vaccines that have been tried in many countries, including Arabic countries, and have proven successful. The preliminary results of this vaccine indicated that its success rate is good and high, and the ministry of health said that it has decided to purchase a batch of this vaccine." Mohammed Kamil of the Iraqi Ministry of Health praised China for the COVID-19 vaccines with affordability and accessibility. "China's donation initiative to Iraq was fast and effective, although China needs large quantities of vaccines for its own population," Kamil said, referring to China's efforts to make COVID-19 vaccines global public goods. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): MOHAMMED KAMIL, Official from Iraqi Ministry of Health "It is not just about the vaccine. In the recent months since the outbreak of the pandemic, China has built a PCR laboratory. This cooperation is very good, and is a goodwill gesture that shows China's desire to help Iraq overcome this crisis." Iraqi health workers expressed their gratitude to China for the donation, especially since they're working on the frontline to combat the pandemic, facing infection risks every day. Asraa Abbas, a nurse in her 30s, said she was very happy after she got the vaccine because everyone works in constant danger in hospitals. "The Chinese vaccine not only came to save me; it came to save my whole family," she said, adding that all citizens should choose to get the vaccine, but should still adhere to protective measures and social distancing. Iraqi Minister of Health Hassan al-Tamimi said in a statement on Tuesday that the vaccination process began in Baghdad, while the vaccines were delivered to all Iraqi provinces, including the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan, hours after they arrived from China. The recipients will receive their second dose after three weeks. The first batch of Sinopharm vaccines has arrived in Iraq at a critical time, as the country is facing an increase in coronavirus infections after the recent spread of a new variant of the virus. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Baghdad. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月4日

RM 155344033

Rwanda receives COVID-19 vaccines through COVAX

Rwanda on Wednesday morning received the first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines from COVAX, the global tool to procure and deliver vaccines for low- and middle-income countries, in its capital, Kigali, the Ministry of Health said in a statement. The AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccines, which numbered 240,000 doses, will be followed by 102,960 doses of the Pfizer vaccines, also from the COVAX vaccine sharing program, which is expected to arrive on Wednesday evening, the statement said. The vaccines will be used to vaccinate a total of 171,480 people from risk groups who are identified as a priority, including health personnel, frontline workers, and those older than 65 years or with underlying health conditions, it said. "We are pleased to receive these first AstraZeneca-Oxford and Pfizer vaccines through the COVAX initiative, and appreciate the partnerships with the UN family, GAVI, funders, and as well as manufacturers that have made this possible," Rwandan Minister of Health Daniel Ngamije said in the statement. The central African nation will immediately roll out its prepared vaccine plan, which will see the targeted risk groups across the country receiving their first dose, he said. Rwanda's target is to vaccinate 30 percent of the population by the end of 2021 and 60 percent by the end of 2022, according to him. SOUNDBITE (English): DANIEL NGAMIJE, Rwandan Minister of Health "In the coming months, additional doses until we reach seven million doses under COVAX. But also we will be getting through another mechanism, the African Union mechanism. The objective is to vaccinate up to 7.8 million Rwandese up to June 2022." The jabs from the COVAX represent an "unprecedented global effort" to have equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, WHO Rwanda Country Representative Kasonde Mwinga said in the statement. The vaccines will be dispatched on Thursday from the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) warehouse to district hospitals and then to all 508 health centers across the country, according to the statement. The country will kick off the vaccination exercise on Friday in hospitals and health centers, and recipients will be invited through respective districts, it added. According to the government, Rwanda continues negotiations with multiple partners, including international organizations and other governments to acquire additional vaccines. The country plans to inoculate at least 60 percent of its population, or some 8 million people, in two years to achieve herd immunity against the virus. As of Tuesday, Rwanda had recorded a total of 19,111 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 17,472 recoveries and 265 deaths. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Kigali. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月4日

RM 155343876

China-donated COVID-19 vaccines arrive in Montenegro

The first batch of Sinopharm vaccines donated by China arrived in Montenegro on Wednesday. The shipment was welcomed by Montenegrin Health Minister Jelena Borovinic Bojovic and Chinese ambassador to Montenegro Liu Jin. Confirming the arrival of the vaccines, the government stated in a news release that the donation demonstrates the friendship between the two nations. SOUNDBITE 1 (Montenegrin): JELENA BOROVINIC BOJOVIC, Health minister of Montenegro "This is another proof of friendly relations and great solidarity between our two countries, and I want to say 'thanks' on behalf of the whole government, prime minister and the health ministry." Ambassador Liu Jin said that Montenegro is among the first countries in Europe to receive a donation of vaccines from China, which "symbolizes the friendship and good wishes of the Chinese people towards Montenegro". SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): LIU JIN, Chinese ambassador to Montenegro "Today's donation shows the traditional friendship between the two countries, that we are good partners and in the long run we understand, respect and help each other, especially after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. We believe that the Chinese vaccine will help Montenegro win the fight against the pandemic and recover the economy as soon as possible and I hope that the people here will open a new chapter of life and work like Chinese as soon as possible." Over the course of the pandemic, Montenegro registered over 77,000 coronavirus infections and more than 1,000 resulting deaths, while over 8,600 people are currently infected. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Podgrica. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月4日

RM 155343035

GLOBALink | U.S. expert on surge of anti-Asian violence amid pandemic

STANDUP 1 (English): TAN YIXIAO, Xinhua correspondent "It's unfortunate that recently we saw the anti-Asian cases, not only in verbal assaults, but sometimes turning to physical violence. So after year into the pandemic, racism and xenophobia are still happening from time to time. And why do you think it's that? What do you think should be done to stop it? " SOUNDBITE 1 (English): TOM NAGORSKI, Executive Vice President of Asia Society "Thank you for having me. It's a pleasure to be with you and your audience. Why it began happening in the first place? In some ways, it's a very difficult question to answer. Those kinds of attitudes exist in people's hearts and they're not visible always, and it's very hard to change the way people feel. Having said that, I think it's pretty clear that very early on, leaders in this country, including the man who lived in the building behind you, our (former) president, not only blamed China as a political matter, I think, he was trying to place blame somewhere other than his own government and his own leadership for what was going on in this country. And it just got worse and worse. And I think when the leader of any country uses the public space and the microphone and the reach that person has, not to mention social media, a huge thing, of course, for Mr. Trump, and uses it in this way, then I have to believe people who feel a little bit like that already, then they feel very comfortable, because look, my president is saying the same thing, so maybe I can do it too." STANDUP 2 (English): TAN YIXIAO, Xinhua correspondent "Congresswoman Judy Chu held the press conference two weeks ago, she also blamed the increase of anti-Asian violence on the Trump administration stigmatization of China during the pandemic. you've also criticized that, but also our Judy Chu called on Congress to pass the 2019 no hate act. And what do you think of this? No hate act?" SOUNDBITE 2 (English): TOM NAGORSKI, Executive Vice President of Asia Society "First of all, everybody has a role to play in this, I guess it's fair to say. I was very happy to see that President Biden passed an executive order early on condemning racism and xenophobia against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. The No Hate Act is more, I believe, it's an effort to help local communities and local governments, to do a better job with hate crime reporting. So it's a very specific thing. I mean I'm grateful and I'm happy that lawmakers are thinking about this." U.S. President Joe Biden on Jan. 26 signed a memorandum condemning the surge of anti-Asian racism in the country during the COVID-19 pandemic, while directing the Department of Justice to make more concerted efforts to address hate crimes and harassment against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Stop AAPI Hate, a group tracking discrimination against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI), said it had received more than 2,808 firsthand accounts of anti-Asian hate from mid-March 2020 through the end of 2020. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Washington D.C. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月4日

RM 155342547

Ukrainian president gets vaccinated against COVID-19

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky was vaccinated against COVID-19 with AstraZeneca vaccine during his working trip to the Luhansk region, the president's press service reported on Tuesday. "Vaccination is important. I know what COVID-19 is because I had this disease. Therefore, I suggest that everyone is vaccinated. Despite the fact that I recovered from COVID-19, my antibody level is very low," Zelensky said after the vaccination at a military mobile hospital on Tuesday. Zelensky urged Ukrainians to follow his example and get vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to defeat the pandemic and return to normal life as soon as possible. On Feb. 23, 500,000 doses of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine arrived in Ukraine. The Ministry of Health expects to receive another 1.5 million doses of this vaccine by March 31 and 117,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine in early March as part of the COVAX initiative. A total of 1,357,470 COVID-19 cases and 26,212 deaths have been registered in Ukraine as of Tuesday, while 1,176,918 patients have recovered, according to the health authorities. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Kiev. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月4日

RM 155342417

Chinese envoy calls for efforts to advance political process in South Sudan

A Chinese envoy on Wednesday called for efforts to advance the political process in South Sudan. Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, made the remarks at the Security Council videoconference on the situation in South Sudan. SOUNDBITE 1 (English translation): ZHANG JUN, China's permanent representative to the United Nations "This year marks the 10th anniversary of the founding of South Sudan. Over the past 10 years, the people of South Sudan have overcome numerous challenges and made new progress in nation-building. At present, the situation in South Sudan presents both opportunities and challenges." There is a need to maintain the positive momentum of the political process, he told the Security Council. SOUNDBITE 2 (English translation): ZHANG JUN, China's permanent representative to the United Nations "For some time now, the cease-fire in South Sudan has been holding on the whole. And the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement has made positive progress on key issues, such as government formation and appointment of governors. China welcomes this development. We encourage all parties in South Sudan to consolidate existing gains; move forward the key tasks of security arrangements, the reconstitution of parliament, and preparations for general elections; stay in the course of implementing the peace agreement and resolve potential differences by peaceful means. We call on the armed factions that have not yet joined the agreement to do so as soon as possible. The implementation of the agreement faces practical difficulties, such as lack of funding. We hope the international community will provide responsive assistance." The international community should continue to support the peace efforts of the African Union (AU) and sub-regional organizations such as the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, and countries such as Sudan, he said. China calls on the international community to respond to the AU's initiative and lift sanctions against South Sudan as soon as possible, he said. It is necessary to continue to improve the security situation in South Sudan, said Zhang. SOUNDBITE 3 (English translation): ZHANG JUN, China's permanent representative to the United Nations "Communal and ethnic conflicts continue to pose a security threat to the people of South Sudan, and require a combination of responses such as prevention, mediation, reconciliation, and protection. UNMISS (The UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan), has devoted considerable efforts to this end with some success. The government of South Sudan bears the primary responsibility for protecting civilians. China supports the international community in continuing to provide capacity-building assistance to the government of South Sudan in this regard." Competing for resources remains a major cause of communal and ethnic conflict. Developing the economy and improving people's livelihood can help eliminate the root causes of conflict. Special attention should be paid to this point, he said. SOUNDBITE 4 (English translation): ZHANG JUN, China's permanent representative to the United Nations "In its response to challenges such as COVID-19, the COVID-19 infection rate in South Sudan is reported to be as high as 15 percent to 25 percent, which is worrying. The immediate priority is to provide anti-COVID-19 support to South Sudan, ensure timely and fair access to vaccines for those in need and curb the spread of the pandemic. South Sudan is experiencing severe economic difficulties, and more than 8 million people may need humanitarian assistance this year. The international community should step up its support and assistance in this regard." Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from UN Headquarters. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月4日

RM 155341697

Iranian health minister calls for refraining from traveling during Iranian New Year holiday

The Iranian health minister on Wednesday called on people to refrain from traveling during the two-week holiday of the Iranian New Year starting March 21, given the COVID-19 epidemic. "Despite the fatigue and the heavy constraints they have endured during the past year, people should still have patience," Saeed Namaki said in an interview with state TV. Traveling during this year's Nowruz holiday may actually be even "more dangerous" than last year since Iran is now dealing with a mutated variant of the COVID-19 virus, the minister noted. In normal years, millions of Iranians travel to tourist places or some relatives' places of residence around the country during the nearly two weeks period of the holiday starting on the first day of the Iranian New Year, Nowruz. Also on Wednesday, Sima Sadat Lari, spokeswoman for Iran's Health Ministry, said 8,525 new COVID-19 cases were detected in the past 24 hours, raising the country's overall count to 1,656,699, according to the ministry's official website. Of the newly infected, 764 patients had to be hospitalized, Lari added. Between Tuesday and Wednesday, 86 new deaths related to the coronavirus were registered in Iran, taking the death toll from the virus to 60,353. It is worth noting that 11 Iranian counties in the southwestern province of Khuzestan are still on red alert for a high risk of infection, the spokeswoman said. Iran announced its first cases of COVID-19 on Feb. 19, 2020. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Tehran. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月4日

RM 155341645

Schools for over 168 mln children closed for almost entire year due to COVID-19 pandemic: UNICEF

chools for more than 168 million children worldwide have been completely closed for almost a full year because of the coronavirus pandemic, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday. Meanwhile, about 214 million children around the world, or one in seven, have missed more than three quarters of their in-person learning, according to new data released by UNICEF. The analysis on school closures report shows that 14 countries globally have remained largely closed from March 2020 to February 2021, two thirds of which are in Latin America and the Caribbean, affecting nearly 98 million schoolchildren. SOUNDBITE (English): ANTONIO GUTERRES, UN Secretary-General "One of the most dramatic consequences of the COVID, has been the terrible suffering that children, families, because of children that cannot attend school. Many, fortunately, had a chance to do it at least with virtual means, but for the poorest populations without internet connection, just we have millions of people out of school. And that is a tragedy. A tragedy for them, a tragedy for their countries, and a tragedy for the future of humankind." "As we approach the one-year mark of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are again reminded of the catastrophic education emergency worldwide lockdowns have created. With every day that goes by, children unable to access in-person schooling fall further and further behind, with the most marginalized paying the heaviest price," said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore. "We cannot afford to move into year two of limited or even no in-school learning for these children. No effort should be spared to keep schools open, or prioritize them in reopening plans," added Fore. According to the latest data released by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, more than 888 million children globally continue to face disruptions to their education because of full and partial school closures. Also on Tuesday, UNICEF unveiled "Pandemic Classroom," a model classroom made up of 168 empty desks, to call attention to the education emergency and raise governments' awareness to keep schools open. Each of the 168 empty desks represents one million children living in countries where schools have been almost entirely closed. "We do not want shuttered doors and closed buildings to obscure the fact that our children's futures are being put on indefinite pause," said Fore. "This installation is a message to governments: We must prioritize reopening schools, and we must prioritize reopening them better than they were before." UNICEF also urges governments to prioritize every student's unique needs, with comprehensive services covering remedial learning, health and nutrition, mental health and protection measures in schools. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from UN Headquarters. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月4日

RM 155341633

UN chief calls for protection of forests, wildlife

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday called for the protection of forests and forest species, which provide livelihoods for the poor and for indigenous communities. He made this plea on World Wildlife Day, which falls on March 3. This year's theme is "Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet." SOUNDBITE (English): ANTONIO GUTERRES, UN Secretary-General "The planet's forests are home to some 80 percent of all terrestrial wild species. They help regulate the climate and support the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people." Some 90 percent of the world's poorest people are dependent in some way on forest resources. This is particularly true for indigenous communities that live in or near forests. About 28 percent of the world's land is managed by indigenous communities, including some of the most intact forests on the planet. Forests provide livelihoods and cultural identity for them. The unsustainable exploitation of forests harms these communities and contributes to biodiversity loss and climate disruption. Every year, 4.7 million hectares of forests -- an area larger than Denmark -- are lost, he said. Unsustainable agriculture is a major cause. So is global timber trafficking, which accounts for up to 90 percent of tropical deforestation in some countries. It also attracts the world's biggest organized crime groups. The illegal trade in wild animal species is another threat, increasing the risks of zoonotic diseases, such as Ebola and COVID-19, said Guterres. "So, on this year's World Wildlife Day, I urge governments, businesses and people everywhere to scale up efforts to conserve forests and forest species, and to support and listen to the voices of forest communities. In so doing, we will contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals for people, planet and prosperity," the UN chief said. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from UN Headquarters. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月4日

RM 155341582

Turkey's annual inflation rate soars to 15.61 pct in February

Turkey's annual inflation soared to 15.61 percent in February, mainly driven by rising prices in household goods and transportation, according to official data published on Wednesday. The country's monthly inflation increased by 0.91 percent in February, data of the Turkish Statistical Institute showed. The highest annual price rise was reported in household goods and transportation, surging by 23.74 percent and 22.47 percent, respectively. The lowest hike was observed in alcoholic beverages and tobacco, with an increase of 2.87 percent. The government is expected to launch a series of financial measures in the upcoming days to address growing inflation and employment. On Monday, Turkey decided to ease the COVID-19 restrictions and announced a series of gradual normalization steps, including the reopening of restaurants and cafes. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Ankara. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月4日

RM 155341438

Kenya receives 1.02 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine

Kenya received over one million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine through the global COVAX facility early Wednesday. The local office of the World Health Organization (WHO) made the announcement on Twitter, saying the 1.02 million doses had arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport onboard a Qatar Airways flight. According to Kenya's Ministry of Health, the first beneficiaries of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine will include frontline workers such as health care professionals, teachers, and security personnel. As of Tuesday, 345 people were diagnosed with the coronavirus out of a sample size of 5,550 tested in 24 hours. The total number of confirmed cases in the country now stands at 106,470. Another 143 people have recovered, bringing total recoveries to 86,860, while four patients succumbed to the disease, taking the country's fatalities to 1,863. SOUNDBITE (English): MUTAHI KAGWE, Kenyan Health Cabinet Secretary "Let's make it clear, we are starting with our health workers. Kenya has approximately 400,000 health workers in the country. After that, we are going to roll it to the frontline workers. We have got the police, the teachers and other people. After that, we will go to people who have got other diseases so that we can also protect them. And only then we are going to start rolling it out to the rest of the population." Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Nairobi. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月4日

RM 155332402

UK unveils three-point plan in Budget 2021 to set path for economic recovery

British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak on Wednesday announced a three-point plan in Budget 2021 to offer support for jobs and businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic while setting a path for the economy to rebound. Delivering the Budget in the House of Commons (lower house of the British parliament), Sunak unveiled a package of measures such as extending a couple of supporting schemes, strengthening public finances and highlighting investment-led recovery, among others, as Britain is striving to revive its pandemic-hit economy. The economic recovery will be "swifter and more sustained" than thought, Sunak said. But he said that recovery "will take time", adding he will do "whatever it takes" to support people and business. SOUNDBITE (English): RISHI SUNAK, British Chancellor of the Exchequer "Today, we set out a plan to protect the jobs and livelihoods of the British people, but the promises that underpin that plan remain unchanged from those we pledged ourselves to 12 long months ago: to unite and lead; to level up; to create a world-class education system; to keep our streets safe; to keep our NHS strong; to support the most vulnerable; to reform and improve public services; to grow the economy; to spread prosperity; to extend the awesome power of opportunity to all corners of the United Kingdom. And, yes, to be honest, and fair in all that we do. An important moment is upon us, a moment of challenge and of change, of difficulties, yes, but of possibilities too. This is a Budget that meets that moment and I commend it to the House." The immediate priority "continues to be supporting those hardest hit, with extensions to furlough, self-employed support, business grants, loans and VAT (value-added tax) cuts -- bringing total fiscal support to over 407 billion pounds" (about 568 billion U.S. dollars), said the British Treasury in a statement. The chancellor confirmed furlough scheme will be extended until the end of September, with the British government paying 80 percent of salary, though employers will be asked to put in 10 percent from July and 20 percent from August. Help for the self-employed will also be extended with changes meaning 600,000 more people will be eligible, said Sunak, adding that the temporary increase of 20 pounds (about 27.9 dollars) a week in universal credit will continue for a further six months. "Second, once we are on the way to recovery, we will need to begin fixing the public finances -- and I want to be honest today about our plans to do that," said the chancellor. Forecasts show government borrowing is reaching 355 billion pounds (about 495.4 billion dollars) in 2020/21, 17 percent of the national income, the highest level since the Second World War. For 2021-22 it will climb to 234 billion pounds (about 326.6 billion dollars), 10.3 percent of GDP, as debt is set to peak at 97.1 percent of GDP in 2023-24, according to Sky News. Sunak noted that public finances should be back on track. And to raise revenue while maintaining an internationally competitive tax system, the rate of Corporation Tax will climb to 25 percent which won't take effect until April 2023. Around 70 percent of companies -- with profits of 50,000 pounds (about 69,778.8 dollars) or less -- will still only be liable for the current 19 percent rate, while only those with profits of 250,000 pounds (about 348,894 dollars) or more will pay the full 25 percent, said Sunak. "Third, in today's Budget we begin the work of building our future economy," said Sunak, unveiling an array of new English freeport to enhance investment, stimulate innovation and cut costs. Meanwhile, Sunak said the British economy is expected to grow by 4 percent in 2021, based on a forecast by the British Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR), an executive non-departmental public body giving an independent and authoritative analysis of Britain's public finances. However, the leader of the opposition Labour Party, Keir Starmer, called it a Budget that "papers over the cracks" with no rebuilding of the "shattered" economy. He said that there is no plan to "fix" social care or the National Health Service (NHS), or to address inequality. Meanwhile, Sammy Wilson, a British lawmaker from the Democratic Unionist Party, said that he's "disappointed" that Sunak has not used his Budget to seize an "opportunity" to raise taxes without hurting businesses and individuals in Britain. Wilson said that Brexit has given Britain a chance to tackle firms that have been "avoiding taxes wholesale". The chancellor "needs to take" these opportunities by announcing new policies to crack down on the "Amazons and the Googles who use the Irish Republic as a place where they can take all their profits to.... and then avoid our taxes", Wilson added. According to Sunak, the British government will spend additional 65 billion pounds (about 90.7 billion dollars) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. About 1.6 billion pounds (about 2.2 billion dollars) will be used to continue the vaccine rollout and improving future preparedness. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced earlier a four-phase "roadmap" to ease the current coronavirus lockdown. Currently, England is under the third national lockdown since the outbreak of the pandemic in the country. Similar restriction measures are also in place in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from London. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月4日

RM 155332371

One million people vaccinated in Romania

The number of people vaccinated against COVID-19 reached one million in Romania on Wednesday, after an 86-year-old woman received a vaccine dose in the day, health authorities said. The woman became the millionth person to have received the jab in Romania, administered by the coordinator of the national vaccination campaign, Valeriu Gheorghita, at the Bucharest Emergency University Hospital. Prime Minister Florin Citu, also present at the vaccination site, recalled that the country kicked off the vaccination campaign on Dec. 27 last year. "The vaccination campaign is progressing well. We are at the top of Europe," Citu said, stressing that "we will make sure to continue like this." According to the prime minister, the next target is to vaccinate 10.4 million Romanians by the end of September. As many as 38,695 vaccine doses were administered on Wednesday, of which 38,069 were offered to people receiving the first dose, according to the latest data provided by the authorities. So far, 1,641,874 vaccine doses were administered to a total of 1,022,066 people in Romania. Among them, 402,267 people had been given a first jab of the vaccine. Since the beginning of the vaccination campaign, the country's health authorities have registered 5,587 adverse reactions to the jabs. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Bucharest. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月4日

RM 155357478

China's key political season starts, pooling strength for modernization drive

hina's top political advisory body started its annual session Thursday in Beijing, kicking off the country's major political season of the year that will pool the strength for fully building a modern socialist country. The National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, will begin its annual session on Friday. The dual meetings, also known as the "two sessions," will set the general national agenda for the whole year and beyond. Premier Li Keqiang is expected to deliver a government work report, which will be closely watched as China has emerged among the first countries to effectively contain the COVID-19 pandemic, reopen the economy safely, and restore economic growth. The country's development goals and plan for 2021 are expected to be unveiled in the report. China's GDP grew 2.3 percent year on year to hit 101.6 trillion yuan (about 15.7 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2020. This year's two sessions are expected to garner more attention from home and abroad as lawmakers will deliberate a blueprint for China's development in the next five to 15 years -- the draft outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) and the long-range objectives through the year 2035. Topics including high-quality economic development, sci-tech innovation, rural vitalization and eco-protection will also draw much attention. "Dual circulation" development paradigm will be another highlight, in which domestic and overseas markets reinforce each other, with the domestic market as the mainstay. The 14th Five-Year Plan will further clarify how China will implement the dual circulation strategy and achieve high-quality development, observers say, noting that unleashing domestic demand is crucial to driving China's growth, but this new development paradigm does not mean China will backpedal on its opening-up drive. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月4日

RM 155357040

GLOBALink |China's top political advisory body starts annual session

STANDUP 1 (English): YANG ZHIXIANG, Xinhua correspondent "China's top political advisory body kicks off its annual session today, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, drawing thousands of political advisors from across the country." The top political advisory body session returns to its traditional March schedule, although last year's session was postponed to May due to the COVID-19 epidemic. The fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) will last six and a half days. It's the second year in a row that the session has been shortened over epidemic control requirements. STANDUP 2 (English): YANG ZHIXIANG, Xinhua correspondent "This year, strict epidemic prevention and control measures are also implemented at the meeting venues." Events will be held both online and offline, just like last year, to improve the efficiency and quality of the session this year. Discussions on the draft outline of China's 14th Five-Year Plan and the long-range objectives through the year 2035 will be high on the agenda at this year's session. During the session, political advisors will hear and deliberate a report on the work of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee and a report on how the proposals from political advisors have been handled. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月4日

RM 155351851

Turkish university says China's Sinovac vaccine 83.5 pct effective

The COVID-19 vaccine made by Chinese biopharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech has an efficacy of 83.5 percent based on third phase trials in Turkey, a Turkish university announced Wednesday at a press conference. The results were based on 10,216 participants aged 18-59, 3,568 of whom had received a placebo as part of the trials that began in mid-September, said Serhat Unal, a medical faculty member of the Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology at Ankara-based Hacettepe University, and a member of Turkey's Coronavirus Scientific Advisory Board. Murat Akova, another physician at the university, said that 32 volunteers from the placebo group and nine from the vaccine group were infected with the virus at least 14 days after they received their second doses. "When you look at this ratio, the vaccine prevents the symptomatic disease by 83.5 percent," Akova said, adding it was 100 percent in preventing hospitalization. Meanwhile, no death was reported during the trial period, Akova said. In mid-January, Turkey launched a mass vaccination campaign with the Sinovac vaccine, aiming to ultimately vaccinate 60 percent of its population. According to the Turkish Health Ministry, more than 7.2 million people have received at least one vaccine jab, while up to 2.1 million have received two jabs. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Istanbul, Turkey. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月4日

RM 155351116

China's Jinan sees more freight trains to and from Europe, Central Asia

Jinan, capital of east China's Shandong Province, saw a significant rise in freight train services to and from Europe and Central Asia in 2020. The city recorded a total of 542 freight train trips to and from Europe and Central Asia last year, registering a 243-percent jump year on year, said Huang Jie, deputy chief of the municipal office of port logistics, on Wednesday. This is the fourth consecutive annual increase in the service since the first route linking Jinan and Russia's Moscow was launched in August 2017, Huang added. Currently, the trains departing from Jinan arrive in over 40 cities located in some 18 countries, transporting cars, home appliances, mechanical equipment, laser engraving machines and other export goods. The freight train service has played an important role in helping these countries battle against COVID-19 as anti-epidemic goods worth more than 86 million U.S. dollars were transported from Jinan by the freight trains last year, Huang said. Xinhua News Correspondents reporting from Jinan, China. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月4日

RM 155339923

Chinese mainland reports no new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases

The Chinese mainland reported no new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, the National Health Commission said Thursday. Ten new imported COVID-19 cases were reported on Wednesday, said the commission in its daily report. One new suspected case arriving from outside the mainland was reported in Shanghai, but no new deaths related to the disease were reported, it added. On Wednesday, 19 COVID-19 patients were discharged from hospitals following their recovery. By the end of Wednesday, a total of 5,040 imported cases had been reported on the mainland. Among them, 4,875 had been discharged from hospitals following recovery, and 165 remained hospitalized. No deaths had been reported among the imported cases. The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on the mainland reached 89,943 by Wednesday, including 177 patients still receiving treatment, one of whom was in severe condition. A total of 85,130 patients had been discharged following a recovery on the mainland, and 4,636 had died of the disease. There were two suspected COVID-19 cases on the mainland by the end of Wednesday, and 5,043 close contacts remained under medical observation. Wednesday also saw 14 asymptomatic cases newly reported, all arriving from outside the mainland. A total of 247 asymptomatic cases were under medical observation, of whom 244 arrived from outside the mainland. By the end of Wednesday, 11,046 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 200 deaths, had been reported in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), 48 cases had been reported in the Macao SAR, and 958 cases, including nine deaths, had been reported in Taiwan. A total of 10,578 COVID-19 patients in the Hong Kong SAR had been discharged from hospitals after recovery, 47 had been discharged in the Macao SAR, and 926 had been discharged in Taiwan. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月4日

RM 155382030

コネチカット州にジョンソン・エンド・ジョンソンの新型コロナウィルスのワクチンが到着＝アメリカ

The rollout of the one-shot Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine began in Connecticut on March 4, with several front line workers receiving the vaccine at Hartford Hospital in Hartford. Footage taken by Hartford HealthCare shows a health care worker administering the Johnson and Johnson vaccine to several people. Connecticut Gov Ned Lamont tweeted on March 5 that a total of 1,042,534 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered across the state. Credit: Hartford HealthCare via Storyful ( Original Title: Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine Arrives in Connecticut )

日付：2021年3月4日

RM 155246121

１分英語： 凍った海上でスノーカイト大会【英語字幕・ナレーションつき】

※スピーカーボタンをonにすると音声が流れます The annual Zhiguli Sea Winter Festival attracts both amateur and professional athletes. 毎年恒例のジュグレフスコエ海で開催される大会では、アマチュアとプロ選手が競い合います。 The main event is the Zhiguli Sea Marathon international snowkiting event.  メインイベントは、国際スノーカイト大会であるジュグレフスコエ海マラソンです。 It covers a distance of approximately 35km. 約35キロのレースです。 This year, due to travel restrictions for international visitors, 127 athletes from 27 Russian regions and the Ukraine participated.  今年は新型コロナウイルスによる入国制限により、27のロシアの地域とウクライナから127人の選手が参加しました。 Participants on skis or a snowboard use a kite to pull them around the frozen course. スキーやスノーボードに乗った参加者は、カイト（凧）を引っ張りながら凍った表面を滑っていきます。 （ロシア、トリヤッチ、２月28日、映像：TASS/アフロ） Study Point ● amateur：アマチュア、素人 　professional ：プロ、専門家 　athlete：スポーツ選手、スポーツマン 　participate：参加する ／ participant：参加者

日付：2021年3月4日

RM 155647212

Exhausted Serbian medics want tighter restrictions to halt COVID surge

Date:MARCH 3, 2021 As Serbia struggles to contain a wave of new coronavirus cases triggered by more infectious strains despite a massive vaccine rollout, medical staff in the southern city of Nis said they wanted to see restrictions brought back. Some 4,056 people have tested positive since Tuesday (March 2) the health ministry said, more than double the daily number of infections seen a few weeks ago. At a hospital in the city, anethesiologist Ines Veselinovic said she feared an increasing number of patients would lead to a "new deterioration". Staff had been tired and exhausted for some time, and had given up their lives to caring for patients in the pandemic, Veselinovic said. Serbia's government is weighing the need to keep the economy going against curbs to contain the virus. It shortened the opening hours of cafes, restaurant and clubs, while shopping malls, food stores and markets and other businesses remain open. The hospital's acting general manager, Radmilo Jankovic, said he wanted to see stricter measures put in place and for most of those businesses to be closed for several weeks to slow the rise in cases. Mass vaccinations may also have encouraged some people to relax prematurely, Jankovic said, noting it takes time for people to build up immunity. Around 1.5 million people or 21% of Serbia's population have received at least one shot so far. As Nis residents queued up to get their shots, the director of the city's public health centre Milorad Jerkan added to calls for more restrictions. Serbia is currently in fifth place globally for the number of vaccines administered per 100 people, behind Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Britain and United States. 4,491 have died and 470,941 have contracted the virus in the Balkan country, which has a population of some 7 million people. (Production: Fedja Grulovic, Lewis Macdonald) (Caption:3160CE-HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS_SERBIA_O_)

日付：2021年3月3日

RM 155647233

Johnson & Johnson vaccine arrives to New York hospitals

Date:MARCH 3, 2021 Johnson & Johnson vaccines were seen arriving at a New York hospital on Long Island Wednesday (March 3). A white van pulled up at Northwell Health's South Shore University Hospital mid-morning to deliver the box of vaccine vials, which was then immediately placed into a refrigerator. The drugmaker is expected to ship nearly 4 million doses of its newly authorized single-dose COVID-19 vaccine around the United States this week. In total, Johnson & Johnson expects to deliver another 16 million doses of the vaccine by the end of this month. (Production by: Hussein al Waaile and Dan Fastenberg) (Caption:3198WD-HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS_JOHNSON_AND_JOHNSON_VACCINE_ARRIVAL_O_)

日付：2021年3月3日

RM 155647265

Greece tightens movement, implements 'emergency plan' as daily COVID cases pressure health system

Date:MARCH 3, 2021 Greece tightened restrictions on movement and extended a lockdown in more areas of the country to stem the spread of the coronavirus pandemic after a surge in new infections has piled pressure on its health system, authorities said on Wednesday (March 3). A lockdown in the greater Athens region of Attica has been extended for another week until March 16 after infections showed no sign of receding. Authorities reported 2,702 daily infections on Wednesday, the highest daily figure recorded this year, and up from 2,353 the previous day. Many were in Attica. "In Attica, the pressure that the national health system is facing is not in the red, but in the deep red. Therefore we are moving from the level of increased crisis management preparedness to the level of implementing an emergency plan," Health Minister Vassilis Kikilias told a news briefing. Kikilias said as part of emergency measures, COVID hospitals in Attica were increasing their ICU units while non-COVID hospitals would step in to take their patients that were not being treated for the virus. To avert overcrowding, travel by car to other districts for outdoor exercise has been restricted, and supermarket shopping has also been restricted to a 2- km (1.2-mile) radius from people's homes. Deputy Civil Protection Minister Nikos Hardalias said people gathering together in homes has contributed to the rise in cases in the last weeks. "The facts demand vigilance and caution. Even though this has become tiring for us, it is necessary to avoid any unnecessary movement and the opportunity to abuse this," Hardalias said. Non-essential shops and schools in Athens are closed and most workers are encouraged to work from home. The government estimates the monthly cost of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions to the economy at about 3 billion euros ($3.62 billion). It is counting on the summer tourist season to bring desperately needed revenues. About 1 million Greeks, out of a population of some 11 million, have been vaccinated so far. (Production: Vassilis Triandafyllou, Deborah Kyvrikosaios) (Caption:3205WD-HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS_GREECE_O_)

日付：2021年3月3日

RM 155647269

Chile marks one year since first Covid-19 case

Date:MARCH 3, 2021, FILE Chile on Wednesday (March 3) marked one year since the first Covid-19 infection was confirmed in South American county. But as the Andean nation marks the grim occasion, the country has a lot to be thankful for when it comes to its much lauded vaccination program. Chile has jumped ahead of the rest of Latin America and many countries globally with its inoculation program. The country has already inoculated more than 3.35 million of its 19 million citizens against COVID-19, officials have said. In a tearful address to reporters after receiving a shipment of more than 229,125 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, Chile's Health Minister Enrique Paris called for the country's Covid-19 victims to be remembered. "We want to mourn and accompany all those families who lost a relative, a loved one, because we know that they miss them and at some point we want to pay tribute to the more than 20,000 people who have died in Chile as a result of the pandemic," said Paris. "They were citizens of our country, they gave part of their lives, they worked for Chile and I think they deserve recognition," he added. But even as the vaccination program rolls across the country, officials are warning that the country is not yet out of the woods and has moved to free up more ICU beds as coronavirus patients flood hospitals. "Today a (government) resolution is working to open up 75% of ICU beds in relation to the previous maximum," said Chilean Undersecretary of Assistance Networks Alberto Dougnac. "We are requesting that by next Monday (March) 8, that we reach 85 percent. Then by the following Monday, which is Monday 15 (of March), we will reach 95 percent capacity, and for Monday (March) 22, we will reach 100% of the ICU beds being made available in this first wave," he added. Chile moved fast and early to lock down vaccines, signing deals with U.S.-based Pfizer Inc , British-Swedish firm AstraZeneca and Sinovac. The country also has plans to ramp up its purchase of vaccines from China's Sinovac and hopes to sign a deal shortly with Johnson & Johnson, the health minister said on Monday. There have been 20,704 COVID-19 deaths in Chile and more than 836,000 cases. (Production: Jorge Vega, Ivan Alvarado, Omar Younis) (Caption:3218LA-HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS_CHILE_O_)

日付：2021年3月3日

RM 155647270

Chile marks one year since first Covid-19 case

Date:MARCH 3, 2021, FILE Chile on Wednesday (March 3) marked one year since the first Covid-19 infection was confirmed in South American county. But as the Andean nation marks the grim occasion, the country has a lot to be thankful for when it comes to its much lauded vaccination program. Chile has jumped ahead of the rest of Latin America and many countries globally with its inoculation program. The country has already inoculated more than 3.35 million of its 19 million citizens against COVID-19, officials have said. In a tearful address to reporters after receiving a shipment of more than 229,125 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, Chile's Health Minister Enrique Paris called for the country's Covid-19 victims to be remembered. "We want to mourn and accompany all those families who lost a relative, a loved one, because we know that they miss them and at some point we want to pay tribute to the more than 20,000 people who have died in Chile as a result of the pandemic," said Paris. "They were citizens of our country, they gave part of their lives, they worked for Chile and I think they deserve recognition," he added. But even as the vaccination program rolls across the country, officials are warning that the country is not yet out of the woods and has moved to free up more ICU beds as coronavirus patients flood hospitals. "Today a (government) resolution is working to open up 75% of ICU beds in relation to the previous maximum," said Chilean Undersecretary of Assistance Networks Alberto Dougnac. "We are requesting that by next Monday (March) 8, that we reach 85 percent. Then by the following Monday, which is Monday 15 (of March), we will reach 95 percent capacity, and for Monday (March) 22, we will reach 100% of the ICU beds being made available in this first wave," he added. Chile moved fast and early to lock down vaccines, signing deals with U.S.-based Pfizer Inc , British-Swedish firm AstraZeneca and Sinovac. The country also has plans to ramp up its purchase of vaccines from China's Sinovac and hopes to sign a deal shortly with Johnson & Johnson, the health minister said on Monday. There have been 20,704 COVID-19 deaths in Chile and more than 836,000 cases. (Production: Jorge Vega, Ivan Alvarado, Omar Younis) (Caption:3218LA-HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS_CHILE_O_)

日付：2021年3月3日

RM 155647280

Canada PM says U.S. very open to helping other nations with COVID-19 vaccines

Date:MARCH 3, 2021 The United States is "very open" to helping other countries procure COVID-19 vaccines and conversations about how to do so are continuing, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Wednesday (March 3). The United States will have enough COVID-19 vaccine for every American adult by the end of May, President Joe Biden said on Tuesday. The initial goal had been the end of July. Canada's target is the end of September and critics, who complain about the slow roll-out so far, say Trudeau should ask the United States to permit shipments across the border. Trudeau, asked if this might be possible, said it was clear from his conversations with Biden that Washington understood the best way to combat COVID-19 was to do so worldwide. "By stepping up on the COVAX (global distribution scheme) facility internationally, by looking at how they can be helpful around the world, (they are) very open to helping out other countries and those conversations will continue," he told a briefing, but did not elaborate. Canada has recorded a total of 22,045 deaths from the coronavirus compared to 513,000 south of the border. Hours before Trudeau spoke, an initial batch of 500,000 doses from AstraZeneca Plc arrived in Canada. These had not been included in Ottawa's initial plan, Trudeau said, noting regulators were also examining vaccines from other companies. (Production: Kia Johnson and Carlos Osorio) (Caption:3222WD-HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS_CANADA_O_)

日付：2021年3月3日

RM 155647346

'I'm very thankful' - J&J vaccine is administered at NY hospital

Date:MARCH 3, 2021 A Johnson & Johnson vaccine for COVID-19 was administered to a 67-year old woman on New York's Long Island Wednesday (March 3). Susan Maxwell-Trumble is a New York media professional and is among the first to receive the vaccine from the drugmaker. She received her vaccine at Northwell Health's South Shore University Hospital. "I'm very thankful," she told the reporters who gathered for her injection. "I have compromised health and I haven't been out hardly ever. And this will afford me that opportunity." Earlier in the week, Maxwell-Trumble had hip replacement surgery and so she arrived to her injection in a wheelchair. U.S. President Joe Biden said on Tuesday the United States will have enough vaccine supply to inoculate all adults by May. J&J, Pfizer Inc and Moderna Inc are contracted to deliver 700 million doses by mid-year between them. (Production by: Dan Fastenberg and Hussein al Waaile.) (Caption:3209WD-HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS_JOHNSON_AND_JOHNSON_VACCINE_ARRIVAL_UPDATE_O_)

日付：2021年3月3日

RM 155277311

ロックダウン中の気持ちを30日間以上取り続けた木の写真と共に紹介

This unique visual poem shines a light on our struggles and the repetitive nature of Lockdown 3 in the UK. Reporter Daniel Harding documents visiting One Tree Hill in Greenwich every day for 30 days. The thought-provoking poem that goes alongside the visual, touches upon feelings and mental health. ( Original Title: Reporter documents feelings and his own mental health, by taking a photo of a tree over 30 days )

日付：2021年3月3日

RM 155282354

Chile resumes in-person classes after a year's absence

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera inaugurated the 2021 school year on Monday, after more than a year without in-person classes in the country, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. "The return to classes is a necessity, something fundamental. Of course, we have to do it while protecting health, which is the first priority of all our government's plans," he said from a school in the Santiago Metropolitan Region. SOUNDBITE (Spanish): SEBASTIAN PINERA, Chilean President "For our government, the classroom is sacred. It is in the classroom, not in the street, where children and students study in. It is where they can share experiences with their friends, classmates, and teachers. Where they can develop their emotions, and in consequence, have an integral development." To prepare for the students' return to classes, the Chilean government prioritized teachers and education workers last week in the massive vaccination process which began on Feb. 3, and which has inoculated more than 3.3 million people, most of them with doses from the Chinese laboratory Sinovac. In just two weeks, more than half of the 513,000 teachers and education workers have been vaccinated, Pinera said. The Chilean Ministry of Health reported on Monday an accumulated 829,770 COVID-19 cases and 20,660 deaths. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Santiago. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月3日

RM 155281826

Over half of New Zealand border workforce receive first dose of COVID-19 vaccination

More than half of New Zealand's estimated 12,000 border workforces have received their first jab of the COVID-19 vaccination, as a third batch of vaccines arrived in the country, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said on Wednesday. As of midnight Tuesday, a total of 9,431 people had received their first doses. More than 70 percent of those, which equates to 6,688 people, had been delivered in the Auckland region, Hipkins told a press conference. "We are well on our way to ensuring those who are most at risk of COVID-19, the cleaners, nurses who carry out health checks in MIQ (managed isolation and quarantine facilities), security staff, customs and border officials, hotel workers, airline staff, port authorities and vaccinators will be protected from this virus," Hipkins said. A third shipment of 65,500 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines arrived in New Zealand on Tuesday, bringing the total number of COVID-19 vaccines in New Zealand to 200,000, he said. "From here, we plan to ramp up the vaccination program, as we move to vaccinate border worker's families and household contacts. We will then move on to front line health and emergency staff - those people who may be exposed to COVID-19 while doing their jobs," he said. Border workers' families and household contacts will start to be vaccinated in earliest next week, but in some smaller regions, district health boards have already been able to expand their programs to include these groups, the minister said. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Wellington. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月3日

RM 155280475

Nationwide protests erupt in Lebanon as local currency hits new low

Protests erupted on Tuesday across Lebanon against the unprecedented collapse of the currency which slipped to a new low of 10,000 Lebanese pounds per U.S. dollar. Protests were held in the capital Beirut and other major cities including Tripoli and Sidon, as well as some villages and towns in southern Lebanon, local media reports said. The protesters blocked some of the roads and highways, set tires on fires, and chanted slogans calling for the formation of a government capable of introducing reforms to save the country from further collapse. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): MOHAMMAD SARHAN, Protester "The political class will remove subsidies on fuel and food products. They deal with us as if we are not important at all. We cannot get our rights. We have money stuck at the banks that we cannot withdraw. There are multiple problems all over the country. Today we came to the streets after the dollar hit 10,000 Lebanese pounds. But I am sure that protests will increase in the coming days. We are trying to organize these protests to give them a political nature to make a difference in the country." Some angry protesters in the eastern town of Chtoura forced local currency exchange dealers to close their shops. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): SAM MROUEH, Protester "We are here every day. We have always been here. For two years, the dollar price has been changing and the economic crisis is still there. There is no social safety net that can help the poor people and the middle-income citizens to enable them to live in this country. People are dying from hunger and they are dying at the doors of the hospitals. Nothing has been changed in the past two years." Due to the continued political instability and raging COVID-19 pandemic, Lebanon has been suffering from an economic crisis, as demonstrated by a sharp decline in the price of the Lebanese pound and a remarkable increase in poverty and unemployment. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beirut. (XHTV)

日付：2021年3月3日