Rescuers work by the wreckage of a cable car after it falls in north Italy's Piedmont region, May 23, 2021. (Vigili del Fuoco/Handout via Xinhua/IANS)
The cable car had been on a 20-minute panoramic trip from the village of Carciano di Stresa on the edge of Lake Maggiore, up to an altitude of 1,491 metres on Mt Mottarone..reports Asian Lite News
Thirteen people were killed and two children have been hospitalised with multiple injuries after a cable car crashed in Italy’s Piedmont region, the country’s National Corps of Alpine and Speleological Rescue (Cnsas) said.
“Stresa-Mottarone cable car in Piedmont: the final death toll of the tragic incident is 13 fatalities and two seriously injured,” Cnsas said on Twitter on Sunday.
Earlier in the day, Cnsas had tweeted that two children who had survived with injuries were airlifted to hospital in the city of Turin, the capital of Piedmont.
The cable car had been on a 20-minute panoramic trip from the village of Carciano di Stresa on the edge of Lake Maggiore, up to an altitude of 1,491 metres on Mt Mottarone, a scenic area that is popular with tourists and holidaymakers.
Rescuers work by the wreckage of a cable car after it falls in north Italy’s Piedmont region, May 23, 2021. (Vigili del Fuoco/Handout via Xinhua/IANS)
It detached and crashed a few hundred metres short of the top, Cnsas officials told RAI News 24 public broadcaster.
There were some foreign visitors among the victims, Stresa Mayor Marcella Severino told Sky TG24 private broadcaster.
“It is with profound sadness that I learned of the tragic incident on the Stresa-Mottarone cable car. I express the sympathies of the entire government to the families of the victims, with special thoughts for the children who have been seriously injured, and their relatives,” Prime Minister Mario Draghi said in a tweet.
The two surviving children were hospitalised in serious condition with multiple fractures and head and chest injuries, Sky TG24 reported.
The recommendations made by the European Union diplomats during a meeting in Brussels is expected to be adopted by the EU ministers on Friday, reports Asian Lite Newsdesk
The member states of the European Union have reportedly agreed to reopen the bloc’s borders to tourists and other foreign travellers who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, according to media reports.
The recommendations by the diplomats of the 27-member European Union include increasing the level of new cases a country can hit before being declared unsafe.
According to reports, the bloc will increase number of cases per 100,000 people that a country could register over two weeks and still be considered for the green list from 25 to 75. This move will help many member countries to open doors for travellers from more places.
It is learnt that these recommendations will be adopted by EU ministers on Friday.
Currently, almost all non-essential travel into the bloc are banned, apart from a small number of countries deemed safe because of their level of new cases are considerably low compared to other countries.
The businesses across the bloc are reopening as virus restrictions are phased out and bars, hotels and restaurants are concerned about the summer tourist trade, it was reported.
Last week, European Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton said that EU has already had the right conditions for a “safe reopening” of tourism in summer.
“The situation remains difficult. However, I am sure that we finally see light at the end of the tunnel and now we have the tools,” he said at the High-Level Forum for Sustainable Tourism held in the Portuguese city of Porto on Friday.
Breton said the considerable increase in the production capacity of vaccines suggested that there will be enough doses to vaccinate 70 per cent of the EU population by mid-July.
As for the “vaccine passport” in Europe, the Commissioner said: “The European Parliament and the Council are now ready to finalize negotiations by the end of May”.
Breton added that he is “confident of having it ready for the summer”.
Portuguese Economy Minister Pedro Siza Vieira said at the forum that the EU countries need to adopt a common approach for the reopening of tourism with a focus on the immediate recovery of the sector.
The Minister stressed that the tourism sector is fundamental for the recovery of European economies in the face of the Covid-19 crisis.
Meanwhile, a recent survey has suggested that more than a quarter of adults (27 per cent) in the bloc are “very unlikely” to get themselves vaccinated against Covid-19, according to a large survey of 47,000 people.
The survey by Eurofound, an EU agency, conducted between February and March, showed that vaccine hesitancy was more in females (29 per cent) than men (25 per cent), the Euronews reported. Young adults between the ages of 35 and 49 were slightly more sceptical about the vaccines than their younger or older peers. The reluctance to the Covid jabs was found most in Bulgaria, where 61 per cent stated they are very or rather unlikely to get the vaccine. The country is followed by Latvia and Croatia which both have rates of over 40 per cent, the report said.
More than a third of respondents in France and Austria declared they were unlikely to get inoculated.
travellers in the arrivals hall at Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong, south China
On the other hand, people in Denmark, Malta and Ireland were least hesitant. Less than 10 per cent respondents in these regions indicated they were very unlikely or rather unlikely to take it.
Further, the report also found a correlation between vaccine hesitancy and social media use. Forty per cent of people who said they use social media as their primary source of news are hesitant about the vaccines, while only 18 per cent of those who use traditional news sources as their main source of information are. Trust in the government, unemployment, long-term illness, or disability also played a role in increasing the hesitancy, the report said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Brasilia, Brazil, Nov. 13, 2019. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei/IANS)
Speaking at the ceremony, Xi extended congratulations on the launch of the China-Russia nuclear energy cooperation project and paid high respect to the constructors from the two countries….reports Asian Lite News
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin witnessed the ground-breaking ceremony of a bilateral nuclear energy cooperation project, Tianwan nuclear power plant and Xudapu nuclear power plant, via video link.
Xi arrived at the main venue of the Great Hall of the People at around 5 p.m. on Wednesday and waved to Putin, who had joined in from the main venue of the Kremlin, reports Xinhua news agency.
He Lifeng, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and head of the National Development and Reform Commission, co-chaired the ceremony with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak.
Speaking at the ceremony, Xi extended congratulations on the launch of the China-Russia nuclear energy cooperation project and paid high respect to the constructors from the two countries.
Xi stressed that energy cooperation has always been the most important area of practical cooperation which generates the largest achievement and covers the widest scope between the two countries.
Noting that nuclear energy is the strategic priority for bilateral cooperation and a series of major projects have been completed and put into operation, Xi said the four nuclear power units that kicked off construction on Wednesday mark another major landmark in China-Russia nuclear energy cooperation.
“Responding to climate change is a common task for all countries,” the Chinese leader said, adding that China and Russia should promote more low-carbon cooperation projects and play a constructive role in achieving global sustainable development goals.
For his part, Putin said that Russia has the confidence to work with China to smoothly and safely advance the project’s construction.
He said cooperation on the peaceful use of nuclear energy marks a significant part of the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era between the two countries, and it is believed that the start of the four nuclear power units will also help achieve the goals to peak carbon dioxide emissions and achieve carbon neutrality.
It will also contribute to coping with global climate change and realising the sustainable development of humanity, Putin added.
Units 7 and 8 of the Tianwan nuclear power plant and units 3 and 4 of the Xudapu nuclear power plant are significant projects in a package cooperation deal on nuclear energy.
It was signed by the two heads of state in June 2018.
When completed and put into operation, the annual power generation will reach 37.6 billion kilowatt-hours, which is equivalent to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 30.68 million tonnes per year.
The event on Wednesday is also the first online bilateral exchange at the head-of-state level between the two sides since the beginning of this year.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov(Twitter)
The two countries “greatly diverge when it comes to our assessment of the international situation and our approaches towards how we should resolve it.” Lavrov responded…reports Asian Lite News
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov have discussed normalising bilateral relations as they met in person for the first time in Iceland.
Blinken said that the US seeks “a predictable, stable relationship with Russia” in comments ahead of the meeting, according to a State Department transcript, DPA news agency reported.
But he also said “it’s no secret that we have our differences” before the meeting, which was held on the margins of an Arctic Council ministerial meeting.
“When it comes to those differences,” Blinken said, US President Joe Biden has let his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin know that “if Russia acts aggressively against us, our partners, our allies, we’ll respond.”
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov(Twitter)
Lavrov responded by saying that the two countries “greatly diverge when it comes to our assessment of the international situation and our approaches towards how we should resolve it.”
“We are prepared to discuss all issues on the table with the understanding that our discussions will be honest, factual, and with mutual respect,” the Russian minister said during the meeting on Wednesday.
The top diplomats were expected to discuss a potential meeting between Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Biden has suggested a summit in a third country, but it is unclear whether Putin will say yes.
Other topics for Lavrov and Blinken’s talks included the escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, North Korea’s and Iran’s nuclear programmes and the situation in Afghanistan.
Dombrovskis, along with US Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, announced the start of discussions to address global steel and aluminium excess capacity, according to a joint statement issued on Monday…reports Asian Lite News.
The European Union (EU) has decided to temporarily suspend the increase of its counter measures against the additional tariffs the US has imposed on the imports of steel and aluminium products, European Commission Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis said.
Dombrovskis said on Monday that the move, which was taken in an effort to “reboot transatlantic relations”, would offer “space to find joint solutions to this dispute and tackle global excess capacity”, Xinhua news agency reported
Dombrovskis, along with US Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, announced the start of discussions to address global steel and aluminium excess capacity, according to a joint statement issued on Monday.
The statement said they had acknowledged, during a virtual meeting last week, “the need for effective solutions that preserve our critical industries, and agreed to chart a path that ends the WTO disputes following the US application of tariffs on imports from the EU under section 232”.
The three said they were committed to engaging in discussions expeditiously to find solutions before the end of the year.
Citing national security concerns, the former US President Donald Trump administration unilaterally imposed a 25 per cent tariff on steel imports and 10 per cent tariff on aluminium imports globally in 2018, drawing strong opposition domestically and abroad.
Former US President Donald Trump (Photo @realdonaldtrump – twitter)
After failing to reach a deal with the Trump administration, the EU took the case to the World Trade Organization and imposed retaliatory tariffs on a range of American products, including Bourbon whiskey.
The second tranche of tariffs was expected to be in effect in June.
The EU was meant to revise the tariffs on June 1 but this revision has now been put on hold.
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the face-to-face between Lavrov and Blinken was arranged to discuss “key issues of mutual relations and the international agenda.”…reports Asian Lite News
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will on Wednesday meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov for the first time, on the margins of the Arctic Council ministerial meeting in Iceland, a Department of State spokesman said.
“The bilateral meeting will take place after the evening’s final Arctic Council event and will provide an opportunity to test the proposition of whether we can achieve a relationship with Moscow that is more stable and predictable,” Ned Price said in a statement on Tuesday evening, DPA news agency reported.
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the face-to-face between Lavrov and Blinken was arranged to discuss “key issues of mutual relations and the international agenda.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
A topic expected to be discussed will be a potential meeting between US President Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.
The US president had suggested the two meet in a third country at a summit, but it is unclear whether Putin will accept the invitation.
Biden will take his first overseas trip as president in June, when he is scheduled to attend the G7 summit in Britain and then travel to Belgium for meetings with NATO. Top-level talks with EU officials are also planned.
US-Russia ties have nose-dived over Washington’s allegations of election interference and cyberattacks, the treatment of jailed Russian dissident Alexei Navalny and the conflict in eastern Ukraine. The two sides have imposed a wave of sanctions and counter-sanctions.
Italy: A tour guide explains the background information of the Fontana di Trevi in Rome, Italy, May 15, 2021. (Xinhua/Cheng Tingting/IANS)
Many streets, parks and squares in the Italian capital were overwhelmed with visitors over the weekend…reports Asian Lite News
Italy has formally reopened its borders for restriction-free travel for visitors from some countries, almost a year after the Covid-19 pandemic ravaged the country.
Many streets, parks and squares in the Italian capital were full of visitors over the weekend, Xinhua news agency reported.
As of Sunday, travellers from European Union (EU) member states, the UK, and Israel have been allowed to enter Italy without restrictions if they could show a recent negative coronavirus test, proof of vaccination, or if they have recovered from the virus in the last six months.
Prime Minister Mario Draghi had announced earlier this month at the G20 Tourism Ministers’ meeting that Italy would begin welcoming foreign tourists in mid-May, about a month before the EU’s own Digital Green Certificate pass for tourists went into effect.
A staff member measures a visitor’s temperature at Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, Italy, on Sept. 4, 2020. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)
Draghi’s decision came as coronavirus indicators such as the infection, hospitalisation, and mortality rates improved over the last month.
The move Draghi announced formally went into effect Sunday for visitors from some countries.
Travellers from other parts of the world can still enter the country as long as they follow quarantine rules on arrival, and those in the country must obey national health restrictions, such as the 10 p.m. national curfew and seating for bars and restaurants limited to outdoor areas.
Meanwhile, predictions are that the tourism sector that accounted for 13 per cent of Italy’s gross domestic product before the pandemic will have to wait until the second half of 2023 to return to 2019 levels.
Continuing to stand beside its partner India, Japan flew in 2 aircraft of life-saving equipment that included oxygen concentrators, said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)…reports Asian Lite News.
Global aid continues to pour in as India battles a massive second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Major consignments of medical supplies and equipment were received from South Korea, Japan, France, Italy and UK on Thursday, including oxygen concentrators, ventilators and rapid testing kits.
Continuing to stand beside its partner India, Japan flew in 2 aircraft of life-saving equipment that included oxygen concentrators, said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
Aid from Britain (MEA)
“Cooperation with Japan continues. 2 aircrafts carrying a total consignment of 100 oxygen concentrators arrive from Japan. 4 aircrafts in 2 days from Japan have delivered a cumulative of 200 oxygen concentrators. Appreciate this continuing support from our partner Japan,” MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted.
Another East Asian partner, the Republic of Korea, sent a shipment of 10,000 rapid testing kits that were received by India on Thursday.
“Our continuing cooperation with Republic of Korea. Welcome the shipment of 10,000 rapid testing kits from Republic of Korea that arrived today,” said another tweet by the Bagchi.
Republic of Korea gifts 200 oxygen concentrators (Photo:MEA)
Two ISO containers arranged by France and facilitated by Qatar on board INS Trikand also reached Mumbai.
“A partnership across the seas brings tangible benefits on ground 2 ISO containers arranged by France, facilitated by Qatar & transported by @indiannavy on #INSTrikand reach Mumbai (India). Kasturba Hospital, Mumbai receives LMO. Others to also benefit,” the MEA Spokeperson’s tweet said.
A gift of 1,200 oxygen cylinders from British Oxygen Company arrived from UK on Thursday. This is in addition to the 1,350 oxygen cylinders that arrived from the UK on Tuesday. This is part of UK’s generous contribution of 5,000 oxygen cylinders.
“Welcome the gift of another 1200 oxygen cylinders from British Oxygen Company that arrived from the UK today. Appreciate the logistical support from Qatar Airways for this shipment,” the MEA Spokesperson mentioned.
Government of India has been receiving international donations and aid of COVID-19 relief medical supplies and equipment since April 27 from different countries and organisations to augment its efforts in fighting the unprecedented surge in COVID in the country, said an official statement from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Cumulatively, 9,294 Oxygen Concentrators; 11,835 Oxygen Cylinders; 19 Oxygen Generation Plants; 6,439 ventilators/Bi PAP; nearly 4.22 L Remdesivir vials delivered/ dispatched through road and air, from April 27 to May 12.
đŸ‡®đŸ‡³đŸ‡¶đŸ‡¦ Taking forward our deep-rooted friendship & multi-faceted cooperation. Grateful to H.H. Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani the Amir of The State of Qatar & the government of Qatar for the gift of 200 oxygen concentrators, 40 ventilators & 4300 Remdesivir vials. pic.twitter.com/s3BzK3qSld
Major consignments received on Thursday from Kuwait, Singapore, Gilead, Switzerland, Spain and Egypt included 86,595 vials of anti-viral Remdesivir, 4,802 oxygen cylinders, 10 oxygen concentrators and 141 Ventilator/ BiPAP/ CPAP.
Effective immediate allocation, and streamlined delivery to the recipient states/UTs and institutions is an ongoing exercise.
The Union Health Ministry is comprehensively monitoring this on a regular basis. A dedicated Coordination Cell has been created in the Union Health Ministry to coordinate the receipt and allocation of foreign COVID relief material as grants, aid and donations.
This cell started functioning from April 26 this year. A Standard Operating Procedure has been framed and implemented by the Health Ministry since May 2. (INN)
The European Union (EU) has decided to gradually lift travel restrictions on people entering the bloc from Israel…reports Asian Lite News.
Belgium will relax coronavirus lockdown measures on June 9 after a gradual “summer plan” was introduced by the Consultative Committee, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said at a press conference.
The “summer plan” will depend on the progress of the vaccination campaign and provided the number of Covid-19 patients in intensive care units remains under 500, De Croo said.
“Four out of 10 adult Belgians have already received their first vaccine dose. And the campaign will also accelerate,” he said.
On Saturday, bars and restaurants re-opened for the first time in months, allowing groups of four people per table to sit outside, the Xinhua news agency reported.
From June 9, cinemas, gyms and theatres will reopen their doors, as well as large events with a maximum of 200 people inside. This is also the case for the indoor areas of zoos and amusement parks.
To date, Belgium has recorded a total of 1,017,876 Covid-19 cases and 24,583 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.
As the world is struggling to contain the pandemic, vaccination is underway in an increasing number of countries with already-authorized coronavirus vaccines.
Meanwhile, 280 candidate vaccines — including 97 in clinical trials — are being developed worldwide, including in Germany, Britain, China, the US, and Russia, according to data provided by the World Health Organization on May 7.
The European Union (EU) has decided to gradually lift travel restrictions on people entering the bloc from Israel.
So far, people coming from Israel are only to be allowed to enter the EU if their reasons for travelling are deemed essential, although some countries, for example Greece, have already opened their borders to vaccinated travellers from the Jewish state, reports dpa news agency.
This means that the EU recommends allowing non-essential travel from seven countries, namely Australia, Israel, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand.
The bloc also recommends allowing Chinese citizens in, but this is subject to confirmation of reciprocity.
At the outset of the pandemic, all EU countries except the Republic of Ireland, and non-members Switzerland, Norway, Lichtenstein and Iceland, banned all but essential travel.
The ban was slightly eased in early July last year, but the epidemiological situation in only a handful of countries was deemed good enough to allow people to travel from there to the bloc.
Exceptions apply to EU residents and their families travelling from countries whose citizens are not yet allowed to re-enter.
Chief medical officers for England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales on Monday recommended Britain’s coronavirus alert level be downgraded from Four to Three as infections and deaths have fallen consistently, reports Asian Lite Newsdesk
The three nations of UK – England, Scotland and Northern Ireland have reported zero daily COVID-19 deaths on Monday, the first time in a 24-hour period since July last year.
According to UK Health officials, 2,357 new cases and 4 deaths were reported on May 10 across the United Kingdom. But England, along with Scotland and Northern Ireland reported zero fatality. However, Wales reported four coronavirus-related deaths.
The numbers come as Chief medical officers for England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales on Monday recommended Britain’s coronavirus alert level be downgraded from Four to Three as infections and deaths have fallen consistently.
This means that the virus is not “rising exponentially but is instead in “general circulation.”
“Thanks to the efforts of the public and the vaccine programme, cases and deaths have fallen across the UK. The UK CMOs have recommended the COVID Alert Level move from 4 to 3. This steady progress relies on us remaining vigilant and careful as we unlock,” said Professor Chris Whitty, England’s Chief Medical Officer and the Department of Health and Social Care’s Chief Scientific Adviser.
A joint statement from the UK Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) said that thanks to the efforts of the UK public in social distancing and the impact they are starting to see from the vaccination programme, case numbers, deaths and COVID hospital pressures have fallen consistently.
“However COVID is still circulating with people catching and spreading the virus every day so we all need to continue to be vigilant. This remains a major pandemic globally,” the statement added.
“It is very important that we all continue to follow the guidance closely and everyone gets both doses of the vaccine when they are offered it,” they added.
During the peak of the pandemic in winter, Britain was put at the highest alert level of Five when there was a real risk of the NHS becoming overwhelmed.
By late February, as cases and hospitalisations started to fall, the alert was lowered to Four, which meant the epidemic “is in general circulation” and that “transmission is high or rising exponentially”.
UK
Level Three suggests the epidemic is “in general circulation”, but would mean a gradual reduction in social distancing measures and restrictions.
The COVID-19 alert level system is separate and independent from any government decisions on easing or tightening restrictions, according to the BBC.
According to the Johns Hopkins University dashboard, the UK has so far reported COVID-19 4,450,578 cases and 127,865 deaths.
Hugs with loved ones
Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday said the people in England will be allowed to hug loved ones and enjoy indoor hospitality from next Monday, adding that people must “exercise caution and common sense”.
Speaking at a Downing Street news conference, the prime minister said this was the “single biggest step” to unlocking society but that people should remain vigilant, the BBC reported.
Indoor mixing and overnight stays in groups of up to six people or two households will also resume. Leisure venues such as cinemas, museums and children’s play areas will reopen.
Johnson said the further relaxation of England’s lockdown would go ahead on 17 May as the government had met its four tests for easing restrictions.
These tests relied on the success of the vaccine rollout, evidence that the jabs were reducing serious illness and death, infection rates remaining under control and the risks from new Covid variants not changing, it was reported.
The British government on Friday announced a “green list” of countries from which travellers are not required to quarantine upon return to England.
Portugal, Israel, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand are among 12 countries and regions on the “green list” of travel destinations from May 17 for people in England.
Experts have warned that despite progress in vaccine rollout, Britain is “still not out of the woods” amid concerns over new variants, particularly those first emerged in South Africa, Brazil and India, and the third wave of pandemic on the European continent. (with inputs from ANI)
