News - CDE News - The Dispatch

Israel to lock down nationwide in main holiday season amid COVID-19 surge

Israel will enter a three-week nationwide lockdown starting on Friday to contain the spread of the coronavirus after a second- wave surge of new cases, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said…

Read More Here

German hospitality industry still far below pre-crisis revenues

The German hotel and restaurant industry in July further recovered from its slump caused by the coronavirus pandemic, but sales were still down more than a quarter when compared to…

Read More Here

Fire briefly erupts in central Beirut commercial district

A fire erupted in a landmark building in central Beirut's commercial district on Tuesday before being put out, a civil defence official and Reuters witness said. The fire erupted in…

Read More Here

UNESCO sounds the alarm on global surge in attacks against journalists covering protests

A new UNESCO report highlights a sharp increase in the global number of protests during which the police and security forces violated media freedom in the first half of 2020.…

Read More Here

Return to school is return to hope – Italian President

"The school is the mirror of our society, and reflects its difficulties and expectations. This is why, as schools re-open throughout these days, and students and teachers get back to…

Read More Here

France’s Le Maire says economy is on the right track

French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Monday the French economy was on the right track, reiterating economic growth could do better than the 11 percent contraction currently forecast…

Read More Here

Putin throws $1.5 billion lifeline to embattled Belarus leader

Russian President Vladimir Putin bestowed a $1.5 billion loan on Belarus on Monday in a gesture of support for its leader Alexander Lukashenko, who flew to entreat his patron for help after five…

Read More Here

Malta: Fishermen threatened by Tunisian counterparts

In-Nazzjon reports about rising tension in the seas as fishermen are facing threats by armed Tunisian fishing fleets in Maltese waters. Fishermen said that they feel ‘abandoned’ by the Maltese…

Read More Here

Malta: Environment Minister to present carbon neutrality strategy

L-Orizzont says that Environment Minister Aaron Farrugia is set to present a Low Carbon Development Strategy to the Cabinet based on the Paris Agreement. Minister Farrugia told the paper that…

Read More Here

Malta: AG not ready to release Schembri-Tonna inquiry report

The Times says that the magisterial inquiry into transactions between Keith Schembri and Brian Tonna through Pilatus Bank, launched in April 2017 has been concluded but the Attorney General said…

Read More Here

Malta: Developers fire warning shot over White Rocks project

The Independent quotes a statement by the Developers Association warning that it expects any agreement over the White Rocks project to be based on the market value of the site.…

Read More Here

Pete Buttigieg says US economy facing ‘a long, tough struggle’

Former US presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg expressed his 'extreme concern' as 30 million Americans were now unemployed. The US is also facing a growing rise of food insecurity, he warned…

Read More Here

Elbow bumps should be avoided too – WHO

No hugs, kisses, shaking of hands was the order of the day to avoid contagion as the coronavirus pandemic brought a new normal in our daily lives. In saluting each…

Read More Here

EPA’s Eye in the Sky: Indiana, USA

Some of the 355 wind turbines that make up the Fowler Ridge Wind Farm spaced in corn and soybean fields near Fowler, Indiana, USA. Indiana is home to numerous large…

Read More Here

In pictures – Italy’s first day back to school

Read More Here

Britain wants successful trade talks, EU not always constructive – Gove

Britain wants trade negotiations with the European Union to succeed and is not walking away from talks, Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said on Monday, as the government tabled a…

Read More Here

Photo Story – Floods in Misrata, Libya

Photos Libya Observer

Read More Here

Fossil fuel demand to take historic knock amid COVID-19 scars -BP

Fossil fuel consumption is set to shrink for the first time in modern history as climate policies boost renewable energy while the coronavirus epidemic leaves a lasting effect on global…

Read More Here

Photo Story: ‘Umbrella Road’ advertises car-free city center in Bad Mergentheim

Colourful umbrellas hang above a street in Bad Mergentheim, Germany, 14 September 2020. According to the city of Bad Mergentheim (Main-Tauber-Kreis), the approximately 80 colourful umbrellas hanging up are supposed…

Read More Here

Spain to extend furlough scheme into 2021

The Spanish government is considering extending the nationwide ERTE furlough scheme that guarantees workers part of their income into 2021, Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz said on Monday. "The date is…

Read More Here

Swedish 2021 budget to include $1.1 bln in climate measures

Sweden's Social Democrat and Green minority government said on Monday its 2021 budget would contain 9.7 billion Swedish crowns ($1.11 billion) in new spending aimed at fighting climate change. The…

Read More Here

UK shopper numbers down 6.3% as workers shun offices -Springboard

Shopper numbers across all British retail destinations fell by 6.3% last week compared to the previous week, as although children went back to school after the summer holidays, workers did…

Read More Here

Malta: Industrial production climbs for second month in a row

Industrial production in Malta increased by 1.5 percent in July, compared to the previous month, registering the second consecutive rise. The average increase in the EU reached 4.1 percent, with…

Read More Here

Luxembourg warns EU over “fixing” cross-border fund rules

European Union regulators should avoid trying to fix problems that don't exist in operating cross-border investment funds, Luxembourg's financial regulator said on Monday. The EU's securities watchdog ESMA has suggested…

Read More Here

Singapore grapples with coronavirus in migrant workers’ dormitories

Singapore is battling new clusters of coronavirus infections in migrant dormitories that had won the all-clear from authorities, highlighting the difficulty of stamping out the disease, even in a closely…

Read More Here

India considers emergency authorisation of vaccine as COVID-19 cases surge

India said it was considering granting an emergency authorisation for a COVID-19 vaccine, particularly for the elderly and people in high-risk workplaces, as the country's number of reported infections passed…

Read More Here

Malta: Pensioners’ associations protest over public service pension cuts

A number of pensioners’ organisations are calling upon the authorities to initiate talks and to desist from further “drastic” cuts to public service pensions which they claimed to be unconstitutional.…

Read More Here

Malta: Over 9kg of cocaine discovered during airport luggage screening

Customs officials discovered over 9.85 kilograms of cocaine during a routine operation at Malta International Airport. Source: Malta Today Updated 1700pm

Read More Here

Malta: Malta to have a refunding system for beverage containers on a national scale

The government is concluding an agreement which will allow Malta to have a refunding system for beverage containers on a national scale. The European Commission which approved Malta’s model last…

Read More Here

Malta: Paul Abela confirmed as Malta Chamber of SMEs president for year 2020-2021

Paul Abela has been confirmed as Malta Chamber of SMEs President for the year 2020-2021. Source: The Malta Independent Updated 1705pm

Read More Here

Malta: Elderly woman dies after testing positive for COVID-19

An elderly woman, aged 86, has died after testing positive for Covid-19. Source: TVM Updated 1710pm

Read More Here

Malta: Ryanair plane lands in Catania due to a storm over Malta

A Ryanair flight coming from Leeds to Malta, had to land at Catania airport due to the storm that is currently gripping the Maltese islands. Source: One News Updated 1720pm

Read More Here

New IRA forms alliance with Hezbollah

The New IRA, the largest dissident Irish republican group, is thought to have forged alliances with Hezbollah and radical organisations in the Middle East, who may be providing it with…

Read More Here

OPEC turns 60

In 1973, Arab members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries brought the U.S. economy to its knees. Now, the cartel created 60 years ago is more likely to do…

Read More Here

U.N. human rights chief says reports of Belarus violence are alarming

The United Nations human rights chief said on Monday her office was receiving "alarming reports" of the ongoing violent repression of peaceful demonstrations in Belarus. "Reports continue to indicate unnecessary…

Read More Here

Photo Story: Kite festival in St. Petersburg

People enjoy the kite festival that was held over the weekend in the 300th anniversary Park in St. Petersburg, Russia. Via EPA-EFE/ANATOLY MALTSEV

Read More Here

Malta: Agri industry reaps surplus in 2019

The agricultural industry registered an increase in net operating surplus of 1.1 percent in 2019, compared to the year before, reaching a total of €74.6 million. Data by the National…

Read More Here

Germany says French, Swedish labs confirm Navalny’s Novichok poisoning

The German government said on Monday two more laboratories have independently confirmed that Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny was poisoned with the Soviet-style nerve agent Novichok and called on Russia to…

Read More Here

Ex-WHO head says just $5 per person a year could prevent future pandemic

Spending $5 per person annually on global health security over the next five years could prevent a future “catastrophic” pandemic, according to a former head of the World Health Organization…

Read More Here

UK’s ex-attorney general strikes out at ‘unconscionable’ plan to override Brexit deal

Former attorney general Geoffrey Cox has said he will vote against the government's attempts to override the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement when it comes before the Commons. He accused Boris Johnson…

Read More Here

Asia offers more flu shots to head off COVID-19 complications

Some Asian countries are rolling out early and more aggressive influenza vaccination programs this year, seeking to reduce the potential of people contracting the flu and COVID-19 simultaneously, crippling healthcare…

Read More Here

UK’s autumn Covid-19 redundancies could exceed 700,000

In the UK, close to half a million redundancies are likely to be announced in the autumn, although the number could end up exceeding 700,000, according to a study that…

Read More Here

Amazon to hire 100,000 more workers in its latest job spree this year

Amazon.com Inc on Monday said it is recruiting 100,000 more workers - the fourth hiring spree it has announced for the United States this year - to keep pace with…

Read More Here

Turkey’s coronavirus death toll exceeds 7,000

The death toll in Turkey due to the novel coronavirus reached 7,056 on Sunday, rising by 57 people in the last 24 hours, data from the Health Ministry showed. The…

Read More Here

Valneva to supply up to 190 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to UK

French vaccine maker Valneva said on Monday it would supply the UK with up to 190 million doses of its coronavirus vaccine candidate, VLA2001, over a five-year period. Under the…

Read More Here

Pompeo says U.S. ambassador to China to leave post

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said early Monday U.S. ambassador to China Terry Branstad would leave the post. "I thank Ambassador Terry Branstad for his more than three years…

Read More Here

Whales being spotted more frequently in Thailand due to the absence of tourists

Bryde's whales have been spotted more frequently after the absence of tourists and reduction of human activities due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic which raises hopes of the marine ecosystem…

Read More Here

Germany to draft new law to address working from home

Despite facing reticence within German Chancellor Angela's Merkel coalition, Labour Minister Hubertus Heil of the center-left SPD over the weekend reiterated his intention to submit a draft law to regulate working from home.…

Read More Here

Police in Belarus detained 774 people at protests on eve of Putin summit

Police detained 774 people on Sunday at huge anti-government protests across Belarus, including 500 people detained in the capital Minsk, the Belarusian Interior Ministry said on Monday. At least 100,000…

Read More Here

Not many issues remain to secure ‘thin’ EU-UK trade deal – Irish foreign minister

There are not that many outstanding issues in the way of securing a "thin" free-trade deal between the European Union and Britain, which is the best-case scenario at this stage,…

Read More Here

Coronavirus pandemic preparedness panel slams collective failure to head warnings

A collective failure by political leaders to heed warnings and prepare for an infectious disease pandemic has transformed “a world at risk” to a “world in disorder”, according to a…

Read More Here

Controversy and fear as Italy’s schools finally reopen

After a six-month shutdown, the longest in Europe, Italy reopened most of its schools on Monday, testing the organisational skills of the government, the nerves of teachers and the self-control…

Read More Here

Italy’s Berlusconi leaves hospital after “dangerous” COVID battle

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi left hospital on Monday after overcoming coronavirus, saying he had survived "the most dangerous challenge" of his life. "I said to myself, with satisfaction,…

Read More Here

Turkey does not expect EU sanctions over east Mediterranean dispute

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Monday that Turkey does not expect the European Union to impose sanctions on it over a dispute with Greece over territorial claims in the…

Read More Here

WHO head urges rich nations to join vaccine scheme by Friday deadline

Countries should join the World Health Organization's (WHO) COVAX vaccine facility by a Friday deadline to help ensure that immunizations are fairly and efficiently distributed, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom…

Read More Here

EU and China sign landmark agreement protecting European Geographical Indications

The EU and China have signed a bilateral agreement to protect 100 European Geographical Indications (GIs) in China and 100 Chinese GIs in the European Union against usurpation and imitation.…

Read More Here

Turkey says U.S. needs to return to neutral stance on Cyprus

Turkey said early on Monday that the United States needed to return to a neutral stance on Cyprus, after Washington and Nicosia signed a memorandum of understanding to create a…

Read More Here