World News Briefs -- March 31, 2021 (Evening Edition)

 

Bloomberg: France Heads Into Monthlong Lockdown as Virus Spirals in Europe 

(Bloomberg) -- French President Emmanuel Macron announced a nationwide four-week lockdown, closing schools and business, in the latest and alarming sign that Europe is yet again losing control of the pandemic. 

“We did everything we could to make these decisions as late as possible, when they became strictly necessary. That is now,” Macron said in a televised address on Wednesday. New variants make the virus “more contagious and deadlier,” he said. 

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MIDDLE EAST 

Iran leader Rouhani criticizes Biden for 'no efforts' to rejoin nuclear deal. 

Iraq PM seeks to soothe security concern on Saudi visit.

Militias a growing challenge for Iraq ahead of talks with US. 

UN raises $6.4 billion for Syrians, falls short of $10 billion aid goal. 

U.S. announces more than $596 million in new humanitarian aid for Syria crisis: Blinken. 

War-torn Yemen gets first delivery of vaccines. 

Yes, Israel 'occupies' West Bank, US says. 

Biden administration quietly ramping up aid to Palestinians. 

 ASIA 

UN envoy warns of civil war in Myanmar without Security Council action. 

Children among the dead and injured in Myanmar military airstrikes, say activists. 

Myanmar junta makes ceasefire offer, but not to protesters. 

Japan suspends new aid to Myanmar over coup. 

Philippines demands China remove vessels at 6 islands, reefs. 

China pushes to expand virus origin search beyond its border. 

China sharply reduces elected seats in Hong Kong legislature. 

State Department certifies Hong Kong does not warrant unique treatment under U.S. law: Blinken. 

Japanese textbooks stir controversy in South Korea for 'distorting history'. 

 AFRICA 

U.N. warns civilians, including kids, facing "unspeakable horror" in ISIS siege on Mozambique town. 

Over 8,000 Mozambique attack survivors find refuge: UN. 

Arrests made in Niger attempted coup, days before President-elect's inauguration. 

Suspected ADF militia kill 25 in new eastern DR Congo massacre. 

UN concerned over Russian mercenaries in CAR. 

Ethiopian rebels blamed for 'terror attack' in restive west. 

ICC judges uphold acquittal of former Ivory Coast president. 

In stark warning, Egypt leader says Nile water ‘untouchable’. 

Suez Canal: Egypt begins inquiry into cargo ship's grounding. 

Ever Given crew may reportedly face house arrest over Suez Canal incident. 

 EUROPE 

U.S. watching "escalation of armed confrontation" near Ukraine's border with Russia. 

Macron locks down France: Schools and shops close and national 7pm curfew introduced as COVID third wave surges across Europe. 

France to close schools, ban domestic travel as virus surges. 

Austria negotiates to buy 1mn doses of Russia’s Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine as Chancellor Kurz rejects ‘geopolitical blinkers’. 

EU says ‘no evidence’ to restrict use of AstraZeneca vaccine. 

Italy orders 2 Russian Embassy officials expelled for spying. 

Russia: Navalny on hunger strike to protest prison treatment.

EU takes Poland to court over judicial independence concerns. 

 AMERICAS

Biden says $2 trillion jobs plan rivals the space race in its ambition. 

Biden says corporate tax hike will pay for infrastructure plan. 

Coronavirus surge could be worse than the last for the Americas -PAHO. 

COVID-19 pushed total US deaths beyond 3.3 million last year. 

15 MILLION doses of J&J vaccine ruined in ‘ingredient mixup accident’ at Baltimore plant, delaying US shipments & triggering probe. 

'In the middle of a war zone': thousands flee as Venezuela troops and Colombia rebels clash. 

Brazil discovers new coronavirus variant similar to one from South Africa. 

Bank of Canada head alarmed by rising household debt amid hot housing market: interview. 

 TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR 

Eisenhower strike group launches missions against Islamic State.

Inside Mozambique as Africa becomes new frontline of ISIS terror for 'next 20 years'. 

Woman dies after attempted attack on Indonesia police headquarters. 

Sudan pays $335 mn for US victims in terror delisting deal. 

 ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS 

S&P 500 climbs, closing out its 4th straight quarterly gain. 

As US newspapers slide toward abyss, a bidding war breaks out. 

World Bank commits to implementing global warming policies: Reuters. 

The World Economic Forum says it will take an extra 36 years to close the gender gap.