PRESIDENT-ELECTJoe Biden led a moving tribute Tuesday for US coronavirus victims now more than 400,000 -- as European nations battled record daily fatalities and fear spread of new virus strains.
Almost a year after the United States registered its first Covid-19 death, the pace of the pandemic has picked up with 100,000 deaths in the past month alone, adding to a national toll far above any other country.
"It's hard sometimes to remember, but that's how we heal. It's important to do that as a nation," Biden said in somber remarks in Washington at the National Mall reflecting pool, where lights were turned on as a memorial to those who have died.
"Let us shine the lights in the darkness along the sacred pool of reflection and remember all who we lost," said Biden.
The arrival of mass vaccination campaigns in the United States and Europe had brought hope that the end of the epidemic was in sight, and the European Union said Tuesday it was aiming to inoculate 70 percent of its adult population before the end of August.
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said meeting the target could be "a turning point" in the fight against the virus.
But many EU countries and other nations including India and Russia have struggled to get their inoculation programmes off the ground.
As nations grapple with the health crisis, several inquiries have re-energised questions over the origins of the virus in China in late 2019, and how the authorities handled it.
Beijing has been accused of stifling whistleblowers who tried to raise the alarm, and experts said this week that officials could have reacted quicker to avert catastrophe.
Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying dismissed the criticism, saying: "As the first country to sound the alarm against the pandemic, we took prompt and decisive measures even though we had incomplete information at the time."
President-elect Joe Biden led a moving tribute Tuesday for US coronavirus victims -- now more than 400,000 -- as European nations battled record daily fatalities and fear spread of new virus strains.
Almost a year after the United States registered its first Covid-19 death, the pace of the pandemic has picked up with 100,000 deaths in the past month alone, adding to a national toll far above any other country.
"It's hard sometimes to remember, but that's how we heal. It's important to do that as a nation," Biden said in somber remarks in Washington at the National Mall reflecting pool, where lights were turned on as a memorial to those who have died.
"Let us shine the lights in the darkness along the sacred pool of reflection and remember all who we lost," said Biden.
The arrival of mass vaccination campaigns in the United States and Europe had brought hope that the end of the epidemic was in sight, and the European Union said Tuesday it was aiming to inoculate 70 percent of its adult population before the end of August.
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said meeting the target could be "a turning point" in the fight against the virus.
But many EU countries -- and other nations including India and Russia -- have struggled to get their inoculation programmes off the ground.
As nations grapple with the health crisis, several inquiries have re-energised questions over the origins of the virus in China in late 2019, and how the authorities handled it.
Beijing has been accused of stifling whistleblowers who tried to raise the alarm, and experts said this week that officials could have reacted quicker to avert catastrophe.
Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying dismissed the criticism, saying: "As the first country to sound the alarm against the pandemic, we took prompt and decisive measures even though we had incomplete information at the time."
- Travel ban row -
Biden has made tackling the pandemic his top priority, as he prepares to take office on Wednesday.
He is already being forced to take action, with his aides contradicting an order from outgoing President Donald Trump to lift travel bans designed to stop the spread.
"With the pandemic worsening, and more contagious variants emerging around the world, this is not the time to be lifting restrictions on international travel," tweeted Jen Psaki, Biden's press secretary.
Caution was in evidence too in Taiwan, which called off its largest Lunar New Year lantern festival for the first time as authorities rushed to stem a Covid cluster in one of the few places to survive the pandemic largely unscathed.
In Africa, Rwanda's capital Kigali was back under total lockdown after a surge in cases.
- Vaccine queue-jumping? -
Britain has been coping with a new strain of the virus thought to be far more infectious, and on Tuesday it registered a record 1,610 deaths over 24 hours.
There was, however, a sign of hope for Britain as the number of new cases over a week was down about 22 percent following a stringent lockdown announced this month.
More than four million people in Britain have been vaccinated so far.
As fears of new variants spread, Portugal also clocked a record daily number of fatalities and Germany tightened and extended its partial lockdown until mid-February.
Elsewhere in Europe, Serbia became the first European country to use the Chinese-made Sinopharm jab, while Austrian authorities were looking into reports of alleged queue-jumping for vaccines, including by several mayors.
In hard-hit South America, Argentina began administering second doses of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine as Chile started a campaign to immunize its general population.
Israel extended its lockdown to the end of the month after a spike in infections.
- Holy scam -
The pandemic continued to batter the world of sport, forcing postponements and the quarantining of players.
Health officials said two Australian Open tennis players have tested positive, a new blow for the tournament facing a backlash from a wary public.
The unnamed players were among three new cases, taking the tournament's cluster to seven.
More than 1,000 players and staff are in quarantine after arriving last week in Australia, which is largely coronavirus-free.
Player complaints about quarantine have raised further hackles, and Australia's Nick Kyrgios led criticism of world number one Novak Djokovic for requesting improved conditions.
"Djokovic is a tool," tweeted Kyrgios, the world number 47.
Van Morrison's lawyer, meanwhile, announced the music legend would challenge the Northern Irish government in court over its "blanket ban" on live music in licensed venues arising from coronavirus restrictions.
In Sri Lanka, another example of the quack cures and false claims that have proliferated in connection with the virus was shown to be dangerously false.
A self-styled holy man's supposed miracle potion to prevent Covid-19 turned sour after a minister who publicly drank it was hospitalised with the virus.
Thousands defied public gathering restrictions to swamp a village in central Sri Lanka last month to get the syrup made by Dhammika Bandara.
AFP RELAXNEWS
Wed Jan 20 2021
![US passes 400,000 virus deaths as Europe battles surge US passes 400,000 virus deaths as Europe battles surge](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-01/51611113377_COVID.jpg)
Toll of coronavirus infections and deaths worldwide and in worst-affected countries, as of Jan 19. AFPpic
Urban Redevelopment Act: A comprehensive solution or a temporary fix?
Datuk Chang Kim Loong, Secretary-General of the National House Buyers Association (HBA), will speak about tackling one of the most pressing urban issues of our time: the Urban Redevelopment Act. Is this legislation the comprehensive solution we’ve been waiting for to eradicate urban slums, or is it merely a temporary fix?
![Ringgit kekal dibuka tinggi, menjelang data KDNK suku kedua Malaysia esok Ringgit kekal dibuka tinggi, menjelang data KDNK suku kedua Malaysia esok](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/41705320699_TBringgitmalaysia.jpg)
Ringgit kekal dibuka tinggi, menjelang data KDNK suku kedua Malaysia esok
Pada 8 pagi, ringgit meningkat sedikit kepada 4.4150/4250 berbanding dolar AS daripada 4.4170/4235 ketika ditutup pada Rabu.
#AWANIRingkas 15 Ogos 2024 | 9 AM
Berikut merupakan rangkuman berita setakat 9 pagi, 15 Ogos 2024
1️⃣ TPM wakili Malaysia di EMM di Peru
2️⃣ Misteri kehilangan Nidza Afham
3️⃣ Rundingan gencatan Gaza di Qatar hari ini
#awaniringkas
1️⃣ TPM wakili Malaysia di EMM di Peru
2️⃣ Misteri kehilangan Nidza Afham
3️⃣ Rundingan gencatan Gaza di Qatar hari ini
#awaniringkas
Belia & pekerjaan: Pengangguran belia global menurun, cabaran tetap ada
Walaupun kadar pengangguran belia global menurun, kebimbangan meningkat mengenai belia NEET (tidak bekerja, belajar, atau menjalani latihan). Laporan Pertubuhan Buruh Antarabangsa (ILO) mendedahkan jurang dan cabaran besar yang terus menghantui belia, terutama di wilayah tertentu dan kalangan wanita muda. Bagaimana untuk menganalisis tren global dalam konteks keadaan tempatan bagi memastikan penemuan antarabangsa dapat disesuaikan dengan strategi nasional?
AWANI Pagi I UiTM 25 Tahun, Apa Seterusnya?
Dalam meraikan pencapaian UiTM yang telah mencapai usia 25 tahun, ia kekal sebagai universiti teramai melahirkan graduan yang menyumbang tenaga, dan kemahiran merentas industri di Malaysia.
Ikuti AWANI Pagi untuk kita ikuti bagaimana UiTM mahu kekal melahirkan graduan graduan relevan dalam pasaran dunia yang semakin berubah.
Ikuti AWANI Pagi untuk kita ikuti bagaimana UiTM mahu kekal melahirkan graduan graduan relevan dalam pasaran dunia yang semakin berubah.
![SUHAKAM gesa penggantungan semua operasi pengusiran Bajau Laut SUHAKAM gesa penggantungan semua operasi pengusiran Bajau Laut](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-12/51670516991_suhakam.jpg)
SUHAKAM gesa penggantungan semua operasi pengusiran Bajau Laut
SUHAKAM gesa penggantungan segera semua operasi dan aktiviti pengusiran yang sedang berlaku di Semporna.
Data & Statistik: Kadar pengangguran global belia 2024
Walaupun kadar pengangguran belia global menurun, jumlah belia yang tidak bekerja, belajar, atau menjalani latihan golongan NEET masih membimbangkan. Laporan terkini Pertubuhan Buruh Antarabangsa (ILO) menunjukkan cabaran serius untuk belia, terutamanya di kawasan tertentu dan dalam kalangan wanita muda.
![Pencipta biskut Famous Amos meninggal dunia pada usia 88 tahun Pencipta biskut Famous Amos meninggal dunia pada usia 88 tahun](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723685297_WallyAmosJrFamou.jpg)
Pencipta biskut Famous Amos meninggal dunia pada usia 88 tahun
"Famous Amos adalah kisah kejayaan besar Amerika dan sumber kebanggaan bagi masyarakat kulit hitam."
![Lebih 1,600 premis PKS sertai program SOLVE 4 SME Lebih 1,600 premis PKS sertai program SOLVE 4 SME](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71723651455_TBSOLVE.jpg)
Lebih 1,600 premis PKS sertai program "SOLVE 4 SME"
JKKP memaklumkan penyertaan itu melebihi sasaran jabatan itu dan telah memberi manfaat kepada 70,824 pekerja PKS.
![PRK Nenggiri: PN ada peluang menang, tapi jangan over-confident - Muhyiddin PRK Nenggiri: PN ada peluang menang, tapi jangan over-confident - Muhyiddin](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/51713678198_MuhyiddinYassin.jpg)
PRK Nenggiri: "PN ada peluang menang, tapi jangan over-confident" - Muhyiddin
Muhyiddin optimis dengan kemenangan calon PN, Mohd Rizwadi Ismail sekali gus mempertahankan kerusi DUN Nenggiri.
![Hamas tuntut penerimaan cadangan gencatan senjata Gaza yang disokong Biden Hamas tuntut penerimaan cadangan gencatan senjata Gaza yang disokong Biden](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71723445354_Palestinians.jpg)
Hamas tuntut penerimaan cadangan gencatan senjata Gaza yang disokong Biden
Kumpulan Palestin Hamas menuntut pengantara gencatan senjata Gaza membentangkan rancangan untuk melaksanakan cadangan yang disokong Biden.
![Gencatan senjata di Gaza 'masih berpotensi' dicapai sebelum penghujung penggal - Biden Gencatan senjata di Gaza 'masih berpotensi' dicapai sebelum penghujung penggal - Biden](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81722058877_JoeBiden.jpg)
Gencatan senjata di Gaza 'masih berpotensi' dicapai sebelum penghujung penggal - Biden
Biden berkata perjanjian gencatan senjata di Semenanjung Gaza masih berpotensi dicapai sebelum tamat tempoh penggal sebagai presiden.
![Pembunuhan Haniyeh tidak membantu untuk gencatan senjata Gaza - Biden Pembunuhan Haniyeh tidak membantu untuk gencatan senjata Gaza - Biden](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81722058877_JoeBiden.jpg)
Pembunuhan Haniyeh tidak membantu untuk gencatan senjata Gaza - Biden
Biden juga berkata beliau telah mengadakan perbincangan "secara berterus terang" dengan Perdana Menteri Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu.
![Rakyat AS ditahan di Rusia dibebas - Biden Rakyat AS ditahan di Rusia dibebas - Biden](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81722563226_EvanGershkovich.jpg)
Rakyat AS ditahan di Rusia dibebas - Biden
Biden sifatkan ia sebahagian daripada pertukaran tahanan timur-barat terbesar sejak berakhirnya Perang Dingin.
![Biden gesa pembaharuan Mahkamah Agung, termasuk had penggal 18 tahun Biden gesa pembaharuan Mahkamah Agung, termasuk had penggal 18 tahun](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71722288647_TheUSSupremeCou.jpg)
Biden gesa pembaharuan Mahkamah Agung, termasuk had penggal 18 tahun
Dengan menonjolkan rancangan itu, Biden menjadikan Mahkamah Agung sebagai isu utama dalam bulan-bulan terakhir perlumbaan 2024.
![Biden umum pelan pembaharuan Mahkamah Agung pada Isnin - Laporan Biden umum pelan pembaharuan Mahkamah Agung pada Isnin - Laporan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81722058877_JoeBiden.jpg)
Biden umum pelan pembaharuan Mahkamah Agung pada Isnin - Laporan
Presiden Amerika Syarikat Joe Biden berhasrat mengemukakan cadangan penting yang bertujuan untuk mereformasi Mahkamah Agung pada Isnin.
![Serah kepimpinan kepada generasi baharu cara terbaik satukan negara - Biden Serah kepimpinan kepada generasi baharu cara terbaik satukan negara - Biden](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41721877969_JoeBiden.jpg)
Serah kepimpinan kepada generasi baharu cara terbaik satukan negara - Biden
Biden sebelum ini menarik diri daripada pemilihan berikutan tekanan yang semakin meningkat dari kalangan Demokrat.
![Biden kembali ke Rumah Putih selepas beberapa hari pengasingan COVID-19 Biden kembali ke Rumah Putih selepas beberapa hari pengasingan COVID-19](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-10/71696492107_JoeBiden.jpg)
Biden kembali ke Rumah Putih selepas beberapa hari pengasingan COVID-19
Presiden Amerika Syarikat (AS) Joe Biden tiba semula di Rumah Putih pada Selasa selepas beberapa hari diasingkan akibat COVID-19 dan di tengah-tengah khabar angin mengenai kesihatannya.
![Biden pulih daripada gejala COVID-19, ujian negatif Biden pulih daripada gejala COVID-19, ujian negatif](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721785411_JoeBidenAirForce.jpg)
Biden pulih daripada gejala COVID-19, ujian negatif
Ujian antigen pantas BINAX adalah negatif, bagaimanapun, beliau akan terus dipantau untuk sebarang penyakit berulang.
![Biden akan sampaikan ucapan kepada negara pada Rabu selepas tarik diri pilihan raya presiden Biden akan sampaikan ucapan kepada negara pada Rabu selepas tarik diri pilihan raya presiden](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/51710975538_JoeBiden.jpg)
Biden akan sampaikan ucapan kepada negara pada Rabu selepas tarik diri pilihan raya presiden
Presiden Joe Biden berkata pada Selasa bahawa beliau akan berucap kepada negara pada Rabu selepas menarik diri daripada pilihan raya presiden Amerika Syarikat (AS).