World News Briefs -- March 25, 2021 (Night Edition)

 

Reuters: Biden says China won't surpass U.S. as global leader on his watch 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday said he would prevent China from passing the United States to become the most powerful country in the world, vowing to invest heavily to ensure America prevails in the race between the world’s two largest economies. 

Biden said he had spent “hours upon hours” with Xi Jinping when he served as vice president under former President Barack Obama, and was convinced the Chinese president believed autocracy - not democracy - held the key to the future. 

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 MIDDLE EAST 

Saudi-led coalition intercepts and destroys several Houthi drones launched at kingdom. 

Saudi reports fire at oil terminal as Huthis escalate attacks. 

Battle for Marib: Last city in north Yemen under gov’t control. 

U.S. special envoy for Yemen traveling to Middle East. 

Saudi official denies threat to harm UN Khashoggi investigator. 

EU offers Turkey aid, trade help despite rights concerns. 

Hundreds of Uyghurs protest Chinese minister's Turkey visit. 

Half of Israelis fully vaccinated, Palestinians lag. 

US offers funds to vaccinate Palestinians. 

 ASIA 

Biden sees Afghan withdrawal this year but not by May deadline. 

US ‘exploring keeping’ counterterrorism troops in Afghanistan. 

Biden warns of 'responses' if N.Korea 'choose to escalate'. 

US, UK sanction Myanmar junta companies as crackdown continues.

India slows vital vaccine exports as cases soar. 

Pakistan extends school closures amid third wave of coronavirus.

Philippines deploys more navy ships to disputed sea amid row with China. 

Bangladesh police fire tear gas, rubber bullets at anti-Modi protesters. 

Tokyo Olympic torch relay begins 121-day journey across Japan. 

 AFRICA 

Eleven killed in attacks in western Niger. 

Mozambique soldiers 'pursuing' insurgents in key town. 

UN, African Union mission HQs targeted in Somali capital, 3 dead. 

Ethiopia’s Tigray: Men forced to rape family members, UN reports.

Libya urges foreign fighters to leave during European foreign ministers' visit. 

DR Congo probes police chief over murder of rights activist. 

Blaze in Sierra Leone slum leaves over thousand homeless. 

Egypt suspends traffic in Suez Canal as crews try to free grounded ship. 

Suez Canal: Owner of cargo ship blocking waterway apologises.

Extinction: Africa's elephants driven to the brink by poaching. 

 EUROPE 

EU leaders grapple with surge of infections, vaccine issues. 

No more vaccine exports until you fulfill your contracts, EU tells AstraZeneca. 

EU says it will tighten COVID-19 vaccine rules to strengthen supply chains. 

'Wrong to lack ambition': Vaccine failures overshadow EU summit as Covid-19 surges. 

Germany to require COVID tests on all flight arrivals. 

UK extends emergency coronavirus powers by 6 months. 

Hundreds arrested in Belarus ‘Freedom Day’ protest. 

Police give all clear after evacuating area around Dutch parliament. 

Alexei Navalny says he is being 'tortured' in prison. 

Modern Greek nation celebrates 200th birthday. 

 AMERICAS 

Biden leaves door open for Senate changes to advance agenda. 

Biden doubles vaccine pledge, says plans to run again. 

Biden's new goal is 200 million COVID-19 vaccinations in first 100 days. 

Thousands of Venezuelans flee to Colombia amid violence on border. 

Brazil hits record 100,000 coronavirus cases in a day, piling pressure on Bolsonaro.

Bolsonaro under pressure as Brazil COVID deaths top 300,000. 

Canada's Supreme Court rules in favour of national carbon tax. 

Aggressive Asian hornets gain foothold in Pacific Northwest. 

 TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR 

Jihadi rebels hit town in north Mozambique near gas project. 

Mozambique military launches offensive after ISIL attack. 

Slow recovery in Syria's Baghouz two years after IS defeat.

British militant whose death sentence for beheading journalist Daniel Pearl was quashed is freed from prison. 

 ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS 

Asian stocks set to rise on firmer U.S. equities, vaccine hopes. 

Bitcoin selloff takes a bite out of cryptocurrency’s biggest fund. 

US lawmakers, tech CEOs clash over disinformation.

MF warns of 'diverging recoveries' post-pandemic. 

Intel chief Pat Gelsinger: Too many chips made in Asia.

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