SHORT TAKES

Global vaccines plan gets $8.8b pledge

Governments around the world on Thursday pledged $8.8 billion (Dh32.3 billion) for global vaccines alliance Gavi to help immunisation programmes disrupted by coronavirus, prompting calls for global cooperation to ensure a potential Covid-19 vaccine is available to all.

The online meeting beat a target to raise $7.4 billion to provide vaccines at a much reduced cost to 300 million children worldwide over the next five years.

More than 50 countries took part as well as Bill Gates, whose foundation pledged $1.6 billion.

Arctic oil spill: Russia declares emergency

President Vladimir Putin of Russia has declared a state of emergency in a region in northern Siberia after a huge oil spill turned a river crimson and threatened to inflict significant damage to the Arctic environment.

More than 20,000 tonnes of diesel leaked into the Ambarnaya River near the city of Norilsk last Friday, after a fuel tank collapsed at a power plant.

Spain to further ease restrictions

Spain will further ease a coronavirus lockdown in its two main cities from Monday, but will not start opening its borders to foreign tourists before July 1 while it seeks a common European stance on safe travel, the government said yesterday.

Health Minister Salvador Illa said some restrictions would be lifted in Madrid and Barcelona, which have so far lagged behind the rest of the country’s easing programme. From Monday, restaurant patrons will be allowed to sit inside rather than exclusively on outdoor terraces, while children will be able to play outside at any time of day.

Face masks plague Hong Kong’s beaches

Surgical masks are washing up in growing quantities on the shores of Hong Kong.

Conservationists say the masks are adding to already alarmingly high levels of plastic waste in the waters. “The single use plastic mask is just another additional burden that we are leaving behind for the future generations on the beach,” Gary Stokes, co-founder of OceansAsia, said.