Europe

MOSCOW, April 14. /TASS/: Moscow believes that it is premature yet to speak about details of a possible summit meeting between Russian and US Presidents Vladimir Putin and Joseph Biden, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday.

"It is premature yet to speak about any details of this meeting. This is a new proposal and it will be studied and analyzed," the Russian presidential spokesman said, replying to a question about the options of the venue and time of the presidents’ summit meeting that were being considered.

MOSCOW, April 14. /TASS/: Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Wednesday that he has received his second COVID-19 vaccine dose.

"Just now I have received the second jab," Putin told the Russian Geographical Society’s board meeting on Wednesday.

"I hope everything will be fine," Putin said. "I do not just hope, I’m sure about this."

Putin hopes that the COVID-19 pandemic will recede soon, in particular due to the vaccination drive.

MOSCOW, April 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia announced the suspension of flights between Russia and Tanzania, with effect from April 15 to June 1, due to the status of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Russian Government says it will review the suspension if the pandemic situation in Tanzania stabilizes.

The suspension was announced by Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova. Speaking at a video conference she said travel agencies were recommended to halt sales of tours to Tanzania and Turkey, where flights have also been suspended.

GENEVA, April 14 (NNN-TASS) — More than 567,000 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection were registered worldwide in the past day, with the overall number of such cases exceeding 136.29 million, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in its daily bulletin.

As of April 13, as many as 136,291,128 novel coronavirus cases and 2,941,128 coronavirus-associated deaths were registered across the globe. The number of confirmed cases grew by 567,849 in the past 24 hours and the number of fatalities increased by 9,521.

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday he shared concerns over a growing lobbying scandal involving former leader David Cameron who tried to get ministers to help out the now failed supply-chain finance firm Greensill Capital.

Though Cameron’s strategy ultimately failed, Johnson has launched an independent review to look at allegations that lobbyists have an “open door” to his government.

Cameron’s role has raised questions about access to ministers by former colleagues, particularly on behalf of Greensill.

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union countries will receive 50 million more coronavirus vaccines produced by Pfizer and BioNTech in the second quarter, the head of the EU Commission said on Wednesday, as deliveries expected at the end of the year will be brought forward.

PARIS (Reuters) - The European powers party to the Iran nuclear deal told Tehran on Wednesday that its decision to enrich uranium at 60% purity and install a further 1,000 centrifuges at its Natanz site were contrary to efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal.

Talks between world powers, Iran and the United States are due to resume in Vienna on Thursday, but in a joint statement Britain, France and Germany said Tehran’s decision to enrich at 60 percent was not based on credible civilian reasons and constituted an important step in the production of a nuclear weapon.

MILAN (Reuters) - The EU Commission has decided not to renew COVID-19 vaccine contracts next year with AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson (J&J), Italian daily La Stampa reported on Wednesday, citing a source from the Italian health ministry.

“The European Commission, in agreement with the leaders of many (EU) countries, has decided that the contracts with the companies that produce (viral vector) vaccines that are valid for the current year will not be renewed at their expiry,” the newspaper reported.

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Euro zone citizens expect the European Central Bank’s proposed digital euro to be private, safe and cheap, a survey showed on Wednesday, as the ECB warned that any launch was still several years away.

The ECB is studying an electronic form of cash to complement banknotes and coins in a bid to stem competition from cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Tether and Facebook’s proposed Diem.

LONDON (Reuters) -Crude oil prices jumped on revised oil demand forecasts on Wednesday despite concerns over rising coronavirus cases and vaccine rollouts.

Brent crude futures rose $1, or 1.57%, to $64.67 a barrel by 0858 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were up 96 cents, or 1.6%, at $61.