EU SUES ASTRAZENECA FOR 200 MILLION MISSING DOSES

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Following an AstraZeneca announcement cutting the number of promised COVID-19 vaccine doses by July from 300 million to 100 million, the European Union sued the company for breaking their contract in a Belgian court on April 26. A spokesperson for the European Commission stated that “the company has not been in a position to come up with a reliable strategy to ensure the timely delivery of doses.” Europe was one of the first areas to authorize use of the AZ vaccine, although restrictions have been enacted after a series of rare blood clots appeared in inoculated individuals. [NYT] [By Kevin Wang] 

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INDIA REPORTS MORE THAN 370,000 NEW COVID-19 INFECTIONS AND 3,645 DEATHS IN A SINGLE DAY

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India is currently facing the worst COVID-19 outbreak in the world with the recent devastating surge of new coronavirus infections. India set a global record in new COVID-19 cases on April 29 with more than 370,000 new infections and 3,645 deaths putting even more pressure on the country’s already overwhelmed health care system. The country has a population of nearly 1.4 billion people and though the true number is believed to be higher, it has now recorded over 18 million corona cases, and over 200,000 deaths. Burial grounds are running out of space all over the country. Medical supplies have started arriving in India from countries such as the USA, Russia, Germany, Bangladesh, and Taiwan in hopes to calm the situation. [Global News] [By Anirudh Goel] 

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RETAIL SALES UP 4.8% IN FEBRUARY, BUT PANDEMIC’S THIRD WAVE WILL DENT SALES

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In February, Canadian retail sales were boosted by sales at new car dealerships, gas stations and clothing stores. According to Statistics Canada, sales climbed 4.8 percent to $55.1 billion in February, while core retail sales (which excludes gas stations and motor vehicle and parts dealers) rose 3.8 percent, the first increase in three months. However, economists warned that the pandemic’s third wave will dent sales. TD Bank economist Ksenia Bushmeneva said that progress in easing restrictions is highly dependent on the path of the virus, and that recent spending data implies that with more restrictions retail sales will probably weaken. [CBC News][By Emily Ma]

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LAURENTIAN CREATED A ‘MANUFACTURED CRISIS’ TO CUT TIRES WITH 3 SCHOOLS FOR $10M LOAN, COURT TOLD

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On Thursday 29 April, Laurentian University’s efforts to cut ties with three federated schools to qualify for a ten million dollar loan was met with heated opposition in Ontario Superior Court. The university’s lawyer said that Laurentian severing its relationship with the three other universities is a requirement of getting approved for the loan from Firm Capital Mortgage Fund Inc. She added that Laurentian “cannot put forward a viable plan if it does not have the ability to stop the flow of money from Laurentian to the federated universities”. However, the federated universities have launched court challenges, saying that there’s no cost for maintaining ties with them and that severing ties would drive Thorneloe into a financial crisis. Also, the representative of the company lending has confirmed the condition, saying that his client only wants to know his loan will be repaid. [CBC News][By Emily Ma]