U.S., European Commission begin discussions enhanced privacy shield framework: statement - Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Commerce Department and the European Commission have begun discussing how to create a privacy shield framework that would comply with the European Union top court’s judgment last month that the current deal for transatlantic data transfer does not work, according to a Commerce statement.

“The U.S. Department of Commerce and the European Commission have initiated discussions to evaluate the potential for an enhanced EU-U.S. Privacy Shield framework to comply with the July 16 judgment of the


20000 paper birds help fund COVID-19 units at Belgium hospital - Reuters Africa

An art installation made of 20,325 origamis called "Origami For Life" by Belgian designer and artist Charles Kaisin is pictured at the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula, which aims to raise donations for a Belgian hospital in its fight against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Brussels, Belgium, August 10, 2020. REUTERS/Yves Herman

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A flock of 20,000 multicoloured origami birds has been


Coronavirus spread accelerates in Denmark, reproduction rate rises to 1.4 - Reuters Africa

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Denmark has seen a new spread of COVID-19 infections in the past week with the reproduction rate rising to 1.4, the country’s health minister said on Monday.

“The virus is moving through our society once again,” Magnus Heunicke told reporters.

In the past week, infections have been confirmed in 67 out of Denmark’s 98 municipalities. The country’s second biggest city Aarhus had the biggest number of new infections.

Last week, the Danish


Duke takes $1.6 billion charge to exit Atlantic Coast natgas pipe - Reuters

(Reuters) - U.S. energy company Duke Energy Corp said Monday it took a $1.6-billion after-tax charge in the second quarter for the cancellation of the Atlantic Coast natural gas pipeline from West Virginia to North Carolina.

FILE PHOTO: The company logo and ticker for Duke Energy Corp. is displayed on a screen on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., March 4, 2019. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

TREASURIES-Yields hold near historic lows on economic slowdown fears - Reuters India

    By Karen Brettell    NEW YORK, Aug 10 (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury yields dippedslightly on Monday and held near historic lows as an increase inCOVID-19 infections raises the prospect of new economicweakness, even as the United States government plans newstimulus.    Five-year yields last week fell to their lowest on recordand benchmark 10-year yields dipped to their lowest since March,as concerns about growth increased demand for the safe havendebt.    “There is a growing recognition that

Cairo's Tahrir Square gets a contested makeover - Agricultural Commodities - Reuters Africa

* Square was cradle of Egypt’s 2011 uprising

* Officials say they are beautifying square

* Critics see extension of security clampdown

* Some opposed transfer of sandstone sphinxes

By Aidan Lewis and Nadeen Ebrahim

CAIRO, Aug 10 (Reuters) - Egypt’s government has revamped Tahrir Square, dotting the space occupied nearly a decade ago by throngs of anti-regime protesters with Pharaonic monuments and private security guards.

Officials say they are improving the square in line with famous plazas in Europe, and its facelift -


Namibia to auction fishing quota to raise money for COVID-19 medicines - Reuters Africa

WINDHOEK, Aug 10 (Reuters) - The Namibian government will for the first time auction its 60% share of the country’s annual horse mackerel and hake output to the highest bidder by the end of October, as it scrambles to raise funds for equipment and medicines to fight the coronavirus pandemic, according to a government letter seen by Reuters.

The government’s 60% quota is normally reserved for state-owned company Fishcor, which has been caught up in a corruption scandal.

“Government is


MIDEAST STOCKS-Most major Gulf markets gain; Egypt retreats - Reuters Africa

    By Ateeq Shariff    Aug 10 (Reuters) - Most major stock markets in the Gulfclosed higher on Monday, with the Saudi index supported bypetrochemical shares as oil demand recovers.    The Chief Executive of oil giant Saudi Aramco,Amin Nasser, said on Sunday that he sees oil demand recoveringin Asia as economies gradually open up after the easing ofcoronavirus lockdowns.    Brent crude was 31 cents, or 0.7%, higher at $44.71a barrel by 1318 GMT.

Kodak shares plunge after U.S. blocks $765 million loan deal - Reuters

(Reuters) - Shares of Eastman Kodak Co ( KODK.N ) fell about 40% on Monday and were on track for their worst single-day decline after the U.S. government blocked a $765 million loan to the company, which was going to make drug ingredients for use in possible COVID-19 vaccines, because of “alleged wrongdoing” by executives.

The U.S. International Development Finance Corp (DFC) was slated to grant the loan to Eastman Kodak, which


Spanish actor Banderas says has COVID-19, feels 'relatively well' - Reuters India

MADRID (Reuters) - Spanish actor Antonio Banderas, star of “The Mask of Zorro” and dozens of other films, announced on Monday, his 60th birthday, that he had tested positive for COVID-19 and was in quarantine.

“I’d like to add that I’m feeling relatively well, just a bit more tired than usual, and confident that I will recover as soon as possible,” he said in a birthday message on Twitter, adding that he had reached 60