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| - Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis: Oxford University will launch a medical trial alternating doses of different vaccines to see whether they can be used interchangeably to allow greater flexibility in pressured vaccine delivery schedules. The pandemic is having a "catastrophic" impact on cancer treatment, the World Health Organization's European branch warns, with cancer services disrupted in a third of countries in the region. Colombian President Ivan Duque calls for international help in vaccinating almost a million undocumented Venezuelan migrants. The IMF says economic recovery in the Middle East and North Africa will be uneven with countries in the region yet to launch vaccination campaigns while wealthy Gulf states start turbocharged programmes. North Korea requests vaccines through the Covax program for struggling nations and is expected to receive nearly two million doses although the isolated country has insisted it is virus-free. Australian Open chief Craig Tiley says he is "absolutely confident" the tennis Grand Slam will start next week despite a fresh case that halted warm-up events and forced hundreds of players and officials into isolation. American Airlines will notify 13,000 workers that they could be laid off as a result of the prolonged industry downturn caused by the pandemic. Saudi Arabia shuts down entertainment venues including cinemas and suspends dine-in services at restaurants, tightening restrictions as infections surge. US health chief Dr. Anthony Fauci tells Americans not to plan traditional parties around American football's Super Bowl next weekend as gatherings could cause a surge in cases nationwide. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies launches a plan to get 500 million people vaccinated, saying that leaving the world's poorest exposed to the virus could backfire spectacularly. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu postpones a visit to the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, citing travel restrictions. Automakers say demand for electric vehicles soared in the EU last year as buyers took advantage of clean car subsidies aimed at helping manufacturers weather the pandemic. Royal Dutch Shell plunged to a net loss of $21.7 billion in 2020 as the pandemic slashes global energy demand. The world's biggest shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries slumped to a loss of more than $700 million last year as demand for tankers plummeted with the pandemic hammering oil prices. Virus tests and research help Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche to higher 2020 profits despite the negative effects of exchange rates and a drop in over-the-counter sales. The coronavirus has killed more than 2,269,346 people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, according to an AFP tally based on official sources at 1230 GMT. The countries with the most deaths are the US at 450,805, followed by Brazil with 227,563 and Mexico with 161,240. The global death toll, calculated from official daily figures published by national health authorities, is an underestimate and does not include later revisions by statistics agencies. burs-nrh/eab/gd
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