Briefly

GERMANY

Foreign population growth sees low rise

Germany's foreign population grew by only about 204,000 people, or 1.8 percent year-on-year, the lowest growth in a decade, the Federal Statistical Office said on Monday. The number stood at 11.4 million in 2020. Net immigration to Germany, which has a population of around 83 million, plummeted by 31 percent compared to the previous year. Growth of Germany's foreign population from other countries of the European Union remained stable, at 2.2 percent. But the figure for third countries outside the EU decreased by more than half compared to the previous year, accounting for 1.5 percent in 2020.

PAKISTAN

President gets virus amid third wave

Pakistani President Arif Alvi said on Monday that he has tested positive for COVID-19. In a tweet, Alvi said he received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine "but antibodies start developing after 2nd dose that was due in a week". He advised the public to remain careful amid the virus' spread in the country. Soon after on Monday, Defence Minister Pervez Khattak also said he had tested positive. The country is facing a third wave of the virus and the national positivity rate on Monday was recorded over 11 percent.

BRAZIL

Another new face named for cabinet

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Monday appointed Carlos Alberto Franco Franca to succeed Ernesto Araujo as foreign minister in a cabinet reshuffle. Bolsonaro has replaced six cabinet members including the heads of the defense, health and justice departments over the past few days, amid mounting domestic pressure over the administration's tactics against the COVID-19 pandemic. Araujo was forced to quit after Brazilian legislators and senior diplomats accused him of a foreign policy running counter to national interests.

VIETNAM

6 die in house fire in Ho Chi Minh City

A fire broke out at a house in southern Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City early on Tuesday, killing six people and injuring one, the Vietnam News Agency reported. Authorities found the bodies in a house in Thu Duc City, a municipality under the administration of HCMC. They said the fire started at around 1 am local time, according to the news agency. The victims were reported to include two children aged one and seven.

Xinhua - Agencies