Historic US COVID vaccine campaign launches with convoy of trucks

Workers at a Pfizer Inc factory in Michigan dispatched the first shipments of its COVID-19 vaccine shortly after 6:30 a.m. on Sunday - launching the largest and most complex vaccine distribution project ever in the United States.

EU, Britain carry on trade talks, pledge to go ‘extra mile’ for deal

Britain and the European Union are to push on past yet another self-imposed deadline with negotiations for a post-Brexit deal on their future relationship, with just over two weeks left to clinch an agreement.

Nigerian military in firefight with gang who kidnapped students

The Nigerian military had located and exchanged fire with gunmen who kidnapped scores of secondary school students in northwestern Katsina state, according to a statement from the president on Saturday.

No deal on Brexit trade ’very very likely’: Johnson

Britain is likely to leave the European Union without a trade deal in just under three weeks’ time, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday. Britain quit the EU in January but remains an informal member until Dec. 31 - the end of a transition period during which it has remained in the EU single market and customs union.

US to execute 1st of 5 inmates before Biden’s inauguration

The Trump administration is planning an unprecedented five more federal executions before President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration, starting with a Texas street-gang member set to be put to death Thursday for his role in the 1999 slayings of an Iowa religious couple whose bodies he burned in the trunk of their car.

UN backs Afghan peace talks in resolution

The UN General Assembly (UNGA) approved a resolution over Russian objections Thursday commending progress in peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban while urging stepped-up efforts to tackle terrorist attacks by the Taliban, al-Qaida, the Islamic State extremist group and their affiliates.

Sunday, deadline for post-Brexit trade talks decision

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have decided on Sunday as a deadline for a decision over their severely jammed trade talks.

Indian farmers’ protest enters 15th day

The ongoing farmers’ protests which laid a siege to the national Capital entered its 15th day on Thursday, a day after the farmers rejected Centre’s final proposal of amendments to the three farm laws and announced a bigger movement. The stalemate is likely to continue as there is no further meeting scheduled between farmers and the Centre.

To combat COVID-19 third wave S. Korea to build hospitals in containers

South Korea authorities scrambled on Thursday to build hospital beds in shipping containers to ease strains on medical facilities stretched by the latest coronavirus wave, which shows little sign of abating with 682 new cases.

Johnson warns EU over Brexit trade talks: back down or it’s no-deal

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned the European Union on Wednesday it must scrap demands which he says are unacceptable if there is to be a Brexit trade deal to avoid a turbulent breakup in three weeks.

China reports 15 new COVID-19 cases

Mainland China reported 15 new COVID-19 cases for Dec. 8, up from 12 cases a day earlier, the country’s national health authority said on Wednesday.

British regulator issues allergy warning over Covid-19 vaccine

The British medicines regulator has advised people with a “significant” history of allergies not to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine after two front-line health workers suffered allergic reactions to the shot.

In COVID-19 milestone for West, Britain starts mass vaccination

A 90-year-old grandmother became the world’s first person to receive a fully-tested COVID-19 shot on Tuesday, as Britain began mass-vaccinating its people in a global drive that poses one of the biggest logistical challenges in peacetime history.

Indian Farmers Launch Nationwide Shutdown Against New Laws

Indian farmers who have been blockading New Delhi on Tuesday launched a one-day, nationwide general strike to push their demands for the government to repeal reform laws opening up trade in agricultural produce.

Indian couple marry at Covid-19 centre after bride tests positive

A couple in northern India decided to get married at a Covid-19 care centre, donning protective suits for the ceremony, after the bride tested positive on their wedding day, with visuals of the event going viral on social media.

EU tells Johnson to decide as time runs out for Brexit deal

British and European Union negotiators made a last-ditch effort on Monday to bridge stubborn differences standing in the way of a post-Brexit trade deal, but they had at best 48 hours to avoid a disorderly parting of ways at the end of this month.

Gaza Strip runs out of coronavirus tests, appeals for outside help

The Gaza Strip has run out of coronavirus testing kits and has appealed to several external organizations for help in replenishing their supplies, according to the director of the central laboratory in the enclave.

Trump keeps up false claims of widespread fraud at Georgia rally

US President Donald Trump campaigned in Georgia on Saturday for two Republican senators at a rally that some in his party feared could end up hurting, not helping, their chances by focusing on his efforts to reverse his own election defeat. In his first rally appearance since he lost to Democrat Joe Biden in the Nov. 3 presidential contest, Trump urged the crowd to vote for Republican candidates in the Georgia runoff election on Jan. 5 despite hi

S.Korea tightens curbs in Seoul as COVID-19 cases spike

South Korea will impose heightened social distancing rules for the capital Seoul and surrounding areas, health officials said on Sunday, as authorities struggle to contain the nation’s largest wave of coronavirus infection in nine months. The decision comes after the government implemented unprecedented measures on Saturday in a country that had seen initial success through aggressive contact tracing and other steps.

Britain, EU resume trade talks in ‘final throw of the dice’

British negotiators arrived in Brussels on Sunday for a last-ditch attempt to strike a Brexit trade deal with the European Union and avert a chaotic parting of ways at the end of the year.

UN chief criticizes nations that ignored WHO guidance

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Thursday criticized countries that rejected facts and ignored World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations on the

Bangladesh ships Rohingya refugees to remote island despite outcry

Bangladesh naval vessels carried some 1,600 Rohingya refugees towards a remote island in the Bay of Bengal on Friday despite complaints by refugees and humanitarian groups that some were being coerced. Bangladesh says it is only moving refugees who are willing to go to Bhasan Char and it will ease chronic overcrowding in camps that are home to more than 1 million Rohingya, members of a Muslim minority who have fled neighbouring Myanmar.

India considers changing new farm laws

India’s Government is considering rolling back some parts of its agricultural reforms after they triggered the biggest protests by farmers in years, officials said on Friday. Tens of thousands of farmers were out on the streets around Delhi again on Friday, rallying against three laws that the government says are meant to overhaul antiquated procurement procedures and give growers more options to sell their produce.

EU envoys urge Britain to compromise to secure Brexit trade deal

European Union negotiators have moved to “within millimeters” of the limits of their negotiating mandate at Brexit trade talks so it is up to London to compromise if a deal is to be reached, an EU diplomat said on Thursday.

Iran passes law halting UN nuclear inspections

Iran’s Guardian Council watchdog body approved a law on Wednesday that obliges the government to halt U.N. inspections of its nuclear sites and step up uranium enrichment beyond the limit set under Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal if sanctions are not eased in two months.

Ethiopia’s war still churns, but relief aid coming

Relief agencies in Ethiopia prepared convoys on Thursday to truck aid into Tigray region, where clashes were still reported in a month of war that may have killed thousands and has sent refugees fleeing to Sudan along corpse-strewn roads.

UK approves Pfizer Covid vaccine

Britain on Wednesday became the first country to approve a Covid-19 vaccine for general use, announcing a rollout of Pfizer-BioNTech’s jab from next week in a historic advance for humanity’s fightback against the coronavirus.

UN and Ethiopia reach aid pact for war-hit Tigray

Ethiopia and the United Nations reached an agreement on Wednesday to channel desperately needed humanitarian aid to a northern region where a month of war has killed, wounded and uprooted large numbers of people.

Pfizer and BioNTech apply for EU approval of vaccine

Berlin (dpa)-Pfizer and BioNTech have submitted their Covid-19 vaccine to the European Medicines Agency for conditional approval, the companies said in a statement on Tuesday, aiming to make their drug available in Europe by the end of the year.

Indian government invites protesting farmers for talks

India’s government invited protesting farmers for talks on Tuesday, seeking to allay concerns about new laws growers fear could pave the way for the government to stop buying grain at guaranteed prices, leaving them at the mercy of private buyers.