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.

Two killed as car drives into pedestrians in Germany

Two people have died after a car hit several pedestrians in the German city of Trier, police said on Tuesday, citing initial investigations.

Time is running out for Brexit trade deal, EU and Britain warn

Britain and the European Union warned each other on Monday that time was running out to reach a Brexit trade deal, with big differences still to be bridged on state aid, enforcement and fishing.

Pope cancels traditional pre-Christmas ceremony due to COVID-19

Pope Francis has cancelled a ceremony that traditionally begins Rome’s Christmas season on Dec. 8 at the Spanish Steps because of coronavirus restrictions, the Vatican said on Monday. The pope customarily places a wreath of flowers at the base of a 12-metre column bearing a statue of the Madonna and blesses from a distance another wreath already placed around the statue’s arm by firefighters using a ladder.

Moderna to apply for authorization of Covid-19 vaccine in US, EU 

US firm Moderna said it will apply for emergency use authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration and conditional approval from the European Medicines Agency.

Trump loses another election court challenge

The US state of Pennsylvania’s supreme court dismissed another legal challenge to the election by supporters of President Donald Trump on Saturday, further reducing his already near-impossible odds of overturning the results.

Severe fire danger for Australia as temperatures smash records

Parts of Australia, including Sydney, sweltered through the hottest November night on record with temperatures likely to stay high on Sunday, prompting authorities to issue a total fire ban.

Suicide car bomb kills 26 Afghan security personnel

A suicide car bomber struck an army base in Afghanistan on Sunday killing at least 26 security personnel, officials said, in one of the bloodiest attacks in recent months.

Saudi-led coalition bombs Yemen rebel sites

The Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen bombed rebel camps including in the capital Sanaa on Friday, witnesses and AFP correspondents said, days after the Huthis attacked an oil facility in Saudi Arabia.

Trump promises to leave White House

US President Donald Trump on Thursday said he would leave the White House if the Electoral College declares Joe Biden the election winner, but added he was not prepared to concede defeat and repeated false claims he won.

Protesting Indian farmers win permission to march to Delhi

Thousands of protesting Indian farmers clashed with police at several entrances to the Indian capital on Friday before being allowed to move to a space within the city to demonstrate.