Biden Promises 100m Covid Vaccinations in First 100 Days
US President-elect Joe Biden has set a goal of 100 million Covid vaccinations in his first 100 days in office. He said his first months in office would not end
Ahead of Vaccine Approval Vote, US Regulator Says Pfizer Offers Strong Protection After First Dose
US regulators have confirmed the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid vaccine is 95% effective, paving the way for it to be approved for emergency use. According to new documents released by the US
Christchurch Inquiry Says New Zealand Couldn’t Have Prevented Mosque Attacks Despite Shortcomings
A comprehensive report into the 2019 Christchurch, New Zealand mosque shootings in which 51 Muslim worshippers were slaughtered, sheds new light on how the gunman was able to elude detection
US Imposes Sanctions on Chinese Officials Over Hong Kong Crackdown
The United States has imposed financial sanctions and a travel ban on 14 Chinese officials over their alleged role in Beijing’s disqualification of elected opposition legislators in Hong Kong last month.
Ninety-year-old Woman First in the World to Receive Pfizer Covid-19 Vaccine
A 90-year-old woman has become the first person to be given a Covid jab as part of the mass vaccination programme being rolled out across the UK. Margaret Keenan, who
US Adds Nigeria to Religious Freedom Blacklist
The United States has designated Nigeria, China, Burma, Eritrea, Iran, the DPRK, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan as countries of ‘particular interest’ for violating religious freedom. The US Department
India Investigates If Organochlorines Behind Unknown Illness
Indian authorities are investigating if organochlorines used as pesticides or in mosquito control caused the death of one person and hospitalisation of more than 400 in the southern state of
Iran: ‘Smart Satellite-controlled Machinegun’ Killed Nuclear Scientist
The killing of Iran’s top nuclear scientist last month was carried out remotely with artificial intelligence and a machinegun equipped with a “satellite-controlled smart system”, a senior commander has said.
Human Rights Abuses Center-stage as Egypt’s El-Sissi Begins State Visit to France
French President Emmanuel Macron met with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi to discuss terrorism, the conflict in Libya and other regional issues as part of a state visit to France, amid
Ex-French President Sarkozy Appears in Court for Questioning in Corruption Trial
Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy appeared in court on Monday for questioning in trial involving allegations of corruption and influence-peddling. Sarkozy is accused of having tried to illegally obtain information
Venezuela’s Maduro Tightens Grip over Country After Disputed Election
President Nicolás Maduro’s party and his allies have won in Venezuela’s legislative elections that were boycotted by the main opposition parties. The win gives Maduro control of the last major
China’s Exports Surge On Hot Demand For PPE, Remote Working Tech
China’s exports rose at the fastest pace in almost three years in November, as strong global demand for goods needed to ride out the pandemic landed the world’s second-largest economy
California Faces Strict New Lockdown as US Cases Surge
Large parts of the US state of California are facing a strict new lockdown, as Covid-19 cases surge across the state and the country. The stay-at-home order affects around 85%
Trump Lawyer Rudy Giuliani Admitted to Hospital with Covid-19
US President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, is being treated in hospital after testing positive for Covid-19. The president wrote in a tweet: “Get better soon Rudy, we will carry
Saudi Arabia Says Allies ‘on Board’ for Resolution of Gulf Crisis
A resolution of the Gulf diplomatic crisis is in sight, with all nations involved “on board” and final agreement expected soon, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud
Pfizer Seeks Emergency Approval for Covid-19 Vaccine in India
Pfizer Inc has applied for emergency use authorisation of its coronavirus vaccine in India, media said on Sunday, the first to do so in a country with the world’s second-highest
Chinese Probe Prepares to Return Moon Rocks to Earth
A Chinese probe that landed on the moon transferred rocks to an orbiter Sunday in preparation for returning samples of the lunar surface to Earth for the first time in
Russia Begins Covid-19 Vaccinations in Moscow
Russia is starting its Covid-19 vaccination programme, with clinics in the capital Moscow inoculating those most at risk from the virus. Its own vaccine Sputnik V, which was registered in
Trump Orders Withdrawal of US Troops from Somalia
US President Donald Trump has ordered the withdrawal of nearly all US troops stationed in Somalia by January 15, according to the Pentagon. The nearly 800 troops represent a small
Covid Vaccination in US Will Not Be Mandatory, Biden Says
President-elect Joe Biden says Americans won’t be forced to take a coronavirus vaccine when one becomes available in the US. It comes as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for
