WORLD

Pandemic might get worse: Fauci


South Africa logged its millionth case of COVID-19 and South Korea on Monday became the latest country to detect the new coronavirus variant, as the pandemic showed no signs of letting up.

Turkey Cannot be Sanctioned for S-400 Purchase Since Deal Predates CAATSA Law, FM Says

Earlier this month, the US Senate passed the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA), which included economic measures against Ankara for the acquisition of Russian S-400 missile defence systems.

Regaining healthy China-Australia relations might need tacit US approval: experts

Considering Australia's growing active role as a member of the Five Eyes Alliance, Chinese experts doubt the possibility of a U-turn in bilateral cooperation between China and Australia.


1m vaccinated but US admits rollout lagging behind

More than 1 million Americans have received the first dose of their COVID-19 vaccines, a milestone in the biggest immunization drive in US history that came even as officials admitted the pace of the rollout was slipping behind schedule.
Source: AFP | 2020/12/24 18:53:39

Zarif dismisses Tehran behind recent US Embassy attack

Iran's foreign minister on Thursday dismissed US President Donald Trump's allegations that Iran was behind the recent rocket attack on the US Embassy in Baghdad.
Source: Agencies | 2020/12/24 18:13:40

EU-UK poised to announce post-Brexit trade deal after months of talks

Britain and the European Union were expected to announce a Christmas Eve trade deal Thursday after ten months of Brexit talks dragged out over yet another late night session.
Source: AFP | 2020/12/24 18:13:39

With schools shut by pandemic, solar radios keep Kenyan pupils studying

Deep in Tana River County, in southeastern Kenya, a group of pupils formed a circle around their teacher, jotting down notes as they listened to a Swahili diction lesson coming from the solar-powered radio sitting in their teacher's lap.
Source: Reuters | 2020/12/24 17:57:41

Niger set for historic transition in presidential vote

Niger hopes to make history on Sunday when elections set it on course for its first-ever peaceful transition of power despite a raging Islamist insurgency and economic woes.
Source: AFP | 2020/12/24 17:49:20

Ex-Japan PM Abe may be summoned to parliament in funding case: sources

Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe may be summoned to parliament for questioning by lawmakers amid a row over a possible violation of election funding laws, several government and ruling party sources told Reuters on Thursday.
Source: Reuters | 2020/12/24 17:48:39

Trump pardons allies, crooks and Kushner's father, sparking fresh outrage

US President Donald Trump issued new pardons Wednesday for allies including the father of his son-in-law Jared Kushner and two confidants caught up in the probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election that brought him to power.
Source: AFP | 2020/12/24 17:43:39

US CDC urges public to avoid travel during Christmas to curb COVID-19 infections

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has urged the public to avoid travel and stay at home during Christmas holiday, to curb the further spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Source: Xinhua | 2020/12/24 14:48:49

US weekly jobless claims drop for first time in three weeks

The number of initial jobless claims in the United States fell to 803,000 last week, the first decline in three weeks, the Labor Department reported on Wednesday.
Source: Xinhua | 2020/12/24 14:16:17

Trump vetoes annual defense bill despite passage in Congress by veto-proof majority

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday vetoed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021, despite the bill's passage in Congress by a veto-proof majority.
Source: Xinhua | 2020/12/24 11:33:08

More England areas put into tightest restrictions as new COVID variant found in UK

British Health Secretary Matt Hancock on Wednesday announced that more areas of the East and South East of England will be put into Tier Four restrictions, the highest level, while revealing that two cases of another new variant of the novel coronavirus have been identified in Britain.
Source: Xinhua | 2020/12/24 11:31:46

Why US media creates fuss over alleged Russian, Chinese cyberattacks despite lack of evidence

The timing of the media campaign over the alleged hacking is triggering justified concerns, as well as the lack of any evidence in the public domain to back the assumption, say international observers, adding that it's unwise to pin the whole blame on Russia and China while the US has lots of enemies, foreign and domestic.
Source: sputniknews.com | 2020/12/24 9:52:50

Russian Foreign Ministry declares two Colombian diplomats persona non grata

Earlier, the Colombian Foreign Ministry said that two Russian diplomats had to leave Colombia due to non-compliance with the Vienna Convention, but the Latin American country was determined to maintain good relations with Moscow.
Source: sputniknews.com | 2020/12/24 9:50:55