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by Peter HUTCHISON with Agence France Presse bureaus NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — The United States kicked off a mass vaccination drive Monday hoping to turn the tide on the world’s biggest coronavirus outbreak, as the nation’s death toll passed a staggering 300,000. The start of the desperately awaited vaccine program coincided with several European countries announcing new lockdowns amid spiraling infections, highlighting the long road to ending the global pandemic. New York […]
OTTAWA, Canada (AFP) — Canada on Monday announced a Can$458 million ($380 million) aid package to help developing countries fight the coronavirus pandemic. Of that amount, Can$230 million will go to the UN children’s agency UNICEF to buy approximately three million treatments based on new therapeutic antibodies, once clinical trials are complete and approvals received, according to international development minister Karina Gould. “The faster we can get tests, treatments and vaccines out to people, […]
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Pentagon chief Christopher Miller was one of the first Americans to receive the Covid-19 vaccine Monday, on camera to encourage the rest of the country to follow suit. The acting defense secretary received the jab at Walter Reed military hospital near Washington, according to a video published by the Pentagon. “That’s all?! Oh come on! That did not hurt at all!” Miller joked while receiving the vaccine, a symbol […]
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — A nurse in New York became the first person in the United States to receive the coronavirus vaccine Monday. Sandra Lindsay, a critical care nurse at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center, received the Pfizer-BioNTech shot live on television shortly before 9:30 am (1430 GMT). “First Vaccine Administered. Congratulations USA! Congratulations WORLD!” President Donald Trump tweeted. Lindsay said the jab “didn’t feel any different from taking any other vaccine.” […]
PARIS, France (AFP) — The United Nations agency for education, UNESCO, on Monday called on governments to give teachers priority access to the new Covid-19 vaccines and be treated like “frontline” workers. The call came as the United States, the country worst hit by the virus, kickstarted the biggest vaccination drive in its history by giving the jab to a nurse in New York. “As we see positive developments regarding vaccination we believe that teachers […]
MONTREAL, Canada (AFP) — An Ontario caregiver and an octogenarian in Quebec on Monday became the first people vaccinated against Covid-19 in Canada. Anita Quidangen was televised receiving the injection at a hospital in Toronto as part of a major vaccination campaign in Canada, less than a week after the Pfizer-BioNTech shot was granted approval in the country. Another woman, 89-year-old Gisele Levesque, was vaccinated minutes earlier at a retirement home in Quebec City, but […]
KOROR, Palau (AFP) — An illegal Chinese fishing vessel and its 28 crew have been detained in Palau, authorities said, creating a delicate diplomatic situation for the tiny Pacific nation, which is allied with Beijing’s rival Taiwan. The boat was intercepted by a patrol boat at Helen Reef, in Palau’s territorial waters, and escorted to the main island of Koror, the Division of Marine Law and Enforcement (DMLE) said. “They did have sea cucumber on […]
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump on Monday announced that Attorney General Bill Barr, who angered him by contradicting his claims of having been the victim of mass fraud in the US election, is leaving office. “Just had a very nice meeting with Attorney General Bill Barr at the White House,” Trump, who is set to step down after losing the November 3 election, tweeted. “Our relationship has been a very good one…. […]
by Sebastian Smith WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Joe Biden was confirmed as the next US president on Monday as the Electoral College formalized his victory over Donald Trump, all but closing the door on the incumbent’s efforts to overturn the result of the 2020 election. As Biden appealed to Americans to “turn the page” on the divisive contest, electors met across all US states to seal his win, with California pushing Biden over the […]
by Anna MALPAS LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — The British capital faces tougher Covid-19 measures within days, the UK government said on Monday, with a new coronavirus variant emerging as a possible cause for rapidly rising infection rates. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said London, and parts of three surrounding counties, would move into the highest of three levels of restrictions in force across England from Wednesday. Pubs, bars, restaurants and other hospitality venues will have […]
BERLIN, Germany (AFP) — Shops selling non-essential goods, hair-salons and schools in Germany will close from Wednesday, Chancellor Angela Merkel said, to halt an “exponential growth” in new coronavirus infections in Europe’s biggest economy. The partial lockdown will apply until January 10, with companies also urged to allow employees to work from home or offer extended company holidays, under the new measures agreed by Merkel with regional leaders of Germany’s 16 states on Sunday. Alcohol […]
by Francesco FONTEMAGGI Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Long a mere formality, a vote on Monday by members of the Electoral College to formally recognize Joe Biden as the next US president has taken on unusual import this year with Donald Trump stubbornly refusing to admit defeat. The results of the November 3 vote have been certified by each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia; the Democrat won with […]
