by Ivan Couronne with Yann Schreiber in Mainz Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US biotech giant Pfizer and German partner BioNTech sought approval Friday to roll out their coronavirus vaccine early, a first step towards relief as surging infections prompt a return to shutdowns that traumatized nations and the global economy earlier this year. The world is looking to scientists for salvation from the global pandemic. The US Food and Drug […]
Tag: US
Trump’s son Don Jr positive for Covid-19: spokesman
by Jerome Cartillier Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump’s eldest son Donald Trump Jr has tested positive for Covid-19 and is quarantining without symptoms, the latest in a long list of infections among those with links to the White House. “Don tested positive at the start of the week and has been quarantining out at his cabin since the result,” his spokesman said. “He’s been completely asymptomatic so […]
Trump to take part in virtual APEC summit Friday: US official
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Donald Trump will take part on Friday in the virtual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, a senior US official said, as the president continues to reject the results of this month’s election. The APEC forum, hosted this year by Malaysia but held online because of the Covid-19 pandemic, brings together 21 Pacific Rim countries, accounting for about 60 percent of global GDP. “President Trump will participate in tomorrow’s virtual APEC […]
California imposes curfew as COVID-19 cases spike
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — California on Thursday imposed a curfew across much of the state to stem the rapid rise of coronavirus cases. Governor Gavin Newsom said the 10:00 pm to 5:00 am stay-at-home order will take effect Saturday evening and remain in force through December 21. “The virus is spreading at a pace we haven’t seen since the start of this pandemic and the next several days and weeks will be […]
Iota, weakened but deadly, rips through Central America
by AFP bureaus SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AFP) — Storm Iota killed at least ten people as it smashed homes, uprooted trees and swamped roads during its destructive advance across Central America, authorities said, just two weeks after Hurricane Eta devastated parts of the region. Iota, which made landfall in Nicaragua as a “catastrophic” Category 5 hurricane Monday, left six dead in the country, including two children who were trying to cross a river in […]
Trump fires US election security official who rejected fraud claims
by Paul HANDLEY Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Donald Trump on Tuesday fired the government’s top election security official, who had rejected the president’s unsubstantiated claims of “massive” fraud in the vote he lost to Joe Biden. Trump announced on Twitter the termination “effective immediately” of Chris Krebs, who leads the agency that jointly declared “the November 3rd election was the most secure in American history.” Trump, who refuses to acknowledge […]
Iota downgraded to tropical storm after tearing through Nicaragua, Honduras
by Julia RIOS BILWI, Nicaragua (AFP) — Nicaraguans picked through the broken remains of their hurricane-ravaged homes Tuesday, while Iota was downgraded to a tropical storm as it continued its advance across Central America — just two weeks after Hurricane Eta devastated parts of the region. Iota became the only Atlantic hurricane this year to reach Category 5 status — the maximum level on the Saffir-Simpson wind scale — soon before it made landfall in […]
Trump administration to seek bids on Arctic oil leases
NEW YORK, New York (AFP) — The Trump administration on Monday invited oil companies to choose proposed drilling territories as it pushes ahead with a controversial Alaska leasing plan in its final days in office. The Bureau of Land Management said it will Tuesday officially open a 30-day period to accept nominations and comment on some 1.6 million acres (650,000 hectares) in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The move aims to open up to development […]
US adds 1 million Covid cases in less than a week
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The US has surpassed 11 million coronavirus cases, adding one million new cases in less than a week, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. The dizzying rise came as cities and states across the United States were implementing new restrictions to try to halt the spread of the virus, with stay-at-home orders set to be imposed on Chicago Monday. The US had crossed the 10 million case […]
Hurricane Iota, maximum Cat 5 strength, makes landfall in Nicaragua
by Julia RIOS BILWI, Nicaragua (AFP) — Iota made landfall in Nicaragua as a “catastrophic” Category 5 hurricane Monday, threatening to deliver more drenching rains and fierce winds to areas devastated by a powerful storm just two weeks ago. Authorities had been rushing to evacuate thousands of people from coastal areas of Nicaragua and Honduras, in the immediate path of the maximum-level hurricane. The storm had already left one person dead as it swept the […]
SpaceX launches four astronauts to ISS
by Issam Ahmed and Ivan Couronne WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Four astronauts were successfully launched on the SpaceX Crew Dragon “Resilience” to the International Space Station on Sunday, the first of what the US hopes will be many routine missions following a successful test flight in late spring. Three Americans — Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover and Shannon Walker — and Japan’s Soichi Noguchi blasted off at 7:27 pm (0027 GMT Monday) from the Kennedy […]
What is the RCEP trade deal?
HANOI, Vietnam (AFP) — Backed by China, the sprawling Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is seen as a coup for Beijing in extending its influence across the region and marks its dominance in Asian trade. After eight years of wrangling over the details, the trade pact — the world’s largest in terms of GDP, say analysts — was signed on Sunday. – What is RCEP? – Launched in 2012, RCEP is a trade pact […]





