WORLD
UK approves Oxford University-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines for use
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) concluded that the vaccine has met its strict standards of safety, quality and effectiveness. The UK has already vaccinated hundreds of thousands of patients with the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and its roll out will continue.
China denies seeking guarantees from Pakistan
Pakistan is provided with loan amounts through CSA, a Chinese trade finance facility. Pakistan has been using this facility since 2011 to repay foreign debt, along with keeping its gross foreign currency reserves at comfortable levels. With China coming to Pakistan's rescue, the overall trade facility from China to Pakistan would reach up to at least $4.5 billion. Chinese foreign minister's spokesperson also stated that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and CPEC has maintained positive momentum of development despite the Covid-19 pandemic.
5.1-magnitude earthquake strikes Japan
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the temblor, which occurred at 9.35 a.m., was centred inland with its epicentre at a latitude of 36.4 degrees north and a longitude of 140.6 degrees east, with a depth of 60 km. The earthquake logged 4 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale which peaks at 7 in some areas of Ibaraki and was also felt in some parts of Tochigi and Chiba prefectures.
AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine not ready for approval: European watchdog
Noel Wathion, number two at the European Medicines Agency, told Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad on Tuesday that the approval for AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine is still "unthinkable" and Europe is not going to approve the vaccine with "winning formula" for the time being.
US Vice President-elect Kamala Harris receives Covid-19 vaccine
According to the Biden-Harris transition team, Harris was vaccinated on Tuesday by Patricia Cummings, a clinical nurse manager at the United Medical Center. In a tweet late Tuesday, Harris said: "Today I got the Covid-19 vaccine. I am incredibly grateful to our frontline health care workers, scientists, and researchers who made this moment possible.
Covid-19 Update: Global cases reach 81.9 million
In its latest update on Wednesday morning, the University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed that the current global caseload and death toll stood at 81,960,614 and 1,788,731, respectively. The US is the worst-hit country with the world's highest number of cases and deaths at 19,548,706 and 338,544, respectively, according to the CSSE.
French couturier Pierre Cardin passes away
The French designer was celebrated for being a forerunner in his field and for revolutionizing the business of fashion to how we know it today. Not only was Cardin the first designer in the 1950s to retail his collections in department stores, but he was also the first to diversify his brand and capitalise on the brand name by selling everything from perfumes, accessories, pens to even cars and food.
We expect India to intervene to stop the genocide: Uyghur leader
Talking to IANS, World Uyghur Congress President Dolkun Isa, who is living in exile in Germany, said that India has a strong influence internationally and should intervene to stop the Uyghur genocide. Detailing the repression the Uyghurs are facing in their East Turkestan homeland, especially in the "education centres" set up by the Chinese government, he cited India's approach to the Tibetan refugees to seek his support for his people.
Joe Biden accuses Defence of transition obstruction
In a video message posted on Twitter on Monday, Biden, who takes office on January 20, 2021, said: "My team needs a clear picture of our force posture around the world and our operations to deter our enemies. "We need full visibility into the budget planning underway at the Defence Department and other agencies in order to avoid any window of confusion or catch-up that our adversaries may try to exploit."
No alterations in ascending relations with India: Nepal
KP Sharma Oli government in Nepal is looking to hold the foreign minister-level Joint Commission meeting that will see Nepal foreign minister Pradeep Gyawali visiting India, Nepal’s ambassador to India Nilambar Acharya told the Times of India. The ambassador spoke for the first time ever since the KP Sharma Oli government decided to dissolve the lower house of the parliament last week which translated into huge political unrest in the country.
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