UK Ratifies Brexit Deal as Leaders Sign New Chapter
Britain and the EU signed a post-Brexit trade deal Wednesday, sealing their drawn-out divorce in the closing hours before the UK definitively ends its half-century European experiment.
World News
US Warships Sail Taiwan Strait for Second Time This Month
Two U.S. warships sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait on Thursday, the U.S. Navy said, the second such mission this month and coming almost two weeks after a Chinese aircraft carrier group used the same waterway.
Tech companies developing Covid-19 vaccine “passports”
As proof of COVID-19 vaccination may eventually be required for traveling abroad or for entering many public spaces at home, technology groups are developing smartphone systems for users to upload their vaccine certificate and show them where needed, CNN Business reports.
Britain, Turkey reach post-Brexit free trade agreement
Turkey and Britain signed a free-trade agreement Tuesday as the U.K. prepares to leave the European Union’s economic orbit at the start of the new year.
Trump administration strengthens order barring US investment into Chinese firms
The Trump administration on Monday strengthened an executive order barring U.S. investors from buying securities of alleged Chinese military-controlled companies, following disagreement among U.S. agencies about how tough to make the directive.
Croatia Quake Kills 7, Impacts 12 Nations
A desperate search for survivors continues in central Croatia after a massive earthquake killed seven people, injured dozens, and shook neighboring nations.
Iran warns U.S. and Israel not to cross “red lines” in Persian Gulf
Iran warned both the US and Israel Monday that they must not cross “red lines” in the Persian Gulf, the Washington Times reports. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh issued the warning amid reports that Israel had sent submarines to the Gulf and that US nuclear submarines had gone through the Strait of Hormuz off Iran’s coast.
Spain To Share Vaccination Refusal Registry With EU
Spain’s government has warned citizens that it will set up a registry of people who refuse to be vaccinated against the new coronavirus and share it with other European Union member states.
Nasrallah claims Saudi-Israeli plot to kill him; says precision missiles doubled
Lebanon’s Hezbollah has doubled the number of its precision missiles over the past year, the terror group’s leader Hassan Nasrallah said Sunday.
Hungary Receives Thousands Of Russian COVID Vaccines
Hungary confirmed Monday that it received thousands of doses of Russia’s controversial COVID-19 vaccine despite European Union concerns.
Tel Aviv research: 99.9% of COVID-19 virus dead in 30 seconds with UV LEDs
Ultraviolet radiation is a common method of killing bacteria and viruses. Now, researchers from Tel Aviv University have proven that the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, can be killed efficiently, quickly and cheaply using ultraviolet (UV) light-emitting diodes (UV-LEDs) at specific frequencies.
Hurricane-force winds up to 106 mph batter parts of Britain
Hurricane-force winds reaching up to 106 mph (170 kph) and heavy rainstorms battered parts of Britain on Sunday, disrupting train services and stranding drivers in floodwaters.
Hungary Rushes As EU Nations Receive COVID Vaccines
Hungary rushed to be the first European Union state to vaccinate people against the coronavirus, amid a rising death toll. Besides Hungary, batches of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 jab arrived across the EU as authorities prepared to administer the first shots to the most vulnerable people.
Inventor COVID-Vaccine Wasn’t In Hurry To Take Jab
The co-inventor of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against COVID-19, and many Americans have one thing in common: they aren’t in a hurry to take the vaccine.
Britain, EU Sign Christmas Trade Deal
Britian and the European Union avoided a messy divorce on Christmas Eve as they agreed on a trade deal worth nearly $1 trillion.
Migrants Face Bleak Christmas After Bosnia Camp Fire
Hundreds of migrants fleeing hardship faced a bleak Christmas without shelter amid harsh winter conditions after a refugee camp was closed and set on fire in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Trump Warns Iran After Rockets Hit US Embassy
U.S. President Donald J. Trump said Wednesday that Iran fired “several rockets” at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, and he warned the Islamic nation of severe consequences if an American is killed.
Pentagon chief Miller visits Afghanistan amid troop drawdown
Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan Tuesday, meeting with Afghan officials and American troops as the U.S. continues a major drawdown from the country during President Trump’s final weeks in office.
EU and Britain Near Trade Deal, EU Sources Say
European Union and British negotiators are nearing a trade deal as Britain’s New Year’s Day exit from the 27-nation bloc approaches, EU officials said Wednesday.
France: Proposed law would ban anyone not vaccinated for COVID-19 from public transport
While France’s President Emanuel Macron has said vaccination against COVID-19 will not be mandatory, French Prime Minister Jean Castex got cabinet approval Monday for a bill that would require proof of vaccination in order to access public transport among locations and activities, France24 reports. The bill now passes to the French parliament.