UK, Canada Sign Trade Agreement
The United Kingdom on Wednesday signed a trade agreement with Canada, days before the end of the Brexit transition period, removing the risk of an estimated £42 million ($56.15 million) tariff burden on UK exports.
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Lung specialist tells Senate committee that Ivermectin anti-parasite medicine is “wonder drug” for COVID-19
A lung specialist at Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center in Milwaukee has pleaded with a Senate committee to review his study of an anti-parasite drug which he says has produced dramatically positive results in treating hospitalized COVID-19 patients, CNS News reports.
Judge directs stinging rebuke at LA County for outdoor dining ban
A Superior Court judge has said it is “just shocking” that LA County had not “seriously” considered the impact of outdoor dining on the COVID-19 pandemic before banning it indefinitely on November 25, the LA Times reports. Restricting the ban to just three weeks, LA County Superior Court Judge James Chalfant ruled Tuesday that county officials must carry out a risk-benefit analysis if they want to extend the order beyond December 16.
Saudi Prince says Palestinians are rotting in Israeli concentration camps
Leading Saudi Prince Turki al-Faisal has described Israel as a Western colonizing power that is holding Palestinians in concentration camps, Ynet News reports. Formerly the Saudi ambassador to the US and the UK and head of Saudi intelligence, Prince Turki made his remarks Sunday at the Bahrain Security Conference.
‘Israel has tape of slain Iran nuke chief talking about building five warheads’
Israel intelligence managed to recruit an Iranian official close to the recently assassinated Mohsen Fakhrizadeh and recorded the nuclear scientist speaking about his efforts to produce “five warheads” on behalf of the Islamic Republic, according to a Friday report in the Yedioth Ahronoth daily.
Britain Protects COVID Vaccine Maker From Prosecution
The British government has granted Pfizer a legal indemnity protecting it from being sued for possible side effects of its new coronavirus vaccine.
UK, EU resume face-to-face trade talks with time running out
Teams from Britain and the European Union resumed face-to-face talks on a post-Brexit trade deal Saturday, with both sides sounding gloomy about striking an agreement in the little time that remains.
Belarus President ‘Ready To Resign Under New Constitution’
Belarus’ longtime President Alexander Lukashenko says he is prepared to resign if a new constitution is adopted. His announcement follows months of protests against his disputed re-election in August.
UK announces “freedom pass” scheme for people testing negative for COVID-19
The British government announced a new COVID-19 community-testing plan Monday, under which people who test negative for the virus in certain regions may face fewer restrictions, Forbes reports. Dubbed “freedom passes” by UK media, the lower restrictions would be available for people testing negative in areas of the country that will be coming under the strictest measures.
Media reports Netanyahu flew to Saudi Arabia for secret talks
Israel’s Channel 12 has reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Mossad chief Yossi Cohen flew to Saudi Arabia Sunday for a secret meeting with officials there, All Israel News (AIN) reports. Although the meeting has not been confirmed by the Prime Minister’s office, the news has caused speculation that, following Bahrain, Sudan, and the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia may become the next Arab state to normalize relations with Israel.
Britain signs interim trade deal with Canada amid continued negotiations with EU
While still trying to reach a post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union, the United Kingdom has been able to agree to an interim trade deal with Canada, Fox News reports. The agreement offers a source of business security for Britain, which must reach an agreement with the EU by the end of the post-Brexit transition period on 31 December or move instead into World Trade Organization terms with the European trading bloc.
Tensions Rise As Controversial Islamic Clerc Returns to Indonesia
Christians and moderate Muslims in Indonesia fear new tensions after a hardline Islamic cleric returned from exile and held a massive wedding despite the coronavirus pandemic.
IFF Report: Global Debt hits staggering new record of over $272 trillion in Q3 2020
The Institute of International Finance (IFF) has issued a quarterly report showing that global debt has surged by over $15 trillion since 2019, reaching a massive new record of over $272 trillion in Q3 2020. The IFF also reports that, while there has been a dramatic increase since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has also been an “unprecedented” build-up of debt over the last four years, with global debt rising by $52 trillion since 2016.
Treasury moves to end several crisis-era programs, drawing pushback from the Fed
The Treasury Department is looking to extend a handful of the Federal Reserve programs used to get markets through the early days of the coronavirus crisis but is going to end several others that expire at the end of the year.
Gantz welcomes renewed Palestinian security ties, calls for peace talks
Defense Minister Benny Gantz on Wednesday praised the Palestinian Authority’s decision to resume security cooperation with Israel, saying the move benefited both Israelis and Palestinians.
Trump to cut troop levels in Afghanistan but stops short of full withdrawal
President Donald Trump will sharply reduce the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan from 4,500 to 2,500 by mid-January, the Pentagon announced on Tuesday, stopping short of a threatened full withdrawal from America’s longest war after fierce opposition from allies at home and abroad.
Iran warns of ‘crushing response’ after Trump said to mull strikes on nuke sites
Iran warned on Tuesday of a “crushing response” in the wake of reports US President Donald Trump convened top advisers last week to ask if he had options to strike Iranian nuclear sites during his final weeks in office.
UK Evangelicals unsettled as Church of England announces near-future “decision” on same-sex marriage doctrine
The Church of England (CofE) has promised a “decision-making” process on sexuality doctrine, which may result in its approval of same-sex marriage by 2022, CBN News reports. The CofE Evangelical Council has said it will engage with the process but has warned of the need for obedience to Scripture.
More than 120 church leaders take legal action against UK government lockdown
UK church leaders are launching a legal challenge against the British government for what they describe as an “unlawful” COVID-19 ban on worship services, the Christian Post reports. Britain has been placed back under a second lockdown until December 2, with over 1.3 million coronavirus cases and more than 51,000 COVID-19 related deaths.
China ‘Congratulates’ Biden On U.S. ‘Election Victory’
China on Friday “congratulated” Joe Biden with his claimed victory in the November 3 presidential elections, despite ongoing White House investigations into reported voter fraud.