Hong Kong government pressured to offer choice over COVID-19 vaccines

Health experts in Hong Kong are calling on the government to give the public a choice over which COVID-19 vaccine they take. 

The government has made advanced purchases of two vaccines, including China's candidate Sinovac, and is working on a deal to secure a third option.

But it says the public won't get to choose, because it may lead to shortages of the most popular vaccine. 

Richard Kimber reports from Hong Kong.

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Australia – Greater penalties for online abuse

Under proposed new laws by the Australian government, victims of serious online abuse will receive a greater degree of protection.

Shaun Bindley reports

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Trump Issues Wave of Pardons

US President Donald Trump has issued a wave of pre-Christmas pardons. 

He's  granted full pardons to 15 people and commuted all or part of the sentences of five others.

US Correspondent Rachel Silverman has details. 

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US Justice Department Sues Walmart

The US government is suing the country's largest retailer, saying it helped to fuel the America's opioid crisis. 

The Justice Department says Walmart filed thousands of problematic prescriptions and failed to take gate-keeping responsibilities seriously.  

Rachel Silverman has that story from Oakland. 

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Biden claims Trump administration refusing to provide information about Russian cyber attack

US President-elect Joe Biden says the Trump administration is refusing to brief members of his team on the extent of Russia's cyber attack on US Government computer systems.

He says he does not believe those computer networks are currently secure after the Russians spent 8 months rooting around in them, undetected.

Our Washington Correspondent Simon Marks reports.

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FRANCE RESUMES TRAVEL FROM UK

France has agreed to allow limited travel to resume from the UK - after closing its border over a new variant of covid-19.

A huge backlog of lorries has built up in southern England since France stopped UK arrivals on Sunday.

Olly Barratt reports from London.

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Over 36 000 more positive Covid-19 cases in UK

A record number of 36 804 positive Covid-19 cases have been recorded in the UK over the last 24 hours.

Along with the rise in cases, daily recorded deaths have also hit the highest number since November 25th.

Chris Jones reports from London.

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Airlines Require Tests to Fly to New York from UK

Three airlines have imposed restrictions on travel from the United Kingdom to the United States because of the new coronavirus variant. 

Covid-19 tests will be required before passengers will be allowed to board flights between the UK and New York City. 

US Correspondent Rachel Silverman has details. 

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China reveals new visa restrictions on US officials

China on Tuesday said it has retaliated against US sanctions with new visa restrictions on American officials.

It's the latest hand dealt in a long-running tit-for-tat between the two superpowers, and comes after Washington announced its own visa action against Chinese officials.

Here's Liling Tan with the details.

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California opens field hospitals as coronavirus cases surge

California has opened four emergency field hospitals as the state's capacity to treat COVID-19 patients remains dangerously low amid a surge in coronavirus infections.

In some regions, intensive care capacity has dipped below 0%.

Ira Spitzer has more from San Francisco.

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More than 80 000 excess deaths recorded in UK during pandemic

The UK's recorded over 80 000 'excess deaths' during the covid-19 pandemic, according to latest data.

 

Excess deaths are those above expected levels compared to a five-year average.

 

From London, Chris Jones reports.

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Moderna and Pfizer-BioNtech test vaccines against new UK COVID-19 strand

COVID-19 vaccine makers Moderna and Pfizer-BioNtech say they're testing their vaccines against a new mutated strand of COVID-19 that's been spreading in the UK.

Rebecca Foster reports.

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Grace Millane killer name revealed by NZ Supreme Court

The name of the man who murdered British backpacker Grace Millane in Auckland two years ago has been revealed, after New Zealand's Supreme Court lifted an order suppressing his identification. 

He's been found guilty of other sexual assault charges following two further trials, as Francesca Halliwell reports. 

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WFP CUTS REFUGEE FOOD RATIONS IN UGANDA

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The United Nations World Food Programme has warned that it will reduce monthly relief cash and food rations for 1.26 million refugees in Uganda due to a funding shortfall. The reductions are expected to start in February 2021. Leon Solomon reports

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Congress passes $900 billion stimulus

After months of negotiations the U.S. Congress has passed another
coronavirus stimulus bill.

It's worth $900 billion and was part of a $2.3 trillion package that
will fund the government through September.

It now awaits President Trump's signature.

U.S. correspondent William Denselow reports.

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KREMLIN HITS BACK AT LATEST NAVALNY ACCUSATIONS

The press secretary of Russia's President Vladimir Putin says Alexei Navalny has "delusions of persecution and megalomania."

Mr Navalny believes Russia's Federal Security Service, or FSB, tried to kill him in August.

And on Monday he presented fresh evidence: releasing the recording of a phone call with who he claims was one of the FSB officers involved.

Stuart Smith reports from Moscow.

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UK government's borrowing reaches record high

The UK government's borrowing has climbed to a record breaking $323 billion dollars in the first 8 months of its fiscal year.

This leaves Britain facing its largest ever peacetime budget deficit.

From London, Chris Jones reports.

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Secret EU-UK leaders phone call raises hopes of Brexit deal

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is reported to have spoken to his EU counterpart Ursula von Der Leyen in a private phone call on Monday, to find a last-minute compromise in the Brexit negotiations. 

Talks are continuing in Brussels, with less than two weeks until the end of the transition period on December 31st. 

Lucy Hough has more from Brussels. 

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Ghana plans to acquire covid-19 vaccines through W.H.O's COVAX program

Ghana says it's in the process of acquiring COVID-19 vaccines. The country has signed up for the World Health Organization's COVAX program, which seeks to vaccinate poor and vulnerable people against the coronavirus. But some Ghanaians are uncertain they'll take the vaccine when it's made available.

From Accra, Nabil Ahmed Rufai reports.

 

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Tanzania opens its first Bushmeat Butchery

Tanzania opened its first bushmeat butchery in Dodoma on Monday, with authorities insisting on strengthening measures to curb poaching.

The move will now enable citizens, hotels, and restaurants to include bushmeat on the menu regularly. 

Daniel Kijo reports.

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