US buys 100 million more doses of Pfizer vaccine

The United States has reached a deal to acquire 100 million additional doses of the Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine by the end of July.

This increases the US's total purchase to 200 million doses, enough to vaccinate 100 million Americans.

Rebecca Foster reports from Washington.

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STURGEON APOLOGISES OVER LACK OF MASK

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has apologised for removing her face mask at a funeral wake last Friday, in breach of her own coronavirus rules.  

A photograph showing Ms Sturgeon indoors without a mask was published by the Scottish Sun newspaper.

Francesca Halliwell reports from London. 

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Brexit talks enter eleventh hour in Brussels

European Commission President Ursula Von de Leyen and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson remain in "close contact" as the EU and Britain try to secure a trade deal before talks end for Christmas.

But, access to fishing waters competition rules are still sticking points, as Benji Hyer reports from Brussels. 

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Lorry drivers and police scuffle in Dover

Lorry drivers stuck in Dover in southern England have clashed with police, as they wait to travel to France.

 

The French border is reopening after being closed in a bid to prevent the spread of the new covid-19 variant which has been discovered in the UK.

 

From London Chris jones reports.

 

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RUSSIA NOT EXPECTING “ANYTHING GOOD” FROM NEW US ADMINISTRATION

Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergei Ryabkov [Ree-yab-kohv], says he's not expecting "anything good" from the incoming US President, Joe Biden

— noting it would be "strange to expect good things from people" who he thinks have "made their careers on Russophobia."

Stuart Smith has more from Moscow.

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BREXIT TALKS DOWN TO THE CHRISTMAS WIRE

UK and EU negotiating teams are attempting to hammer out a Brexit deal before a Christmas break in talks.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are now in regular contact to try and get a deal over the line.

One of the final areas to resolve remains fishing quotas.

A post-Brexit transition period ends on December 31st, after which the UK would move onto World Trade Organisation terms with the EU if no trade deal has been reached.

UK cabinet minister Robert Jenrick says fishing is important to get right.

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India could approve Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccine by next week

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Indian authorities could authorise the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine next week.

Its manufacturers in India have submitted additional data to the government as per reports…

Raising hopes for a rollout early next year, as Ishan Garg reports from New Delhi.

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President Trump threatens to block coronavirus stimulus bill

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to block a $900 billion
coronavirus relief package unless major changes are made.

After months of negotiations Congress passed the bill on Monday
evening but in a video posted to Twitter the President called the
proposal a disgrace.

U.S. correspondent William Denselow reports

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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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