Health

Unemployment benefits for millions in limbo as Trump rages

By Alexandra Olson, Jill Colvin, Associated Press

Unemployment benefits for millions of Americans struggling to make ends meet were set to lapse at midnight Saturday unless President Donald Trump signed an end-of-year COVID relief and spending bill that had been considered a done deal before his sudden…

Germany, Hungary give 1st vaccine shots ahead of EU rollout

By Vanessa Gera, David McHugh, Associated Press

Germany, Hungary and Slovakia began giving out their first coronavirus vaccine shots on Saturday only hours after receiving their first shipments, upsetting the European Union’s plans for a coordinated rollout Sunday across the bloc’s 27 nations.

France confirms new virus variant case in country

By Associated Press

Authorities were tracing the person’s contacts and laboratories were analyzing tests from several other people who may have the new variant.

Morocco acquires 65 million COVID-19 vaccine doses from China, UK

By Tarik El Barakah, Associated Press

The North African kingdom is preparing to launch a COVID-19 vaccination program aiming to immunize 80 percent of the country's adult population.

Mexico starts giving first shots of Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine

By Associated Press

In a broadcast ceremony, Maria Irene Ramirez got the first shot, under the watchful eyes of military personnel who escorted the vaccine shipment.

California reaches 2 million confirmed COVID-19 cases

By John Antczak, Don Thompson, Associated Press

The grim milestone comes as a COVID-19 crisis that health officials say stems from Thanksgiving gatherings strains California’s medical system.

Africa CDC: New virus variant appears to emerge in Nigeria

By Cara Anna, Associated Press

Another new variant of the coronavirus appears to have emerged in Nigeria, Africa's top public health official said Thursday, but he added that further investigation was needed.

Trump plan to curb drug costs dealt setback in court

By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Associated Press

A late-term maneuver by President Donald Trump to use lower drug prices paid overseas to limit some of Medicare's costs suffered has a legal setback that appears likely to keep the policy from taking effect before the president leaves office.

Trump vetoes defense bill, setting up possible override vote

By Kevin Freking, Associated Press

President Donald Trump has vetoed the annual defense policy bill, following through on threats to veto a measure that has broad bipartisan support in Congress and potentially setting up the first override vote of his presidency.

U.S. holiday travel surges despite COVID-19 outbreak

By Tamara Lush, Associated Press

Millions of Americans are traveling ahead of Christmas and New Year's, despite pleas from public health experts that they stay home to avoid fueling the raging coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 320,000 nationwide.