Jan 04 Saudi Arabia to lift Qatar embargo, opening air and land borders By Aya Batrawy, Isabel Debre, Associated Press Kuwait's foreign ministry said Saudi Arabia will open its air and land borders with Qatar, in the first steps toward ending a diplomatic crisis that has deeply divided regional U.S. allies since 2017. Continue reading
Jan 04 Tibetans in exile vote for their political leader By Ashwini Bhatia, Associated Press Hundreds of Tibetans in exile in India's northern city of Dharmsala, where the exiled government is based, voted for their new political leader as the current officeholder's five-year term nears its end. Continue reading
Jan 04 Indian government fails to resolve deadlock with protesting farmers By Associated Press With the government refusing to revoke the legislation, the farmers pledged to continue blockading key highways linking the capital with the country's north. Continue reading
Jan 04 Vaccination campaign picks up speed around the world By Danica Kirka, Aniruddha Ghosal, Associated Press Britain has begun dispensing the second vaccine in its arsenal. But authorities in France and elsewhere in Europe are coming under fire for slow rollouts and delays. Continue reading
Jan 04 England to start new virus lockdown until mid-February By Danica Kirka, Sylvia Hui, Associated Press British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced a new national lockdown for England until at least mid-February to combat a fast-spreading new version of the coronavirus. Continue reading
Jan 04 Fiat Chrysler and Peugeot to merge, creating world's 4th-largest auto company By Colleen Barry, Tom Krisher, Associated Press Shareholders of Fiat Chrysler and PSA Peugeot have voted to merge the U.S.-Italian and French carmakers — a deal built on the promise of cost savings in the capital-hungry industry. Continue reading
Jan 04 UK first in world to start using Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine By Danica Kirka, Associated Press The COVID-19 vaccine ramps up a nationwide inoculation program, as rising infection rates are putting an unprecedented strain on British hospitals. Continue reading
Jan 04 Iran increases uranium enrichment to 20 percent and seizes oil tanker By Associated Press Iran’s decision to begin enriching to 20% purity a decade ago nearly triggered an Israeli strike targeting its nuclear facilities, tensions that only abated with the 2015 atomic deal. Continue reading
Jan 04 UK judge refuses U.S. extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange By Associated Press The U.S. government said it would appeal the decision. Continue reading
Jan 03 The Latest: US virus death toll hits 350,000; surge feared By Associated Press More than 20 million people in the country have been infected. The U.S. has begun using two coronavirus vaccines to protect health care workers and nursing home residents and staff but the rollout of the inoculation program has been criticized… Continue reading