Pence congratulates Harris, offers full co-operation in transition of power January 15, 2021 at 06:03PM

End of Merkel era begins as German CDU picks new party leader January 15, 2021 at 05:38PM

Germany's Christian Democrats elect a new chairman on Saturday, aiming to unite their conservative party behind a new leader who they hope can succeed Angela Merkel as chancellor when she steps down after federal elections in September. Centrist Armin Laschet, arch-conservative Friedrich Merz and foreign policy expert Norbert Roettgen are vying for the CDU leadership.

Biden plans 'thousands' of community vaccination centers January 15, 2021 at 04:50PM

President-elect Joe Biden said Friday his administration would surge federal resources into community vaccination centers and mobile health clinics to accelerate the rollout of Covid-19 shots.

UK imposes travel ban amid worries of new Brazil variant January 15, 2021 at 08:36AM

Blow to global vaccine drive as Pfizer delays deliveries January 15, 2021 at 06:47AM

PIA passenger aircraft 'held back' at Kuala Lumpur airport over lease dispute January 15, 2021 at 04:42AM

A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plane with 170 passengers on board was held back in Malaysia over a lease dispute case between the cash-strapped national flag carrier and an Irish company pending in a UK court.

Biden taps former FDA chief Kessler to lead vaccine science January 15, 2021 at 03:21AM

President-elect Joe Biden has picked a former Food and Drug commissioner to lead vaccine science in his drive to put 100 million shots into the arms of Americans in his administration's first 100 days and stem the Covid-19 pandemic. Kessler will work out of the federal Department of Health and Human Services, assuming responsibility for the scientific side of Operation Warp Speed, an effort launched under the Trump administration to rapidly develop vaccines and treatments.

Iran tests ballistic missiles, drones in military exercise, state TV says January 15, 2021 at 02:47AM

Iran's Revolutionary Guards fired "abundant" surface-to-surface ballistic missiles and tested locally manufactured new drones in a military exercise on Friday, state television reported.

Nepal approves emergency use of Covishield vaccine January 15, 2021 at 02:16AM

Russia withdraws from Open Skies Treaty after US departure January 15, 2021 at 01:48AM

Russia said on Friday it will withdraw from an international treaty allowing observation flights over military facilities following the US exit from the pact. Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement that the US withdrawal from the Open Skies Treaty last year "significantly upended the balance of interests of signatory states," adding that Moscow's proposals to keep the treaty alive after the US exit have been cold-shouldered by Washington's allies.

Explained: China's new Covid-19 outbreaks January 15, 2021 at 12:15AM

PIA plane 'held back' by Malaysian authorities over UK court case January 14, 2021 at 11:40PM

The Boeing 777 aircraft was seized after a court order, an airline spokesman said, and alternative arrangements were being made for passengers due to fly back to Pakistan.