WORLD

The UK has become the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for widespread use. British regulator, the MHRA, says the jab, which offers up to 95% protection against Covid-19 illness, is safe for rollout next week. Immunisations could start within days for those who need …

A funeral home worker was fired after taking a picture of himself next to the open coffin of the late Diego Maradona, according to Mirror Sport. Maradona, the Argentinian soccer legend, died Wednesday at the age of 60 after suffering a heart attack. The worker was supposed to be preparing …

A US federal appeals court has firmly rejected the Trump N/A campaign’s attempt to block President-elect Joe Biden from being declared winner in Pennsylvania. The panel of three judges deemed the case was without merit, saying the Trump campaign had not made specific allegations or provided proof. The ruling is …

Iran has vowed to avenge the killing of its most senior nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, who was assassinated near Tehran on Friday. Fakhrizadeh died in hospital after an attack in Absard, in Damavand county. Hossein Dehghan, military advisor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed to “strike” the perpetrators like …

Donald Trump has said he will leave the White House if Joe Biden is formally confirmed as the next US president by the electoral college. The president has refused to accept defeat in the 3 November vote, and told reporters on Thursday it would be “hard” to concede. He also …

US President Donald Trump has pardoned his former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI. The president said the widely expected act of clemency was his “Great Honor”. Mr Flynn was among former aides to President Trump convicted during a justice department investigation into …

US President-elect Joe Biden has formally introduced the first people he has chosen for his cabinet, as the transition of power gathers pace. If confirmed, Avril Haines would be the first female director of national intelligence and Alejandro Mayorkas the first Latino homeland security boss. John Kerry will be climate …

US President-elect Joe Biden will formally introduce the first people he has chosen for his cabinet later, as the transition of power gathers pace. Many of the choices, already announced, are Mr Biden’s colleagues from his years in the Obama administration. John Kerry will be climate envoy, while foreign policy …

A group of seven people have died after they drank hand sanitizer when they ran out of alcohol at a party in Russia. Two more are in a coma in an intensive care ward after also consuming the antiseptic hand wash, according to local reports. The incident happened in the …

Donald Trump has accepted a formal US transition should begin for President-elect Joe Biden to take office. The president said the federal agency overseeing the handover must “do what needs to be done”, even as he vowed to keep contesting his election defeat. The General Services Administration (GSA) said it …