1Covid: Moderna vaccine moves closer to US approvalFriday, December 18, 2020

A second coronavirus vaccine is nearing emergency approval in the US after it was endorsed by a panel of experts. The head of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said his agency would move quickly to authorise the Moderna vaccine, allowing the company to begin shipping millions of doses. It comes days after the US began... Read More

2Coronavirus: Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf says coronavirus approach 'has failed'Thursday, December 17, 2020

Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf has described 2020 as a "terrible" year and says the national coronavirus strategy has failed. He made the remarks as part of an annual TV programme reviewing the year with the royal family. Sweden has been criticised for its unorthodox approach to handling the pandemic, relying more... Read More

3Emmanuel Macron: Positive test prompts European leaders to self-isolateThursday, December 17, 2020

A host of European leaders are self-isolating after the French President, Emmanuel Macron, tested positive for Covid-19. Mr Macron, 42, will self-isolate for seven days while working remotely, the Elysée Palace said in a statement. The French president attended a number of high-profile events in recent days, including... Read More

4Nigerians have two weeks to register phone numbersWednesday, December 16, 2020

Nigerians have up to two weeks to register their mobile phones numbers with identity cards, in a move that the government said was meant to ensure it could trace people who use phones to commit crime. Users who would not have registered their mobile phone numbers by the end of the deadline would be cut off. But the directive... Read More

5Kenyan hospital bans masks with valvesWednesday, December 16, 2020

A private hospital in Kenya has banned masks with valves within its premises citing one way protection. The Aga Khan University Hospital announced that masks with valves only protect the wearer but not those around them. "The design of these masks allow inhaled air to be filtered but the exhaled air is not. The exhaled... Read More

6Mitch McConnell: Top Trump ally breaks silence to congratulate BidenWednesday, December 16, 2020

A top member of US President Donald Trump's Republican Party, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, has congratulated Joe Biden on winning the presidential election last month. Senator McConnell spoke after the electoral college formally confirmed Mr Biden's victory over Mr Trump. The Democrat won 306 electoral... Read More

7Covid-19: Germany introduces new restrictions amid rise in casesWednesday, December 16, 2020

Germany has entered a hard lockdown, closing schools and non-essential businesses in an attempt to stop a sharp rise in Covid-19 infections. The measures will be in place until 10 January. Christmas will see a slight easing, with one household allowed to host up to four close family members. The country reported another... Read More

8SA tightens virus restrictions to curb second waveTuesday, December 15, 2020

South Africa has announced new restrictions to try to contain a second wave of Covid-19. President Cyril Ramaphosa said a sharp rise in new infections was a cause for great concern as he announced plans to close some beaches and limit mass gatherings over the holiday period. The nation’s teenagers are being blamed... Read More

9Somali government cuts diplomatic ties with KenyaTuesday, December 15, 2020

The federal government of Somalia has cut diplomatic ties with neighbouring Kenya. It has recalled all its diplomats from Nairobi and given Kenyan diplomats in Mogadishu seven days to leave the country. The announcement was made by the Minister of Information Osman Abukar Dubbe on state media. "The Somali government,... Read More

10Kenya 'orders 24 million Covid-19 vaccine doses'Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Kenya has ordered 24 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines, the Star newspaper has reported, citing health ministry officials. The Kenyan government will spend 10bn Kenya shillings ($89m; £66m) for the vaccines, the newspaper reports. The ministry submitted it's request to the Global Vaccine Alliance Initiative (Gavi)... Read More