Key takeaways as US sets Jan. 4 vaccine mandate deadline
Millions of U.S. workers now have a Jan 4. deadline to get a COVID vaccine. The federal government on Thursday announced
Executive of Myanmar army-linked telecom firm fatally shot
BANGKOK (AP) — A top executive of Myanmar’s military-linked telecommunications company was fatally shot Thursday near his home in Yangon, the country’s commercial capital, in an apparent assassination linked to the country's violent political unrest. ...
Spiraling infections grip low-vaccination parts of Europe
ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Central and Eastern Europe grappled with spiraling coronavirus cases on Thursday with several countries hitting new daily records in the regions, which have lower vaccination rates than the rest of the continent.
US mandates vaccines or tests for big companies by Jan. 4
Tens of millions of Americans who work at companies with 100 or more employees will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Jan. 4 or get tested for the virus weekly under government rules issued Thursday.
Russia expels Dutch newspaper reporter, cites violations
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A Dutch newspaper reporter has been expelled from Russia, a move denounced Thursday as “unacceptable” by the Netherlands' foreign ministry.
Son of ex-hostage in Mali says she wants to be forgotten
PARIS (AP) — The son of a former al-Qaida hostage struck back Thursday at French government claims that she has put herself and others in danger by slipping back into Mali, where she was held for four years.
UK Conservatives back down on lobbying plan overhaul
LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government is facing allegations of favoritism and corruption amid a backlash from lawmakers and the public over efforts to rewrite lobbying rules and shield a member of Johnson's party from censure....
Netanyahu’s hopes for a comeback dim as Israel passes budget
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu watched from the sidelines Thursday as the government that toppled him after 12 years in power passed a national budget, dealing a major blow to his hopes of a
Lebanon PM renews call for minister in Gulf Arab row to quit
BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon’s prime minister on Thursday again urged the information minister to “do what needs to be done,” an apparent appeal for him step down over an unprecedented diplomatic rift with Saudi Arabia.
Russia sets another COVID-19 daily death record with 1,195
MOSCOW (AP) — Russia has set another record for daily coronavirus deaths as it struggles through a long surge of infections that has prompted restrictions throughout the country.