Tuesday 24 November
- Arrivals in England to be able to cut quarantine if they pay for test.
- Boris Johnson suggests ‘vast majority’ of vulnerable people could get COVID vaccine by Easter.
- No-deal Brexit to cost more than Covid, Bank of England governor says.
- Tigray leader rejects Ethiopia’s ultimatum, says his people ‘ready to die’.
- China launches robotic mission to haul Moon rocks back to Earth, first in over 40 years.
- Trump gives go-ahead to begin transition, Biden welcomes move.
- China’s top diplomat to visit Tokyo, Korea amid regional tensions.
- Seven Sudanese Doctors Die from COVID-19 in 10 Days.
Remdesivir: the rise and fall of a Covid wonder drug – Financial Times
Coronavirus: Retail workers ‘scared’ as cases surge – BBC Business
Shares in world’s top latex glove maker plunge as workers test positive for COVID – Reuters
Arrivals in England to be able to cut quarantine if they pay for test
BBC News says people arriving in England will be soon able to reduce their quarantine period by more than half if they pay for a Covid test after five days, the transport secretary has announced.
The rules will come into force from 15 December and the tests from private firms will cost between £65 and £120.
Grant Shapps said the scheme would “bolster international travel while keeping the public safe”.
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Boris Johnson suggests ‘vast majority’ of vulnerable people could get Covid vaccine by Easter
Sky News says Boris Johnson has suggested the “vast majority” of people most vulnerable to coronavirus could be vaccinated against the disease by Easter.
The prime minister, speaking at a Downing Street news conference, said this “would make a very substantial change” to how the UK is able to manage Covid-19.
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No-deal Brexit to cost more than Covid, Bank of England governor says
The Guardian says the governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, has warned that the economic cost of a no-deal Brexit would be bigger in the long term than the damage caused by Covid-19.
Bailey said failure to agree to a deal before the Brexit transition expires at the end of December would cause disruption to cross-border trade and damage the goodwill between London and Brussels needed to build a future economic partnership.
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Tigray leader rejects Ethiopia’s ultimatum, says his people ‘ready to die’
France24 says the leader of Ethiopia’s dissident Tigray region has said that his people are “ready to die” defending their homeland, rejecting Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s ultimatum that they surrender within 72 hours.
Abiy launched a military campaign against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) on November 4, accusing it of attacking two federal military camps in the northern region, as well as defying and seeking to destabilise his government.
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China launches robotic mission to haul Moon rocks back to Earth, first in over 40 years
RT News says Beijing’s space agency has embarked on a project to harvest rocks from the lunar surface with a robotic craft and bring them back to Earth, a feat accomplished by only two other nations and last attempted nearly 50 years ago.
The China National Space Administration’s (CNSA) Chang’e-5 mission blasted off from the Wenchang Space Launch Center on Monday, putting the advanced robotic craft and its Long March-5 carrier rocket on course for the Moon. The craft is meant to gather space rocks and ship them back home by mid-December.
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Trump gives go-ahead to begin transition, Biden welcomes move
TRT World says President Trump acknowledges it is time for the US General Services Administration to “do what needs to be done,” lifting an unprecedented block on assistance to President-elect Joe Biden’s team for a transition.
“Our case STRONGLY continues, we will keep up the good … fight, and I believe we will prevail! Nevertheless, in the best interest of our Country, I am recommending that Emily and her team do what needs to be done with regard to initial protocols, and have told my team to do the same,” Trump tweeted.
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China’s top diplomat to visit Tokyo, Korea amid regional tensions
Aljazeera says China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi is set to visit Tokyo on Tuesday, marking the first such high-level trip since Japan picked a new leader in September. His visit comes amid mounting concerns over Beijing’s growing assertiveness in the region.
It is widely expected that Wang could make a courtesy call on Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, who has so far sought to balance Japan’s deep economic reliance on China while addressing security worries, including Beijing’s claims over disputed East China Sea islets.
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Seven Sudanese Doctors Die from COVID-19 in 10 Days
VOA says Sudanese health authorities said seven medical doctors died from Covid-19 in 10 days, a development that reflects Sudan’s sharp rise in cases in recent weeks.
A statement said the seven doctors “worked tirelessly” to treat Covid-19 patients, prevent the spread of the ailment, and protect the lives of the Sudanese people.
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In Review
President Trump accepts US Presidential transition to Joe Biden must begin butt refuses to concede and continued to repeat unsubstantiated claims of corruption, pledging to keep up the “good fight”.
What’s the media saying?
President FINALLY caves in and lets transition begin – meaning Biden will start getting the daily security briefing and be able to communicate with the COVID taskforce – but Trump STILL refuses to concede to ‘take ballots’ – Daily Mail
Trump agrees to begin transition as key agency calls Biden apparent election winner. President says he will continue to fight results as General Services Administration clears way for handover – The Guardian
Biden cabinet: Inner circle get key posts as John Kerry named climate envoy – BBC News
Joe Biden’s cabinet picks – who they are and why they matter – Sky News
Trump allows formal transition process with Joe Biden to begin but president vows he ‘will prevail’ with election fight – The Sun
Biden makes history with pick of Janet Yellen for Treasury secretary as his Cabinet begins to take shape
President-elect Joe Biden began building out his Cabinet on Monday with historic picks for Treasury, the Department of Homeland Security and his point person on intelligence matters. – USA Today
AstraZeneca awaiting ‘relatively fast’ vaccine approval from the EU, executive says
There could be a “relatively fast approval” of the AstraZeneca and Oxford University coronavirus vaccine candidate, an executive from the company told Euronews, following the release of promising trial results regarding the vaccine’s safety and efficacy. – Euronews
Ex-Sierra Leonean president questioned over graft probe
The former head of state of Sierra Leone Ernest Bai Koroma was questioned Monday by a commission investigating alleged corruption and embezzlement committed during his presidency, two officials have said on condition of anonymity. – Africanews
Debate rages over Turkey’s surging pandemic numbers
Unofficial sources have warned that numbers of COVID-19 cases in Turkey are skyrocketing.
The Turkish Medical Association (TTB) estimated that daily COVID-19 cases have risen to more than 47,500, of which about 12,500 are in Istanbul. This would represent a 300 per cent increase in November compared to the month before. – Arab News
Tensions mount in Thai protests as Bangkok braces for major rally
Tensions are rising around Thailand’s protests, with police shooting six people last week and using tear gas and water cannons on the streets of Bangkok.
The Thai capital is bracing for the next major demonstration on Wednesday, with protesters planning to rally at the Crown Property Bureau. – CNA
Son of rugby great Lynagh signs for Queensland Reds
The teenage son of Australian great Michael Lynagh has been snapped up by the Queensland Reds, the Super Rugby club announced Monday after he drew comparisons with his father when playing in England. – France24
