Tuesday, November 10, 2020

Six In The Morning Tuesday 10 November 2020

 

Brazil suspends trials of China's Sinovac coronavirus vaccine, citing 'serious adverse event'

Updated 1149 GMT (1949 HKT) November 10, 2020


Brazil's health regulator has suspended trials of a Chinese-developed Covid-19 vaccine following a "serious adverse event" involving a volunteer recipient, according to sources cited by CNN's affiliate, CNN Brasil.

Chinese drugmaker Sinovac Biotech began Phase 3 trials of its CoronaVac in collaboration with the Brazilian Butantan Institute in Sao Paulo in late July, with an aim to recruit 130,000 volunteers. Phase 3 trials represent the final and most important testing stage before regulatory approval is sought.
The pause in testing marks a potential setback for one of China's leading vaccine candidates and comes as US drugmaker Pfizer said Monday that early data from its own coronavirus vaccine showed more than 90% effectiveness.



Nagorno-Karabakh peace deal brokered by Moscow prompts anger in Armenia

Crowds claim agreement with Azerbaijan to withdraw is a betrayal after fierce fighting over disputed enclave

Russian peacekeepers have departed for Nagorno-Karabakh after Moscow brokered a peace deal that sparked celebrations in Azerbaijan and protests in Armenia, where demonstrators briefly occupied government buildings.

The truce, announced late on Monday night, calls for the deployment of nearly 2,000 Russian peacekeepers to the disputed enclave, where Azerbaijan will receive significant territorial concessions from an Armenian-backed local government.

The ceasefire may end a six-week war in which Azerbaijan launched its largest offensive in a generation to retake Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding regions under Armenian control. Since fighting began in late September, thousands have been killed and more than 100,000 displaced in the worst fighting since the early 1990s.

Saeb Erekat death: Palestinian chief negotiator dies after contracting coronavirus

Mr Erekat died after being transferred to an Israeli hospital last month


Bel Trew

Middle East Correspondent

@beltrew

Saeb Erekat, the Palestinians’ chief negotiator and  international spokesperson for over three decades, has died after battling the coronavirus.

Mr Erekat, 65, who had been involved in almost every round of peace talks since the 1990s, had been in a critical condition after being transferred for treatment at an Israeli hospital in west Jerusalem three and a half weeks ago. 

His son Ali confirmed his death on Tuesday, as did the Hadassah hospital where he was being treated. The family said he had “transitioned peacefully” in hospital after complications from the coronavirus. 

Opinion: Myanmar wakes up from dream of democracy

After five years of leadership under Aung San Suu Kyi, it has become clear that democracy is not a magic wand that will solve Myanmar's problems. The nation's politics needs to include everyone, says Rodion Ebbighausen.

The contrast couldn't be greater. When Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD) party won Myanmar's general election in 2015, the country and the world were euphoric over her victory. It looked like the military's stronghold on the country had been overcome. The people of Myanmar had rejected authoritarianism and the country was embarking towards a rosy democratic future.    

Five years later, there is little of that euphoria left over. After Myanmar's election over the weekend, few people are enthusiastic, expectations are low and there is little interest from the international media. The NLD is expected to win handily.

Ethiopian military seizes airport as fighting rages in Tigray

Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed says he is not ignoring international warnings over the escalating conflict in the Tigray region.

The Ethiopian military has seized the airport near the town of Humera amid a nearly week-old conflict in the northern Tigray region.

The state media announcement on Tuesday about the capture of the airport, 67km (42 miles) south of Humera, came as fighting continued with reports of Ethiopian government forces capturing territory.

Democrats Urge Trump Appointee To Authorize Presidential Transition


The head of the General Services Administration is blocking funds for Joe Biden’s team that would facilitate a smoother transition between presidencies.

Democrats are calling on a key government agency to sign off on President-elect Joe Biden’s victory and aid in the mammoth task of transitioning between presidents before Biden’s Jan. 20 inauguration.

The General Services Administration, headed by Trump appointee Emily Murphy, has resisted signing the paperwork that would give Biden and his team access to millions of dollars in transitions funds, as well as official access to government officials and equipment to prepare the incoming administration, according to The Washington Post

Until Murphy formally ascertains that Biden has won the election, the former vice president cannot access government funds or communicate with federal agencies. Biden’s team, for example, cannot receive the same intelligence briefings as Trump because of the GSA’s refusal to sign off on the election results. Acknowledging Biden’s victory would also grant his team access to $9.9 million for salaries and spending up to the inauguration.







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