World

Migrant caravan in Honduras on the move in uncertain times

The caravan was driven by deepening poverty and the hope of a warmer reception if they can reach the United States border.

Morning Digest: World’s largest vaccination programme begins in the country today; farmers, govt. to continue talks, and more

News: A select list of stories to read before you start your day

UK imposes travel ban amid worries of new Brazil variant

Alberta drafts Capitol Hill operatives as it seeks support for Keystone XL, trade issues

News/Canada/Calgary: Alberta’s UCP government is hiring influential lobbyists and communications experts in Washington, D.C., as it seeks support on Capitol Hill for the Keystone XL pipeline and other trade interests south of the border.

Rebels kill U.N. peacekeeper in Central African Republic

International: At least one peacekeeper was killed and another two were injured in two successive attacks by armed rebels near the town of Grimari in Central Africa

U.S. imposes sanctions on Cuba citing human rights violations

International: The U.S. Department of the Treasury has imposed sanctions on Cuba’s Interior Ministry and its leader, accusing them of serious human rights violation

Joe Biden’s virus plan: 100 million shots just the start

International: “You have my word: We will manage the hell out of this operation,” Mr. Biden said

Abbas decrees first Palestinian elections in 15 years

International: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a decree on January 15, setting parliamentary and presidential elections for later this year in what would

Prince Harry reportedly heartbroken over rift with Royal Family

News/World: Britain's Prince Harry is heartbroken over his split with the Royal Family, but he and his wife, Meghan, are happy with their new lives in the United States, broadcaster and confidant to the couple Tom Bradby said in an interview to be aired on Saturday.

U.S. gun rights group National Rifle Association files for bankruptcy

News/World: The U.S. National Rifle Association announced Friday it has filed for bankruptcy and will seek to incorporate the nation's most politically influential gun-rights group in Texas instead of New York.

Blow to global vaccine drive as Pfizer delays deliveries

North Korea likely 'had help from China' in developing new submarine-launched missile: Gordon Chang

North Korea's new submarine-launched ballistic missile was likely realized with help from Beijing, Gordon Chang told "Bill Hemmer Reports" Friday. 

U.S. expected to execute 13th death row inmate during Trump's presidency on Friday night

News/World: The U.S. government intends to carry out the 13th and final execution under President Donald Trump's administration on Friday evening, just five days before president-elect Joe Biden takes office with a promise to try to end the death penalty.

PIA passenger aircraft 'held back' at Kuala Lumpur airport over lease dispute

A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plane with 170 passengers on board was held back in Malaysia over a lease dispute case between the cash-strapped national flag carrier and an Irish company pending in a UK court.

Dozens killed, some decapitated, in suspected rebel attack in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Forty-six people from the ethnic Pygmy group were killed -- some of them decapitated -- on Wednesday in a suspected militant attack in northeast Democratic Republic of Congo, according to an NGO official based in the central African country.

Dutch government resigns over child welfare scandal

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and his entire Cabinet resigned Friday to take political responsibility for a scandal involving investigations into child welfare payments that wrongly labeled thousands of parents as fraudsters.

Coronavirus | Global COVID-19 death toll tops 2 million amid vaccine rollout

International: “What was never on the horizon is that so many of the deaths would be in the richest countries in the world,” said Dr. Bharat Pankhania, an infectious diseases expert at Britain’s University of Exeter

Biden taps former FDA chief Kessler to lead vaccine science

President-elect Joe Biden has picked a former Food and Drug commissioner to lead vaccine science in his drive to put 100 million shots into the arms of Americans in his administration's first 100 days and stem the Covid-19 pandemic. Kessler will work out of the federal Department of Health and Human Services, assuming responsibility for the scientific side of Operation Warp Speed, an effort launched under the Trump administration to rapidly develop vaccines and treatments.

Iran tests ballistic missiles, drones in military exercise, state TV says

Iran's Revolutionary Guards fired "abundant" surface-to-surface ballistic missiles and tested locally manufactured new drones in a military exercise on Friday, state television reported.

France takes hard line against Couche-Tard takeover of grocery giant Carrefour

News/Business: France on Thursday took a tough line against any takeover of retailer Carrefour by a foreign company, dealing a major blow to a near $20 billion bid approach by Canada's Alimentation Couche-Tard.