Trump loyalists get top Pentagon jobs after firing of defence secretary

A day after U.S. President Donald Trump fired Defence Secretary Mark Esper, three staunch loyalists were named to top defence jobs.

source https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/esper-fired-pentagon-trump-loyalists-1.5797768?cmp=rss

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo assures smooth transition — to 2nd Trump presidency

Even as world leaders continue to call and offer U.S. President-elect Joe Biden their congratulations on his victory, the U.S. secretary of state said today that there will be a "smooth transition to a second Trump presidency."

source https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/pompeo-biden-smooth-transition-1.5796934?cmp=rss

African Union urges ceasefire in northern Ethiopia as thousands flee escalating conflict in Tigrayan region

The African Union called for a ceasefire in north Ethiopia where federal troops are fighting local Tigrayan authorities in an escalating conflict that has already forced more than 2,500 people to flee into neighbouring Sudan and that some fear could slide into civil war.

source https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ethiopia-tigray-sudan-1.5796724?cmp=rss

Conservative justices suggest parts of Obamacare could be severed without tossing the law

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday grappled with whether all of Obamacare should be thrown out in a challenge by Republican-governed states, backed by President Donald Trump's administration, with two conservative justices suggesting the law should remain intact even if one provision is struck down.

source https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ussc-obamcare-case-1.5796681?cmp=rss

EU charges Amazon in antitrust lawsuit, alleges unfair competition

European Union regulators filed antitrust charges Tuesday against Amazon, accusing the e-commerce giant of using its access to data from companies that sell products on its platform to gain an unfair advantage over them.

source https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/amazon-eu-antitrust-1.5796672?cmp=rss

Spanish trial begins for trio accused of belonging to 2017 Barcelona attack cell

Three people went on trial Tuesday in Spain for their alleged roles in terror attacks around Barcelona that killed 16 people and injured 140 others in 2017.

source https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/spain-barcelona-attack-trial-1.5796434?cmp=rss

Tokyo Olympic officials prepared to hold test events beginning in March

Tokyo Olympics organizers on Tuesday said they were encouraged by a gymnastics meet over the weekend and are now ready to hold test events early next year.

source https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/summer/tokyo-olympics-test-events-discussion-1.5796545?cmp=rss

Vatican investigation finds popes, bishops share in failings to stop disgraced ex-cardinal Theodore McCarrick

A Vatican investigation into ex-cardinal Theodore McCarrick has found that a series of bishops, cardinals and popes downplayed or dismissed reports that he slept with seminarians.

source https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/catholic-church-mccarrick-report-1.5796372?cmp=rss

Medicago reports promising but preliminary results of possible COVID-19 vaccine

Canadian drug developer Medicago says a combination of its experimental COVID-19 vaccine and GlaxoSmithKline's vaccine booster produced an antibody response in a Phase 1 clinical trial.

source https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/medicago-covid-19-vaccine-phase-1-1.5796411?cmp=rss

Saeb Erekat, Palestinian political mainstay for 3 decades, dies after COVID-19 hospitalization

Saeb Erekat, a veteran peace negotiator and prominent international spokesman for the Palestinians for more than three decades, died on Tuesday, weeks after contracting the coronavirus. He was 65.

source https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/palestinian-erekat-obit-1.5796337?cmp=rss

The Biden presidency could change the terms of the climate debate in Canada

The significance of this year's presidential election for U.S. climate policy came down to a basic difference between the two rivals. One candidate accepted the reality of climate change and wanted to do something about it. The other denied the threat and actively reversed attempts to combat it.

source https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/biden-trump-climate-trudeau-otoole-1.5795629?cmp=rss