Monday, January 4, 2021

Biden steers clear of latest Trump attempt to overturn election as he campaigns in Georgia

USA-ELECTION/GEORGIA-BIDEN

U.S. president-elect Joe Biden mostly steered clear of the controversy engulfing President Donald Trump's final days in office during an afternoon rally in Georgia on Monday.



source https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/georgia-runoff-biden-trump-1.5861015?cmp=rss

Saudi Arabia to lift years-long Qatar embargo, opening airspace and border

692494082

Kuwait's Foreign Affairs Ministry has announced that Saudi Arabia will open its air and land borders with Qatar in the first steps toward ending a diplomatic crisis that has deeply divided regional U.S. allies since 2017.



source https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/saudi-arabia-qatar-embargo-border-1.5860819?cmp=rss

225 Google engineers form union

Google Quantum Computing

A group of 225 Google engineers announced Monday they have formed a union, creating a rare foothold for the labour movement in the tech industry.



source https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/google-union-1.5860625?cmp=rss

U.K. scientists worry vaccines may not protect against coronavirus variant found in South Africa

HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS/SAFRICA

U.K. scientists expressed concern Monday that COVID-19 vaccines being rolled out in Britain may not be able to protect against a new variant of the coronavirus that emerged in South Africa.



source https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/covid-19-vaccine-south-africa-variant-1.5860585?cmp=rss

Iran starts 20% uranium enrichment, seizes tanker

IRAN-TANKER/

Iran on Monday began enriching uranium up to 20 per cent at an underground facility and seized a South Korean-flagged oil tanker in the crucial Strait of Hormuz, further escalating tensions in the Middle East between Tehran and the West.



source https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/iran-uranium-enrichment-tanker-1.5860395?cmp=rss

British judge rejects U.S. request to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange

1140452047

A British judge has rejected the United States' request to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to face espionage charges, saying it would be "oppressive" because of his mental health.



source https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/wikileaks-julian-assange-extradition-rejected-1.5860378?cmp=rss

UK rolls out AstraZeneca shots, touts taking lead in global vaccine race

Virus Outbreak Britain

England's National Health Service says a retired maintenance manager has received the first injection of the new coronavirus vaccine developed by Oxford University and drug giant AstraZeneca.



source https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/uk-rolls-out-astrazeneca-shots-touts-taking-lead-in-global-vaccine-race-1.5860352?cmp=rss

Here's how 2 Georgia Senate races will shape Biden's presidency

USA-ELECTION/GEORGIA

A decisive moment for Joe Biden’s presidency is on the verge of unfolding, even before he takes the oath of office. Two elections in Georgia will determine which party controls the U.S. Senate and the results will shape myriad aspects of Biden’s presidency. Here's a look at some of the stakes.



source https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/senate-runoffs-stakes-1.5859770?cmp=rss

10 former Pentagon chiefs issue extraordinary warning to Trump

IRAN-USA/SOLEIMANI

In a rebuke of U.S. President Donald Trump, All 10 living former secretaries of defence are cautioning against any move to involve the military in pursuing claims of election fraud, arguing that it would take the country into "dangerous, unlawful and unconstitutional territory."



source https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/defence-secretaries-trump-1.5860345?cmp=rss