Latest 2019-2020 Coronavirus pandemic News

Asia Today: Australia OKs Pfizer vaccine, to begin in Feb.
SYDNEY (AP) — Australia’s medical regulator has approved use of its first coronavirus vaccine, paving the way for inoculations to begin next month. The Therapeutic Goods Administration on Monday gave provisional approval for people aged 16 and over to use the vaccine...

Biden plans to sign order for govt to buy more US goods
BALTIMORE (AP) — President Joe Biden plans to sign on Monday an executive order that aims to boost government purchases from U.S. manufacturers, according to administration officials. The United States has shed roughly 540,000 factory jobs since last February as the...

Dutch politicians condemn weekend rioting as curfew started
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Politicians and local leaders on Monday condemned rioters who clashed with police in about 10 towns and cities across the Netherlands a day earlier, on the second night of a coronavirus curfew. “It is unacceptable,” Prime Minister Mark...

Israel extradites woman wanted for sex crimes to Australia
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli authorities on Monday extradited a former teacher accused of sexually abusing her former students in Australia, capping a six-year legal battle that had strained relations between the two governments and antagonized Australia's Jewish community. ...

German business confidence drops more than expected
BERLIN (AP) — German business confidence declined more than expected in January as businesses grappled with coronavirus restrictions and an uncertain outlook, a closely watched survey showed Monday. The Ifo institute's monthly confidence index fell to 90.1 points from...
Free guided trail tours offered at Lilley Cornett Woods
HALLIE, Ky. (AP) — Free guided trail tours are being offered at Lilley Cornett Woods Appalachian Ecological Research Station, officials said. Weekend tours at the Letcher County site are being offered in partnership with Eastern Kentucky University, WYMT-TV reports. ...
Virus vaccine online signup portal debuts in West Virginia
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia is debuting an online portal for residents to register for coronavirus vaccine appointments. Gov. Jim Justice says the new system that will help streamline vaccination efforts statewide launches Monday at www.vaccinate.wv.gov. The...

The Latest: Virus rules make for long lines at German border
BERLIN — German police say hundreds of cars and pedestrians are lining up at border crossings along the Czech-German border after Germany declared the Czech Republic a high risk area in the pandemic, meaning it requires proof a negative coronavirus test results before entry. ...

Global shares gain on recovery hopes, earnings outlook
TOKYO (AP) — Global shares mostly rose Monday amid hopes economies slammed by the pandemic will bounce back, as attention turned to upcoming company earnings. France's CAC 40 slipped 0.2% in early trading to 5,551.47. Germany's DAX inched up nearly 0.1% to 13,886.27....

China tackles pandemic with mass construction once again
Beijing (AP) — A sprawling quarantine center is more than 4,000 rooms is being thrown up in northern China in response to a COVID-19 outbreak in Shijiazhuang, a city of more than 10 million people in Hebei province. Satellite images from the European Space Agency show...
