World

New York has banned the disposal of toxic firefighting foam by incineration in certain cities after environmental groups raised concerns about an Albanyarea firm that had incinerated foam for two years under a Department of Defense contract.

Germany's foreign minister on Tuesday pledged to give 430 million euros ($510.45 million)to Afghanistan next year and through to 2024, provided that the country shows its commitment to the peace process, among other conditions.

The South African government is going with the COVAX global COVID19 vaccine distribution scheme, with a committed purchase for 10% of its population of 58 million, a senior health official said on Tuesday.

Switzerland is on its way towards halving the number of new COVID19 infections every two weeks thanks to strict measures in the country's west that was particularly hard hit by the second wave of the virus, officials said on Tuesday.

The decision was made during a federal cabinet meeting where the law ministry presented a draft of the antirape ordinance, Geo TV reported.

In Egypt's bustling capital people pack shops, cafes and public transport, many of them disregarding the rules that they should wear face masks in these spaces and keep one metre apart.

Scotland's High Court was told on Tuesday that the conviction of a Libyan man over the 1988 Lockerbie aircraft bombing, the deadliest militant attack in British history, rested on evidence that was badly flawed.

Russia said on Tuesday one of its warships caught and chased off a U.S. destroyer operating illegally in its territorial waters in the Sea of Japan, but the U.S. Navy denied wrongdoing by its vessel and accused Moscow of making excessive maritime claims.

The parents of a 19yearold Briton killed in a road accident in 2019 lost their court battle with the British government on Tuesday over whether the wife of U.S. official involved in the crash had diplomatic immunity from criminal prosecution.

The Spanish government will propose to regional authorities a sixperson limit for Christmas and New Year's parties when they involve guests, El Mundo newspaper reported on Tuesday, citing a health ministry draft document.

Polish scientists have identified eight cases of COVID19 in mink at a farm in the north of the country, the Medical University of Gdansk said on Tuesday.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) could produce a scientific opinion on COVID19 vaccines seeking regulatory approval by the end of the year in a best case scenario, the regulator's new chief was quoted as saying on Tuesday.

U.S. officials prepared to begin inoculating Americans against the novel coronavirus by midDecember as another global drug company on Monday announced promising trial results toward a vaccine, providing hope as the pace of infections accelerated.

All people in France who go outdoors for any reason during its current lockdown to combat the coronavirus pandemic must print or download a form to fill in declaring their reason for leaving home.

The six countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have recorded more than 1 million cases of infection with COVID19, according to a Reuters tally of data published by each government.

AstraZeneca said on Monday its vaccine for the novel coronavirus could be around 90% effective without any serious side effects, but the success rate varied depending on the dose, prompting a sceptical reaction from markets.