Stories for February 19th 2021

Friday, February 19th 2021 - 10:30 UTC
Pfizer is testing its vaccine in 4,000 volunteer healthy pregnant women

Pfizer and BioNtech have started an international study with 4,000 volunteers to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of their COVID-19 vaccine in healthy pregnant women, the companies said on Thursday.
Friday, February 19th 2021 - 10:19 UTC
Ascension Island vaccinated with AstraZeneca, first BOT to complete inoculation

A remote UK overseas territory in the South Atlantic could become the first whole island vaccinated against coronavirus, after the Royal Air Force flew 4,000 miles to deliver doses from RAF Brize Norton.
Friday, February 19th 2021 - 10:14 UTC
Investigation into Colombian forces extrajudicial killings of 6,402 civilians; 1,500 military involved

Colombia’s Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) said on Thursday that there were at least 6,402 extrajudicial killings between 2002 and 2008. The figure is nearly three times the number the group received when it began investigations.
Friday, February 19th 2021 - 08:58 UTC
Brazilian police investigating “shots of air” instead of Covid-19 vaccines

Rio de Janeiro's police launched an investigation into reports that doses of the coronavirus vaccine may have been diverted after images emerged of healthcare workers sticking needles into elderly people without injecting them.
Friday, February 19th 2021 - 08:52 UTC
Brazil surpasses 10 million Covid-19 cases, John Hopkins University

Brazil surpassed 10 million confirmed coronavirus cases on Thursday, according to a running tally by US-based Johns Hopkins University. With 10,030,626 confirmed cases to date, the country has the third-highest number of infections after the US and India. Brazil recorded more than 49,000 new cases on Thursday.
Friday, February 19th 2021 - 08:40 UTC
Former Colombian leaders confess war crimes and crimes against humanity

During the 50-year war with the state, the demobilized Colombian FARC guerrillas committed war crimes and crimes against humanity, former commanders from the group accepted on Thursday in a transitional justice court.
Friday, February 19th 2021 - 08:33 UTC
UK wants to coordinate the development of future pandemic vaccines to 100 days

Britain which holds the presidency of the Group 7 will challenge fellow members to help speed up the development of future vaccines to 100-days. On Friday Prime Minister Boris Johnson hosts a virtual meeting of leaders including US President Joe Biden.
Friday, February 19th 2021 - 07:58 UTC
US will keep Trump tariffs on Chinese goods, Treasury Secretary Yellen

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Thursday that US will keep tariffs imposed on Chinese goods by the Trump administration in place for now, but will evaluate how to proceed after a thorough review.
Friday, February 19th 2021 - 07:45 UTC
WHO urges nations producing vaccines to donate them to the Covax scheme

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday urged nations producing Covid-19 vaccines not to distribute them unilaterally but to donate them to the global Covax scheme to ensure fairness.
Friday, February 19th 2021 - 07:45 UTC
Canada determined to follow Australia and France, and make Facebook pay for news content

Canada is following Australia and vowed on Thursday to make Facebook Inc pay for news content, seeking allies in the media battle with tech giants and pledging not to back down if the social media platform shuts off the country's news.