World Health Organization

WHO boss: Turkey a strong healthcare champion in 2021

WHO Director General Tedros Ghebreyesus and Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca agree on enabling vaccine production globally without making intellectual property rights an issue.

WHO: Covid-19 'very likely' first jumped into humans from animals

A joint report by the World Health Organisation and China on the origins of coronavirus, which is expected to be made public on Tuesday, says transmission from bats through another animal was likely scenario.

Thailand clears AstraZeneca as possible clotting side effects divide Europe

Thailand announces plans to go ahead with AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine despite other countries suspending its use over safety fears.

Biden declares US-transatlantic alliance 'back'

President Joe Biden has said the US' traditional allies should once again have confidence in Washington's leadership, in his first major international address on foreign policy.

WHO says coronavirus unlikely to have leaked from lab in China

The WHO mission to China to uncover the origins of Covid-19 has failed to identify the source of a pandemic which has swept across the world, but the team has ruled out the Wuhan lab-leak theory propagated by former US President Donald Trump.

South Africa looks to J&J vaccine as AstraZeneca disappoints

South Africa received one million AstraZeneca doses last week and had hoped to start vaccinating health workers soon but results that are yet to be peer-reviewed show minimal protection against mild or moderate infection from the B.1.351 variant.

Britain records 1,200 new deaths from coronavirus – latest updates

The Covid-19 pandemic has infected more than 102 million people around the world, with over 2.2 million fatalities. Here are developments for January 30:

Germany questions AstraZeneca use in over 65s in EU row with vaccine maker

German expert panel's recommendation comes as an irate EU threatens to launch legal action against the drugmaker over its announced supply cuts in Europe.

Covid-19 variant brings new dimension to pandemic in Europe

The discovery of the new variant has prompted EU countries to stiffen their lockdown measures.

US resumes support for WHO as pandemic worsens

US also provided a boost to efforts to share out vaccines across the world by announcing it intended to join WHO's Covax initiative.

Biden issues executive orders to undo several Trump policies

Hours after his inauguration, President Joe Biden has signed a series of executive orders to keep the US in the WHO, end the entry ban from mostly Muslim-majority countries, bolster environmental protections and strengthen the fight against Covid-19.

UK PM announces nationwide lockdown for England – latest updates

Novel coronavirus has infected over 85.4 million people globally and claimed more than 1.8 million lives. Here are the updates for January 4: