The two of the biggest tech companies in the world Apple and Facebook are at each other's throats and on the verge of a legal face-off over user privacy.

However, privacy is just the ostensible reason - the real one is money.

The result of the great tech war will dictate the future not just of these companies, but also of technology and how we use it because the world is dependent on their gadgets and apps.

Apple and Facebook are fighting each other to dictate how the user will use their services. It is not a new battle. It's been brewing beneath the surface for almost a decade now.

It is now that it has come to a head. The issue escalated on Thursday after Apple announced key changes to its software. It will upgrade its devices like the iPhone and the iPad.

The upgrades could arrive in spring and it will add new features that will tell users which app is gathering what data on you, in other words, the Apple upgrades will expose the apps that snoop on you.

On its website, Apple has illustrated how these new features will work. If an app is tracking your contact info, your location, your financial details, your purchases, your browsing history--- what you search you will get to know about it. Apple will tell you which app is tracking you and how. It will break down the information for you which should be good news for all users.

It's not good news for Facebook because now, users will know what Facebook is tracking and now, Facebook will need your permission before collecting your data which is bad enough for Facebook, however, what's worse is that Apple is making an example of it.

Apple is using Facebook in illustrations to show how the new features would look to describe how its devices can stop data theft. A user will get a prompt their screen telling them that Facebook or any other app wants to track the activity on other websites and apps. A user will get two options - allow the tracking, or deny it.

It means that Apple has declared a war on Facebook's data gathering. However, Apple is not doing to service users, in fact, it is only helping itself making a virtue out of a business plan.

Apple's CEO Tim Cook spoke about it. He, however, did not mention Facebook but criticised the business practices that Facebook has pioneered over the years.

"If a business is built on misleading users, on data exploitation, on choices that are no choices at all, then it does not deserve our praise. It deserves reform. We should not look away from the bigger picture. At a moment of rampant disinformation and conspiracy theories juiced by algorithms, we can no longer turn a blind eye to a theory of technology that says all engagement is good engagement, the longer, the better, and all with the goal of collecting as much data as possible," Tim Cook said.

Apple however is not doing public service, it is fighting a corporate battle and Facebook is fighting back whoever wins, will dictate terms to users. Last month, Facebook ran attack ads in three American newspapers. Facebook plastered its criticism of Apple on front pages and now, it wants to drag Apple to court.

Facebook is mulling a lawsuit. According to a report, Facebook has brought in outside legal counsel. The lawsuit could be about the app store. Facebook wants to sue Apple over what it calls "anti-competitive actions". It accuses Apple of giving preferential treatment to Apple's apps. It says Apple is restricting outside developers like Facebook but before the matter reaches court, Facebook has begun fighting Apple on the internet.

The social media giant has built a website which names Apple. There are testimonies from small business owners. They are voicing their concerns over the changes Apple is about to make to its software.

Mark Zuckerberg has entered the battlefield himself. He was recently on a conference call with Wall Street analysts. He went that's Apple's messaging app which is available only in the Apple ecosystem - only those who have iPhones and iPads can connect on i-message not Android users.

On Wednesday, Zuckerberg said in a conference call with Wall Street analysts that he viewed Apple as one of Facebook’s “biggest competitors.” He cited i-message, Apple’s iPhone-specific texting service, as an existential threat to Facebook’s social networking services.

He added that Apple had “every incentive to use their dominant platform position” to interfere with Facebook and other apps. Apple regularly treats its own apps more favourably in the app store, he said.

He may have a point, unfortunately, he doesn't have the sympathies of users and lawmakers because of his policies.

Facebook and Apple are two of America's most valuable companies - one is a social network, the other makes consumer electronics.&nbsp;They are not direct competitors but clearly, they are now sworn enemies.

The two of the biggest tech companies in the world Apple and Facebook are at each other's throats and on the verge of a legal face-off over user privacy. However, privacy is just the ostensible reason - the real one is money.

The two of the biggest tech companies in the world Apple and Facebook are at each other's throats and on the verge of a legal face-off over user privacy. However, privacy is just the ostensible reason - the real one is money. The result of the great tech war will dictate the future not just of these companies, but also of technology and how we use it because the world is dependent on their gadgets and apps. Apple and Facebook are fighting each other to dictate how the user will use their services. It is not a new battle. It's been brewing beneath the surface for almost a decade now. It is now that it has come to a head. The issue escalated on Thursday after Apple announced key changes to its software. It will upgrade its devices like the iPhone and the iPad. The upgrades could arrive in spring and it will add new features that will tell users which app is gathering what data on you, in other words, the Apple upgrades will expose the apps that snoop on you. On its website, Apple has illustrated how these new features will work. If an app is tracking your contact info, your location, your financial details, your purchases, your browsing history--- what you search you will get to know about it. Apple will tell you which app is tracking you and how. It will break down the information for you which should be good news for all users. It's not good news for Facebook because now, users will know what Facebook is tracking and now, Facebook will need your permission before collecting your data which is bad enough for Facebook, however, what's worse is that Apple is making an example of it. Apple is using Facebook in illustrations to show how the new features would look to describe how its devices can stop data theft. A user will get a prompt their screen telling them that Facebook or any other app wants to track the activity on other websites and apps. A user will get two options - allow the tracking, or deny it. It means that Apple has declared a war on Facebook's data gathering. However, Apple is not doing to service users, in fact, it is only helping itself making a virtue out of a business plan. Apple's CEO Tim Cook spoke about it. He, however, did not mention Facebook but criticised the business practices that Facebook has pioneered over the years. "If a business is built on misleading users, on data exploitation, on choices that are no choices at all, then it does not deserve our praise. It deserves reform. We should not look away from the bigger picture. At a moment of rampant disinformation and conspiracy theories juiced by algorithms, we can no longer turn a blind eye to a theory of technology that says all engagement is good engagement, the longer, the better, and all with the goal of collecting as much data as possible," Tim Cook said. Apple however is not doing public service, it is fighting a corporate battle and Facebook is fighting back whoever wins, will dictate terms to users. Last month, Facebook ran attack ads in three American newspapers. Facebook plastered its criticism of Apple on front pages and now, it wants to drag Apple to court. Facebook is mulling a lawsuit. According to a report, Facebook has brought in outside legal counsel. The lawsuit could be about the app store. Facebook wants to sue Apple over what it calls "anti-competitive actions". It accuses Apple of giving preferential treatment to Apple's apps. It says Apple is restricting outside developers like Facebook but before the matter reaches court, Facebook has begun fighting Apple on the internet. The social media giant has built a website which names Apple. There are testimonies from small business owners. They are voicing their concerns over the changes Apple is about to make to its software. Mark Zuckerberg has entered the battlefield himself. He was recently on a conference call with Wall Street analysts. He went that's Apple's messaging app which is available only in the Apple ecosystem - only those who have iPhones and iPads can connect on i-message not Android users. On Wednesday, Zuckerberg said in a conference call with Wall Street analysts that he viewed Apple as one of Facebook’s “biggest competitors.” He cited i-message, Apple’s iPhone-specific texting service, as an existential threat to Facebook’s social networking services. He added that Apple had “every incentive to use their dominant platform position” to interfere with Facebook and other apps. Apple regularly treats its own apps more favourably in the app store, he said. He may have a point, unfortunately, he doesn't have the sympathies of users and lawmakers because of his policies. Facebook and Apple are two of America's most valuable companies - one is a social network, the other makes consumer electronics. They are not direct competitors but clearly, they are now sworn enemies.

Apple, Facebook in face-off over user privacy

European Union(EU) today approved AstraZeneca vaccine for all those over 18 years old even as the European Commission launched a scheme to monitor exports of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-publishes-redacted-astrazeneca-vaccine-contract-amid-row-360098">vaccines</a> produced in EU plants.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/astrazeneca-vaccine-shouldnt-be-given-to-over-65s-says-germanys-vaccine-commission-360109/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"We paid these companies to increase production and now we expect them to deliver," EU Commission vice-president Valdis Dombrovskis said, adding, "Today's measure has been adopted with the utmost urgency. The aim is to provide us immediately with full transparency ... And if needed, it also will provide us with a tool to ensure vaccine deliveries."

The European Commission had earlier published a redacted version of its contract with AstraZeneca after row over vaccine delivery.

AstraZeneca's CEO Pascal Soriot had said deliveries of the vaccine in Europe were hit due to glitches in its Belgian plant. The row erupted after reports said Britain had signed its contract three months earlier than Brussels angering EU.

Several countries in the EU have been hit with shortage of vaccines leading to a halt in vaccination drive even as the continent battles the virus.

AstraZeneca and the EU had signed a deal for up to 400 million doses of the vaccine, however, last week, the firm announced production cuts of up to 60 per cent to the European body due to problems in its Belgian factory.

European Union(EU) today approved AstraZeneca vaccine for all those over 18 years old even as the European Commission launched a scheme to monitor exports of vaccines produced in EU plants.

European Union(EU) today approved AstraZeneca vaccine for all those over 18 years old even as the European Commission launched a scheme to monitor exports of vaccines produced in EU plants. Watch: "We paid these companies to increase production and now we expect them to deliver," EU Commission vice-president Valdis Dombrovskis said, adding, "Today's measure has been adopted with the utmost urgency. The aim is to provide us immediately with full transparency ... And if needed, it also will provide us with a tool to ensure vaccine deliveries." The European Commission had earlier published a redacted version of its contract with AstraZeneca after row over vaccine delivery. AstraZeneca's CEO Pascal Soriot had said deliveries of the vaccine in Europe were hit due to glitches in its Belgian plant. The row erupted after reports said Britain had signed its contract three months earlier than Brussels angering EU. Several countries in the EU have been hit with shortage of vaccines leading to a halt in vaccination drive even as the continent battles the virus. AstraZeneca and the EU had signed a deal for up to 400 million doses of the vaccine, however, last week, the firm announced production cuts of up to 60 per cent to the European body due to problems in its Belgian factory.

EU adopts coronavirus vaccine export control scheme; approves AstraZeneca vaccine

The Sindh government on Friday filed a review petition before Pakistan Supreme Court after it granted a release order for Omar Saeed Sheikh, the prime suspect in Daniel Pearl killing.

The Chinese government said it will "no longer recognise" the British national (overseas) passport which potentially benefits millions of Hong Kongers. The new visa path opens up entry to the UK to an estimated 2.9 million adults in Hong Kong and their dependents who number nearly 2.3 million.

Meanwhile, World Health Organisation (WHO) experts visited the visit in Wuhan as part of their investigation on the coronavirus origins. The field visits will include the Wuhan Institute of Virology, Huanan market and the Wuhan CDC laboratory, the WHO said. The Hunan market is considered to be first major cluster of coronavirus outbreak.

UK's transport secretary, Grant Shapps, said the UAE had been added to the 30 existing countries which are currently subject to a travel ban – along with Rwanda and Burundi in central Africa. This move will shut down the world's busiest international airline route from Dubai to London.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/daniel-pearl-killing-after-us-displeasure-pakistan-files-review-petition-in-supreme-court-360049">Daniel Pearl killing: After US displeasure, Pakistan files review petition in Supreme Court</a>

<img alt="Daniel Pearl" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e394c915-7a17-4757-86c3-83bd0d49a5ee" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Pearl11_0.jpg" />

Pakistan Supreme Court&nbsp;on Thursday had ordered the immediate release of Omar Saeed Sheikh, the prime suspect in Daniel Pearl killing who was convicted of the murder by a lower court in Pakistan

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/will-no-longer-recognise-uks-bno-passport-for-hong-kongers-china-360066">Will no longer recognise UK's BNO passport for Hong Kongers: China</a>

<img alt="BNO passport" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d2b1c547-9107-4cd5-9370-21586297c54f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/BritishP_0.jpg" />

According to the British government, starting January 31, &nbsp;holders of British national overseas status will be able to apply to live and work in the UK for up to five years and they can eventually seek a UK citizenship.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/worlds-busiest-international-airline-route-shuts-as-uk-bans-flights-from-uae-360053">World's busiest international airline route shuts as UK bans flights from UAE</a>

<img alt="UAE Emirates" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3766b3ef-e78d-445f-b0e2-8e6c4be728ff" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/EMI1_0.jpg" />

Emirates and Etihad normally carry large numbers of passengers connecting from Britain to destinations like Australia through their airport hubs, meaning the decision to cancel those flights will have far-reaching implications.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-publishes-redacted-astrazeneca-vaccine-contract-amid-row-360098">EU publishes redacted AstraZeneca vaccine contract amid row</a>

<img alt="Contract" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f82f6c79-dfde-434a-86dd-c86bc59c6e36" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/TRC_0.jpg" />

The contract was signed on August 27 and the published version contains redacted parts related to some confidential information such as invoices.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-coronavirus-experts-to-start-fieldwork-in-wuhan-360025">WHO coronavirus experts to start fieldwork in Wuhan</a>

<img alt="Wuhan" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="650f72ef-0980-4c2c-92e9-68a9e2960e24" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Wuhan11_0.jpg" />

Wuhan's food market that is considered to be the "ground zero" of coronavirus pandemic.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nato-member-lithuania-bans-chinese-airport-screening-equipment-360122">NATO member Lithuania bans Chinese airport screening equipment</a>

<img alt="Airport" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fa799dbc-b4e5-47cc-ae5f-6c236d6d351b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/China1_0.jpg" />

The move came amid increased concern in the West over Chinese investments in critical infrastructure, including 5G telecommunications networks.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/personal-data-stolen-from-dutch-coronavirus-track-and-trace-programme-360105">Personal data stolen from Dutch coronavirus track-and-trace programme</a>

<img alt="Coronavirus" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="be112e73-1e83-46b6-a77c-71c64e52e3ea" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/HunG_0.jpg" />

The GGD confirmed a media report that data had been stolen and apologised for what it said were two separate leaks. It said in a statement it did not know how many people were affected by the data theft, but they could number in the thousands.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-accuses-us-of-violating-afghan-deal-360090">Taliban accuses US of violating Afghan deal</a>

<img alt="Taliban" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="158f56bc-203d-4962-aed1-3f32125712ef" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Talib1_0.jpg" />

The US signed a landmark deal with the insurgents last year, agreeing to withdraw all of its troops from the country in return for security guarantees after a stalemate on the battlefield.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/bitcoin-jumps-14-per-cent-to-two-week-high-after-elon-musk-tag-360071">Bitcoin jumps 14 per cent to two-week high after Elon Musk tag</a>

<img alt="Bitcoin" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="93dd85d0-b83b-4ac6-82cb-bb5608da3b5b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/BB1_0.jpg" />

GameStop Corp , which has been at the centre of retail trading frenzy, surged 50% on Tuesday after Musk tweeted "Gamestonk!!"

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-one-year-russia-population-shrinks-by-half-a-million-360052">In one year, Russia population shrinks by half a million</a>

<img alt="Russia population" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="96759f19-0883-4fb1-b210-20318f9140c7" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Russia%20Pop_0.jpg" />

Russia, like many other countries, is currently suffering excess mortality as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp;

The Sindh government on Friday filed a review petition before Pakistan Supreme Court after it granted a release order for Omar Saeed Sheikh, the prime suspect in Daniel Pearl killing.

The Sindh government on Friday filed a review petition before Pakistan Supreme Court after it granted a release order for Omar Saeed Sheikh, the prime suspect in Daniel Pearl killing. The Chinese government said it will "no longer recognise" the British national (overseas) passport which potentially benefits millions of Hong Kongers. The new visa path opens up entry to the UK to an estimated 2.9 million adults in Hong Kong and their dependents who number nearly 2.3 million. Meanwhile, World Health Organisation (WHO) experts visited the visit in Wuhan as part of their investigation on the coronavirus origins. The field visits will include the Wuhan Institute of Virology, Huanan market and the Wuhan CDC laboratory, the WHO said. The Hunan market is considered to be first major cluster of coronavirus outbreak. UK's transport secretary, Grant Shapps, said the UAE had been added to the 30 existing countries which are currently subject to a travel ban – along with Rwanda and Burundi in central Africa. This move will shut down the world's busiest international airline route from Dubai to London. Daniel Pearl killing: After US displeasure, Pakistan files review petition in Supreme Court Pakistan Supreme Court on Thursday had ordered the immediate release of Omar Saeed Sheikh, the prime suspect in Daniel Pearl killing who was convicted of the murder by a lower court in Pakistan Will no longer recognise UK's BNO passport for Hong Kongers: China According to the British government, starting January 31, holders of British national overseas status will be able to apply to live and work in the UK for up to five years and they can eventually seek a UK citizenship. World's busiest international airline route shuts as UK bans flights from UAE Emirates and Etihad normally carry large numbers of passengers connecting from Britain to destinations like Australia through their airport hubs, meaning the decision to cancel those flights will have far-reaching implications. EU publishes redacted AstraZeneca vaccine contract amid row The contract was signed on August 27 and the published version contains redacted parts related to some confidential information such as invoices. WHO coronavirus experts to start fieldwork in Wuhan Wuhan's food market that is considered to be the "ground zero" of coronavirus pandemic. NATO member Lithuania bans Chinese airport screening equipment The move came amid increased concern in the West over Chinese investments in critical infrastructure, including 5G telecommunications networks. Personal data stolen from Dutch coronavirus track-and-trace programme The GGD confirmed a media report that data had been stolen and apologised for what it said were two separate leaks. It said in a statement it did not know how many people were affected by the data theft, but they could number in the thousands. Taliban accuses US of violating Afghan deal The US signed a landmark deal with the insurgents last year, agreeing to withdraw all of its troops from the country in return for security guarantees after a stalemate on the battlefield. Bitcoin jumps 14 per cent to two-week high after Elon Musk tag GameStop Corp , which has been at the centre of retail trading frenzy, surged 50% on Tuesday after Musk tweeted "Gamestonk!!" In one year, Russia population shrinks by half a million Russia, like many other countries, is currently suffering excess mortality as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Top 10 world news: Pakistan files review petition in Supreme Court in Daniel Pearl case, China rejects UK's BNO passport

White Paradise: Snowfall in J&K's Gulmarg

As Europe grapples with vaccine distribution, Hungary has become the first European Union(EU) country to approve the Chinese coronavirus<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pfizer-vaccine-not-linked-to-post-jab-deaths-eu-regulator-assures-360081"> vaccine</a> Sinopharm.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-has-secured-60-mn-doses-of-highly-effective-novavax-vaccine-pm-boris-johnson-thanks-trial-volunteers-360082/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Hungary is expected to order 500,000 doses of the vaccine. The country had approved Russia's Sputnik V vaccine last week. Hungary's drug regulator earlier had approved Britain's AstraZeneca as Budapest strives to lift coronavirus lockdown to boost the economy.

Hungary completed the vaccinations of medical professionals and begun inoculating the elderly.

PM Viktor Orban said the country will begin administering the general population from next month.

Several countries in Europe including Spain have halted administering vaccines as the doses have finished with Pfizer under fire from the EU to distribute more vaccines. Spain is one of the worst-hit country in Europe with over 2.7 million cases and over 57,000 deaths.

According to Spain's health ministry, the country has administered just over 78.9 per cent of the 1.76 million vaccines received as part of the EU's vaccination plan with shortages set to continue.

Meanwhile, the WHO said vaccine manufacturers were working to plug shortfalls in supplies.

"Solidarity does not necessarily mean that each country in the world starts (vaccinating) at exactly the same moment ... The good understanding is that no one is safe before everyone is safe," Hans Kluge, WHO director said.

"The reality is there is a shortage of vaccines...we don't doubt that manufacturers and producers are working 24-7 to bridge the gap and we're confident the delays we are seeing now are going to be made up by extra production in the future," Klunge added.

As Europe grapples with vaccine distribution, Hungary has become the first European Union(EU) country to approve the Chinese coronavirus vaccine Sinopharm. Watch: Hungary is expected to order 500,000 doses of the vaccine.

As Europe grapples with vaccine distribution, Hungary has become the first European Union(EU) country to approve the Chinese coronavirus vaccine Sinopharm. Watch: Hungary is expected to order 500,000 doses of the vaccine. The country had approved Russia's Sputnik V vaccine last week. Hungary's drug regulator earlier had approved Britain's AstraZeneca as Budapest strives to lift coronavirus lockdown to boost the economy. Hungary completed the vaccinations of medical professionals and begun inoculating the elderly. PM Viktor Orban said the country will begin administering the general population from next month. Several countries in Europe including Spain have halted administering vaccines as the doses have finished with Pfizer under fire from the EU to distribute more vaccines. Spain is one of the worst-hit country in Europe with over 2.7 million cases and over 57,000 deaths. According to Spain's health ministry, the country has administered just over 78.9 per cent of the 1.76 million vaccines received as part of the EU's vaccination plan with shortages set to continue. Meanwhile, the WHO said vaccine manufacturers were working to plug shortfalls in supplies. "Solidarity does not necessarily mean that each country in the world starts (vaccinating) at exactly the same moment ... The good understanding is that no one is safe before everyone is safe," Hans Kluge, WHO director said. "The reality is there is a shortage of vaccines...we don't doubt that manufacturers and producers are working 24-7 to bridge the gap and we're confident the delays we are seeing now are going to be made up by extra production in the future," Klunge added.

Hungary becomes first country in EU to approve Chinese vaccine Sinopharm as Europe grapples with virus

After the UK announced the launch of a new visa scheme potentially benefiting millions of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-slams-interference-by-eu-lawmakers-on-hong-kong-358574">Hong Kongers</a>, China said it will "no longer recognise" the British national (overseas) passport.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/beijing-tries-to-throttle-hong-kongs-pro-democracy-movement-355168/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"From January 31, China will no longer recognise the so-called BNO passport as a travel document and ID document, and reserves the right to take further actions," foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said.

According to the British government, starting January 31, &nbsp;holders of British national overseas status will be able to apply to live and work in the UK for up to five years and they can eventually seek a UK citizenship.

The new visa path opens up entry to the UK to an estimated 2.9 million adults in Hong Kong and their dependents who number nearly 2.3 million.

According to the British government, starting January 31, &nbsp;holders of British national overseas status will be able to apply to live and work in the UK for up to five years and they can eventually seek a UK citizenship.

The new visa path opens up entry to the UK to an estimated 2.9 million adults in Hong Kong and their dependents who number nearly 2.3 million. The BN(O) is a special status created under British law in 1987 that relates to Hong Kong.

"The UK is trying to turn large numbers of Hong Kong residents into second-class UK citizens... and has already completely changed the nature of the BNO," the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman asserted.

The Boris Johnson government has said it is acting in response to a national security law imposed by China in June last year on Hong Kong which has targeted the anti-government protests and shredded freedom meant to last 50 years under the 1997 handover accord between the UK and China agreed upon in 1997 when the British handed over Hong Kong to China under the "one country, two systems" rule.

After the UK announced the launch of a new visa scheme potentially benefiting millions of Hong Kongers, China said it will "no longer recognise" the British national (overseas) passport.

After the UK announced the launch of a new visa scheme potentially benefiting millions of Hong Kongers, China said it will "no longer recognise" the British national (overseas) passport. Watch: "From January 31, China will no longer recognise the so-called BNO passport as a travel document and ID document, and reserves the right to take further actions," foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said. According to the British government, starting January 31, holders of British national overseas status will be able to apply to live and work in the UK for up to five years and they can eventually seek a UK citizenship. The new visa path opens up entry to the UK to an estimated 2.9 million adults in Hong Kong and their dependents who number nearly 2.3 million. According to the British government, starting January 31, holders of British national overseas status will be able to apply to live and work in the UK for up to five years and they can eventually seek a UK citizenship. The new visa path opens up entry to the UK to an estimated 2.9 million adults in Hong Kong and their dependents who number nearly 2.3 million. The BN(O) is a special status created under British law in 1987 that relates to Hong Kong. "The UK is trying to turn large numbers of Hong Kong residents into second-class UK citizens... and has already completely changed the nature of the BNO," the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman asserted. The Boris Johnson government has said it is acting in response to a national security law imposed by China in June last year on Hong Kong which has targeted the anti-government protests and shredded freedom meant to last 50 years under the 1997 handover accord between the UK and China agreed upon in 1997 when the British handed over Hong Kong to China under the "one country, two systems" rule.

Will no longer recognise UK's BNO passport for Hong Kongers: China

As a second impeachment trial for Donald Trump approaches next month, Republicans in states across the country are lining up behind the former president with unwavering support.

Perhaps no state has demonstrated its fealty as tenaciously as Pennsylvania, where Republican officials have gone to extraordinary lengths to keep Trumpism at the center of their message as they bolster the president’s false claims of a “stolen” election.

Eight of nine Republicans in Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation voted to throw out their state’s own electoral votes for President Joe Biden on Jan. 6, just hours after a mob had stormed the Capitol.

A majority of Republicans in the state Legislature had endorsed that effort.

And one House member from the state, Scott Perry, was instrumental in promoting a plan in which Trump would fire the acting attorney general in an effort to stay in office.

In the weeks since the Nov. 3 election, Republicans in Pennsylvania have made loyalty to the defeated ex-president the sole organizing principle of the party, the latest chapter in a rightward populist march repeated across other states. As elsewhere, the Pennsylvania GOP was once led by mainstream conservatives, but it is now defined almost exclusively by Trumpism. It faces major statewide races in 2022, for offices including governor and the Senate, with an electorate that just rejected Trump in favor of Biden.

Far from engaging in self-examination, Pennsylvania Republicans are already jockeying before the 2022 primaries to prove that they fought the hardest for Trump, who, in spite of the losses by his party in the White House, the Senate and the House, still exerts a strong grip over elected Republicans and grassroots voters.

As the Republican base has shifted — suburbanites leaning more Democratic and rural white voters lining up behind Republicans over culture-war issues — GOP leaders recognize the extent to which the former president unleashed waves of support for their party. In Pennsylvania, just as in some Midwestern states, a surge of new Republican voters with grievances about a changing America was triggered by Trump, and only Trump.

“Donald Trump’s presidency and his popularity has been a big win for the Republican Party of Pennsylvania,” said Rob Gleason, a former chair of the state GOP. Even though numerous state and federal courts rejected the Trump campaign’s baseless claims of voter fraud, Gleason said the belief that the voting was rigged “lingers in the minds of a lot of people.”

He predicted it would drive Republican turnout in upcoming races. He said he had met this week with a prosecutor who “feels the election was stolen” and was pondering a run for a statewide judgeship this year.

Other Republicans are more skeptical that lock-step support of the former president is the best path forward in Pennsylvania, a critical battleground state that is likely to be up for grabs in the next several election cycles.

“We have become, over four years, the party of Trump, and it has been one test after the other,” said Ryan Costello, a former GOP House member from the Philadelphia suburbs who has been critical of Trump and is exploring a run for Senate. “It is not a sustainable growth strategy to double and triple and quadruple down on Trump when he gets divisive.”

Despite Costello’s apprehension, most Republicans thought to be mulling runs for Senate or governor have made it clear that they are prepared to pass a Trump loyalty test.

They include members of the Republican congressional delegation, hard-line members of the Legislature, and even Donald Trump Jr. The president’s oldest son is the subject of persistent rumors that he will run for high office in the state — mostly because of his ties to Pennsylvania, where he went to prep school and college. The Trump family spent an enormous amount of time campaigning in Pennsylvania in 2020, and as it seeks its next political stage, the state remains a big one.

The transformation of the Republican Party in Pennsylvania has been stark. Less than two decades ago, it was led by political centrists such as former Sen. Arlen Specter and former Gov. Tom Ridge, who became the first secretary of homeland security.

Now it is embodied by Perry, a member of the hard-line Freedom Caucus who won a fifth term in November for his Harrisburg-area seat. His Democratic opponent, Eugene DePasquale, said he lost the race “fair and square.” But he called the Republican congressman’s efforts on behalf of Trump in a scheme involving the Justice Department “a radical attempt to overthrow the election.”

Perry, a purveyor of misinformation about the presidential election, acknowledged Monday his role in introducing Trump to an official in the Justice Department. That official, Jeffrey Clark, was willing to abet Trump in pressing Georgia to invalidate its electoral votes for Biden.

The plan never unfolded. But Perry, a retired National Guard general who dodged the new metal detectors in the Capitol, rejected calls by Democrats to resign.

Just as resolute in their defense of Trump were the other Pennsylvania House Republicans who voted to reject the state’s electoral votes for Biden on Jan. 6. Rep. Conor Lamb, a Democrat from western Pennsylvania, said on the House floor that his Republican colleagues should be “ashamed of themselves” for spreading lies that led to the breach of the Capitol. His impassioned speech nearly precipitated a fistfight.

“The Trump people were putting out a message: ‘We better see you publicly fighting for us,’” Lamb said in an interview this week. “The 2022 midterm is shaping up to be choosing the candidate who loves Trump the most,” he said of GOP primary contests.

But he called that an opportunity for Democrats to talk about issues affecting people’s lives, such as the economy and the pandemic, while Republicans remain fixated on the 2020 election. “They’re making their main political argument at this point based on a fraud; they’re not making it based on real-world conditions,” he said. “The election was not stolen. Biden really beat Trump.”

Lamb, who has won three races in districts that voted for Trump, has been mentioned as a contender for the open Senate seat. “I would say I will be thinking about it,” he said.

Apart from the House delegation, much of the Trumpist takeover in Pennsylvania has occurred in the Legislature, where Republicans held their majorities in both chambers in November (a result that the party fails to mention in its vehement claims of election fraud in the presidential race).

In contrast to states such as Georgia and Arizona, where top Republican officials debunked disinformation from Trump and his allies, in Pennsylvania no senior Republicans in Harrisburg pushed back on false claims about election results, some of them created by lawmakers themselves or by Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani.

A majority of Republicans in the General Assembly urged the state’s congressional delegation in December to reject the state’s 20 electoral votes for Biden after the results were legally certified. Such was the pressure from grassroots Trump supporters that the majority leader of the state Senate, Kim Ward, said in an interview last month that if she refused to sign on to such an effort, “I’d get my house bombed tonight.”

The full embrace of Trump’s lies about a “stolen” election followed months of Republican lawmakers’ echoing his dismissals of the coronavirus threat. Lawmakers who appeared at “ReOpen PA” rallies in Harrisburg in May, flouting masks and limits on crowd sizes, morphed into leading purveyors of disinformation about election fraud after Nov. 3.

One state senator, Doug Mastriano, who is widely believed to be considering a run for governor, paid for buses and offered rides to the “Save America” protests in Washington on Jan. 6 that preceded the breach of the Capitol. Mastriano has said he left before events turned violent.

As the Legislature convened its 2021 session, Republicans recommitted to a hard-line agenda. Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, a Democrat, was removed by the Republican majority as president of the state Senate at a legislative session Jan. 5. Fetterman had strenuously objected to Republicans’ refusal to seat a Democratic lawmaker whose narrow victory had been officially certified.

Republicans in the state House are seeking to change how judges are elected to ensure a Republican majority on the state Supreme Court, after the current court, with a Democratic lean, ruled against claims in election fraud cases last year.

Republican lawmakers have also plunged into a lengthy examination of the November election, even though no evidence of more than trivial fraud has surfaced, and courts rejected claims that election officials overstepped their legal mandates.

Republicans announced 14 hearings in the House. Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar, a Democrat, was grilled in the first one last week. Dismissing the series of hearings as a “charade,” she called on Republicans not to sow further distrust in the integrity of the state’s election, which drew a record 71% turnout despite a pandemic.

“We need to stand together as Americans,” Boockvar said in an interview, “and tell the voters these were lies, that your votes counted, they were checked, they were audited, they were recounted many places, and the numbers added up and they were certified.”

As a second impeachment trial for Donald Trump approaches next month, Republicans in states across the country are lining up behind the former president with unwavering support.

As a second impeachment trial for Donald Trump approaches next month, Republicans in states across the country are lining up behind the former president with unwavering support. Perhaps no state has demonstrated its fealty as tenaciously as Pennsylvania, where Republican officials have gone to extraordinary lengths to keep Trumpism at the center of their message as they bolster the president’s false claims of a “stolen” election. Eight of nine Republicans in Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation voted to throw out their state’s own electoral votes for President Joe Biden on Jan. 6, just hours after a mob had stormed the Capitol. A majority of Republicans in the state Legislature had endorsed that effort. And one House member from the state, Scott Perry, was instrumental in promoting a plan in which Trump would fire the acting attorney general in an effort to stay in office. In the weeks since the Nov. 3 election, Republicans in Pennsylvania have made loyalty to the defeated ex-president the sole organizing principle of the party, the latest chapter in a rightward populist march repeated across other states. As elsewhere, the Pennsylvania GOP was once led by mainstream conservatives, but it is now defined almost exclusively by Trumpism. It faces major statewide races in 2022, for offices including governor and the Senate, with an electorate that just rejected Trump in favor of Biden. Far from engaging in self-examination, Pennsylvania Republicans are already jockeying before the 2022 primaries to prove that they fought the hardest for Trump, who, in spite of the losses by his party in the White House, the Senate and the House, still exerts a strong grip over elected Republicans and grassroots voters. As the Republican base has shifted — suburbanites leaning more Democratic and rural white voters lining up behind Republicans over culture-war issues — GOP leaders recognize the extent to which the former president unleashed waves of support for their party. In Pennsylvania, just as in some Midwestern states, a surge of new Republican voters with grievances about a changing America was triggered by Trump, and only Trump. “Donald Trump’s presidency and his popularity has been a big win for the Republican Party of Pennsylvania,” said Rob Gleason, a former chair of the state GOP. Even though numerous state and federal courts rejected the Trump campaign’s baseless claims of voter fraud, Gleason said the belief that the voting was rigged “lingers in the minds of a lot of people.” He predicted it would drive Republican turnout in upcoming races. He said he had met this week with a prosecutor who “feels the election was stolen” and was pondering a run for a statewide judgeship this year. Other Republicans are more skeptical that lock-step support of the former president is the best path forward in Pennsylvania, a critical battleground state that is likely to be up for grabs in the next several election cycles. “We have become, over four years, the party of Trump, and it has been one test after the other,” said Ryan Costello, a former GOP House member from the Philadelphia suburbs who has been critical of Trump and is exploring a run for Senate. “It is not a sustainable growth strategy to double and triple and quadruple down on Trump when he gets divisive.” Despite Costello’s apprehension, most Republicans thought to be mulling runs for Senate or governor have made it clear that they are prepared to pass a Trump loyalty test. They include members of the Republican congressional delegation, hard-line members of the Legislature, and even Donald Trump Jr. The president’s oldest son is the subject of persistent rumors that he will run for high office in the state — mostly because of his ties to Pennsylvania, where he went to prep school and college. The Trump family spent an enormous amount of time campaigning in Pennsylvania in 2020, and as it seeks its next political stage, the state remains a big one. The transformation of the Republican Party in Pennsylvania has been stark. Less than two decades ago, it was led by political centrists such as former Sen. Arlen Specter and former Gov. Tom Ridge, who became the first secretary of homeland security. Now it is embodied by Perry, a member of the hard-line Freedom Caucus who won a fifth term in November for his Harrisburg-area seat. His Democratic opponent, Eugene DePasquale, said he lost the race “fair and square.” But he called the Republican congressman’s efforts on behalf of Trump in a scheme involving the Justice Department “a radical attempt to overthrow the election.” Perry, a purveyor of misinformation about the presidential election, acknowledged Monday his role in introducing Trump to an official in the Justice Department. That official, Jeffrey Clark, was willing to abet Trump in pressing Georgia to invalidate its electoral votes for Biden. The plan never unfolded. But Perry, a retired National Guard general who dodged the new metal detectors in the Capitol, rejected calls by Democrats to resign. Just as resolute in their defense of Trump were the other Pennsylvania House Republicans who voted to reject the state’s electoral votes for Biden on Jan. 6. Rep. Conor Lamb, a Democrat from western Pennsylvania, said on the House floor that his Republican colleagues should be “ashamed of themselves” for spreading lies that led to the breach of the Capitol. His impassioned speech nearly precipitated a fistfight. “The Trump people were putting out a message: ‘We better see you publicly fighting for us,’” Lamb said in an interview this week. “The 2022 midterm is shaping up to be choosing the candidate who loves Trump the most,” he said of GOP primary contests. But he called that an opportunity for Democrats to talk about issues affecting people’s lives, such as the economy and the pandemic, while Republicans remain fixated on the 2020 election. “They’re making their main political argument at this point based on a fraud; they’re not making it based on real-world conditions,” he said. “The election was not stolen. Biden really beat Trump.” Lamb, who has won three races in districts that voted for Trump, has been mentioned as a contender for the open Senate seat. “I would say I will be thinking about it,” he said. Apart from the House delegation, much of the Trumpist takeover in Pennsylvania has occurred in the Legislature, where Republicans held their majorities in both chambers in November (a result that the party fails to mention in its vehement claims of election fraud in the presidential race). In contrast to states such as Georgia and Arizona, where top Republican officials debunked disinformation from Trump and his allies, in Pennsylvania no senior Republicans in Harrisburg pushed back on false claims about election results, some of them created by lawmakers themselves or by Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani. A majority of Republicans in the General Assembly urged the state’s congressional delegation in December to reject the state’s 20 electoral votes for Biden after the results were legally certified. Such was the pressure from grassroots Trump supporters that the majority leader of the state Senate, Kim Ward, said in an interview last month that if she refused to sign on to such an effort, “I’d get my house bombed tonight.” The full embrace of Trump’s lies about a “stolen” election followed months of Republican lawmakers’ echoing his dismissals of the coronavirus threat. Lawmakers who appeared at “ReOpen PA” rallies in Harrisburg in May, flouting masks and limits on crowd sizes, morphed into leading purveyors of disinformation about election fraud after Nov. 3. One state senator, Doug Mastriano, who is widely believed to be considering a run for governor, paid for buses and offered rides to the “Save America” protests in Washington on Jan. 6 that preceded the breach of the Capitol. Mastriano has said he left before events turned violent. As the Legislature convened its 2021 session, Republicans recommitted to a hard-line agenda. Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, a Democrat, was removed by the Republican majority as president of the state Senate at a legislative session Jan. 5. Fetterman had strenuously objected to Republicans’ refusal to seat a Democratic lawmaker whose narrow victory had been officially certified. Republicans in the state House are seeking to change how judges are elected to ensure a Republican majority on the state Supreme Court, after the current court, with a Democratic lean, ruled against claims in election fraud cases last year. Republican lawmakers have also plunged into a lengthy examination of the November election, even though no evidence of more than trivial fraud has surfaced, and courts rejected claims that election officials overstepped their legal mandates. Republicans announced 14 hearings in the House. Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar, a Democrat, was grilled in the first one last week. Dismissing the series of hearings as a “charade,” she called on Republicans not to sow further distrust in the integrity of the state’s election, which drew a record 71% turnout despite a pandemic. “We need to stand together as Americans,” Boockvar said in an interview, “and tell the voters these were lies, that your votes counted, they were checked, they were audited, they were recounted many places, and the numbers added up and they were certified.”

Why Pennsylvania Republican leaders are all-in for Trump more than ever

South Carolina in the United States detected the first case of the new <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/insufficient-data-german-board-says-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine-should-not-be-used-for-over-65s-359945">coronavirus</a> variant identified in South Africa in two adults who reportedly had no travel history.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/how-german-firms-are-battling-coronavirus-pandemic-359839/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Dr. Brannon Traxler, DHEC Interim Public Health Director said that, “While more COVID-19 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/insufficient-data-german-board-says-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine-should-not-be-used-for-over-65s-359945">vaccines </a>are on the way, supplies are still limited. Every one of us must recommit to the fight by recognizing that we are all on the front lines now. We are all in this together.” Traxler added that “the fight against this deadly virus is far from over”.

Minnesota officials had earlier reported the first case of the variant found in Brazil after a person arrived in the United States after visiting the South American nation. The South African variant was first reported in October last year since then it has spread to at least 24 countries.

The United States is the worst-hit country due to the virus with over 25 million coronavirus cases and 429,870 fatalities .

New Zealand became the latest country to confirm two new cases of the South African coronavirus strain on Thursday. The<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-must-be-allowed-to-work-free-from-political-interference-china-on-virus-probe-359878"> virus </a>cases were detected in Pullman hotel in Auckland ending a run of over two months with no cases in the community.

Auckland was under two-week lockdown in August last year after an outbreak. Portugal had said earlier that it was suspending flights to Brazil due to surge in coronavirus cases and the detection of the new variant. Britain, the United States, Italy and Peru have already barred flights from Brazil.

Germany and Denmark earlier had also detected the South African virus variant.

Amid the surge in cases, Moderna confirmed that its lab studies showed coronavirus vaccine was effective against variants of the virus.

South Carolina in the United States detected the first case of the new coronavirus variant identified in South Africa in two adults who reportedly had no travel history.

South Carolina in the United States detected the first case of the new coronavirus variant identified in South Africa in two adults who reportedly had no travel history. Watch: Dr. Brannon Traxler, DHEC Interim Public Health Director said that, “While more COVID-19 vaccines are on the way, supplies are still limited. Every one of us must recommit to the fight by recognizing that we are all on the front lines now. We are all in this together.” Traxler added that “the fight against this deadly virus is far from over”. Minnesota officials had earlier reported the first case of the variant found in Brazil after a person arrived in the United States after visiting the South American nation. The South African variant was first reported in October last year since then it has spread to at least 24 countries. The United States is the worst-hit country due to the virus with over 25 million coronavirus cases and 429,870 fatalities . New Zealand became the latest country to confirm two new cases of the South African coronavirus strain on Thursday. The virus cases were detected in Pullman hotel in Auckland ending a run of over two months with no cases in the community. Auckland was under two-week lockdown in August last year after an outbreak. Portugal had said earlier that it was suspending flights to Brazil due to surge in coronavirus cases and the detection of the new variant. Britain, the United States, Italy and Peru have already barred flights from Brazil. Germany and Denmark earlier had also detected the South African virus variant. Amid the surge in cases, Moderna confirmed that its lab studies showed coronavirus vaccine was effective against variants of the virus.

US detects first cases of South African variant amid virus surge

China's grand vaccine export plans have been failing and India's moves have rattled China. The Chinese state media is furious leading Chinese dailies are crying foul.

In the last few months, India has strategically countered China's influence both at home and abroad. India has struck China's monopoly in the tech industry starting from June 2020 &nbsp;a total of 266 Chinese apps have been banned by the Indian government - TikTok, Share-it, UC browser, WeChat have been banned.

India has also countered China's aggressive wolf diplomacy through its vaccine diplomacy initiative from Nepal, Afghanistan, Morocco and Brazil. India has been nursing the world back to health. India's goodwill gestures have overshadowed China's predatory investments. The Chinese media is mighty upset leading Chinese voices are worried and the uneasiness is evident in their reports and statements.

On January 26, China's sabre-rattling mouthpiece the Global Times carried this report on the app ban.

"India is taking revenge on China and also set up a bad example for the world to revenge China," it said.&nbsp;

"The purpose in one side is to take revenge against China and on the other hand, is to satisfy the needs of interest groups in India showing a tough attitude towards China," it added.

In CGTN on January 27, &nbsp;a statement by Ji Rong, the spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in India, said: "The Chinese government always asks Chinese companies to observe international rules and local laws and regulations when doing business overseas, we urge the Indian side to immediately correct its discriminatory measures and avoid causing further damage to bilateral cooperation."

All this is being said by a country that knows best how to damage bilateral relations severely with its continued aggression and then the Editor-in-Chief of Global Times Hu Xijin said: "Chinese companies must defend their rights by using laws as weapons and seek compensation from the Indian government."

China's uneasiness with India's vaccine diplomacy is on a different level altogether. Another report was carried in the Global Times on January 26 accusing India of being behind the halting of Chinese vaccine trials in Bangladesh.

"The clinical trials were delayed until October due to the Indian government allegedly meddling in the two sides" and that "India has been smearing China's cooperation with countries in South Asia on the anti-epidemic fight as the region is traditionally under India's influence."

The fact is that the world is turning away from China including&nbsp;Chinese products and&nbsp;apps which now also includes Chinese vaccines. It is time for China to introspect and not blame others for its fall from grace. As for India, it has made it amply clear that it will not bow to Chinese threats.&nbsp;

New Delhi has set the terms for any future engagement with China by banning the apps and by providing vaccines to the neighbourhood. It has shown the importance of togetherness and healing during a crisis which China clearly hasn't done.

India's external affairs minister S Jaishankar recently issued a statement, he said that "the events in eastern Ladakh last year profoundly disturbed the relationship, they not only signal a disregard for commitments of minimizing the troop levels but also showed a willingness to breach peace and tranquillity."

"Development of ties can only be based on mutuality, mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interests," India's EAM added. The message is loud and clear - the relations can only get back on track if China respects India's sovereignty, interests and its boundaries.

China's grand vaccine export plans have been failing and India's moves have rattled China. The Chinese state media is furious leading Chinese dailies are crying foul.

China's grand vaccine export plans have been failing and India's moves have rattled China. The Chinese state media is furious leading Chinese dailies are crying foul. In the last few months, India has strategically countered China's influence both at home and abroad. India has struck China's monopoly in the tech industry starting from June 2020 a total of 266 Chinese apps have been banned by the Indian government - TikTok, Share-it, UC browser, WeChat have been banned. India has also countered China's aggressive wolf diplomacy through its vaccine diplomacy initiative from Nepal, Afghanistan, Morocco and Brazil. India has been nursing the world back to health. India's goodwill gestures have overshadowed China's predatory investments. The Chinese media is mighty upset leading Chinese voices are worried and the uneasiness is evident in their reports and statements. On January 26, China's sabre-rattling mouthpiece the Global Times carried this report on the app ban. "India is taking revenge on China and also set up a bad example for the world to revenge China," it said. "The purpose in one side is to take revenge against China and on the other hand, is to satisfy the needs of interest groups in India showing a tough attitude towards China," it added. In CGTN on January 27, a statement by Ji Rong, the spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in India, said: "The Chinese government always asks Chinese companies to observe international rules and local laws and regulations when doing business overseas, we urge the Indian side to immediately correct its discriminatory measures and avoid causing further damage to bilateral cooperation." All this is being said by a country that knows best how to damage bilateral relations severely with its continued aggression and then the Editor-in-Chief of Global Times Hu Xijin said: "Chinese companies must defend their rights by using laws as weapons and seek compensation from the Indian government." China's uneasiness with India's vaccine diplomacy is on a different level altogether. Another report was carried in the Global Times on January 26 accusing India of being behind the halting of Chinese vaccine trials in Bangladesh. "The clinical trials were delayed until October due to the Indian government allegedly meddling in the two sides" and that "India has been smearing China's cooperation with countries in South Asia on the anti-epidemic fight as the region is traditionally under India's influence." The fact is that the world is turning away from China including Chinese products and apps which now also includes Chinese vaccines. It is time for China to introspect and not blame others for its fall from grace. As for India, it has made it amply clear that it will not bow to Chinese threats. New Delhi has set the terms for any future engagement with China by banning the apps and by providing vaccines to the neighbourhood. It has shown the importance of togetherness and healing during a crisis which China clearly hasn't done. India's external affairs minister S Jaishankar recently issued a statement, he said that "the events in eastern Ladakh last year profoundly disturbed the relationship, they not only signal a disregard for commitments of minimizing the troop levels but also showed a willingness to breach peace and tranquillity." "Development of ties can only be based on mutuality, mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interests," India's EAM added. The message is loud and clear - the relations can only get back on track if China respects India's sovereignty, interests and its boundaries.

How India is countering China's aggressive wolf diplomacy with vaccine diplomacy

&nbsp;As Europe grapples with the virus, Germany's vaccine commission STIKO said the &nbsp;AstraZeneca's coronavirus <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pfizer-says-covid-vaccine-effective-against-uk-south-africa-mutations-359921">vaccine</a> should not be administered for those over 65 years of age.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine-supplies-to-eu-nations-lower-than-expected-359875/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"There is currently insufficient data to assess the efficacy of the vaccine for persons aged 65 years and older," the German commission said, adding,"other than this limitation, this vaccine is considered appropriate."

The Standing Vaccine Commission at the Robert Koch Institute said the jabs should be allowed for people aged between 18 and 64 years old. The AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine has already been approved by the UK.

&nbsp;The vaccine developed by Oxford University has not been granted approval for general use in the European Union(EU). The EU has been scrambling to get its <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pharma-distributors-in-talks-with-us-for-cut-of-covid-vaccine-shipping-deal-359900">vaccine</a> programme in high gear amid shortage of shots.&nbsp;

&nbsp;The EU publicly rebuked AstraZeneca for failing to deliver vaccines to the European nations and even asked if it could divert supplies from Britain. AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot said the EU was late in tieing up the supply contract so the company did not have enough time to iron out production problems at its vaccine factory Belgium.

Meanwhile, Britain which had stepped out of the EU on January 1 said its deliveries must be honoured.&nbsp;

Several EU nations including France, Spain and Germany have run shot of Pfizer-BioNtech vaccines with several vaccination centres no longer taking appointments for the first jab due to delivery delays.

Portugal has also delayed its vaccination programme due to delays in delivery even as the EU warned AstraZeneca that it would use all legal means or even block exports unless it agreed to deliver shots.

As Europe grapples with the virus, Germany's vaccine commission STIKO said the AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine should not be administered for those over 65 years of age.

As Europe grapples with the virus, Germany's vaccine commission STIKO said the AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine should not be administered for those over 65 years of age. Watch: "There is currently insufficient data to assess the efficacy of the vaccine for persons aged 65 years and older," the German commission said, adding,"other than this limitation, this vaccine is considered appropriate." The Standing Vaccine Commission at the Robert Koch Institute said the jabs should be allowed for people aged between 18 and 64 years old. The AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine has already been approved by the UK. The vaccine developed by Oxford University has not been granted approval for general use in the European Union(EU). The EU has been scrambling to get its vaccine programme in high gear amid shortage of shots. The EU publicly rebuked AstraZeneca for failing to deliver vaccines to the European nations and even asked if it could divert supplies from Britain. AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot said the EU was late in tieing up the supply contract so the company did not have enough time to iron out production problems at its vaccine factory Belgium. Meanwhile, Britain which had stepped out of the EU on January 1 said its deliveries must be honoured. Several EU nations including France, Spain and Germany have run shot of Pfizer-BioNtech vaccines with several vaccination centres no longer taking appointments for the first jab due to delivery delays. Portugal has also delayed its vaccination programme due to delays in delivery even as the EU warned AstraZeneca that it would use all legal means or even block exports unless it agreed to deliver shots.

'Insufficient data': German board says AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine should not be used for over-65s

According to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-must-be-allowed-to-work-free-from-political-interference-china-on-virus-probe-359878">World Health Organisation</a>(WHO), the new and more contagious COVID-19 variant first spotted in Britain has now spread to 70 countries while the variant first detected in South Africa has now spread to 31 countries.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/global-ranks-of-the-countries-that-handled-covid-pandemic-where-india-ranks-359911/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

A report on new variants has highlighted concerns of the purported ease of transmission and extensive mutations in spike protein. However, the WHO is confident that COVID-19 vaccine development can adapt to variants.

"We have no evidence this far that the vaccine will be any less effective. But that can happen. Look at influenza. We change the vaccine composition twice a year, for the northern and southern hemisphere, and we're able to issue vaccines very, very quickly to combat the predominant flu strains every year. So, there's no reason why we should not be able to vaccinate against COVID-19, even down the line, if this virus evolves to a point where our vaccines begin to lose effectiveness, we can adapt those vaccines and I believe we can adapt those vaccines quickly," Mike Ryan, head of<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-team-probing-coronavirus-origin-in-china-leaves-wuhan-quarantine-359822"> WHO</a> emergencies programme, said.

Meanwhile, as new variants of the virus have spurred an increase in infections, Israel plans to parlay its COVID-19 vaccination drive. The highly infectious foreign variants are currently flooding Israeli hospitals with serious cases.&nbsp;

"We are in a war with very low intelligence, that means that things are changing as we go. What I talk right now is something that we didn't anticipate and the fact is that we hope that the vaccine will be effective against the different mutations that are out there. So if that will be correct and as of now that is the assumption, the most relevant by Moderna and Pfizer,&nbsp;they checked it to the known mutations and it seems the vaccine is effective," &nbsp;Yoav Kisch, Israeli deputy health minister, said.

The new mutant strain was discovered in the UK in mid-December. It prompted several countries to implement travel restrictions on anyone arriving from the UK. Last week Prime Minister Boris Johnson admitted that the new variant could be linked to higher mortality rates.

According to the World Health Organisation(WHO), the new and more contagious COVID-19 variant first spotted in Britain has now spread to 70 countries while the variant first detected in South Africa has now spread to 31 countries.

According to the World Health Organisation(WHO), the new and more contagious COVID-19 variant first spotted in Britain has now spread to 70 countries while the variant first detected in South Africa has now spread to 31 countries. Watch: A report on new variants has highlighted concerns of the purported ease of transmission and extensive mutations in spike protein. However, the WHO is confident that COVID-19 vaccine development can adapt to variants. "We have no evidence this far that the vaccine will be any less effective. But that can happen. Look at influenza. We change the vaccine composition twice a year, for the northern and southern hemisphere, and we're able to issue vaccines very, very quickly to combat the predominant flu strains every year. So, there's no reason why we should not be able to vaccinate against COVID-19, even down the line, if this virus evolves to a point where our vaccines begin to lose effectiveness, we can adapt those vaccines and I believe we can adapt those vaccines quickly," Mike Ryan, head of WHO emergencies programme, said. Meanwhile, as new variants of the virus have spurred an increase in infections, Israel plans to parlay its COVID-19 vaccination drive. The highly infectious foreign variants are currently flooding Israeli hospitals with serious cases. "We are in a war with very low intelligence, that means that things are changing as we go. What I talk right now is something that we didn't anticipate and the fact is that we hope that the vaccine will be effective against the different mutations that are out there. So if that will be correct and as of now that is the assumption, the most relevant by Moderna and Pfizer, they checked it to the known mutations and it seems the vaccine is effective," Yoav Kisch, Israeli deputy health minister, said. The new mutant strain was discovered in the UK in mid-December. It prompted several countries to implement travel restrictions on anyone arriving from the UK. Last week Prime Minister Boris Johnson admitted that the new variant could be linked to higher mortality rates.

We are in war with very low intelligence, says Israel minister on coronavirus vaccination

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi today while addressing the virtual <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-cold-war-will-only-push-the-world-into-division-says-president-xi-at-world-economic-forum-359255">World Economic Forum</a>(WEF) said that 2.3 million people have been vaccinated in just 12 days with a steady drop in coronavirus cases.

"I bring the message of positivity and hope for the world on behalf of over&nbsp;1.3 billion Indians," PM Modi told almost 400 industry leaders at the summit during the virtual summit. "India is now exporting PPE kits and masks," the Indian prime minister said.

"We used technology to the fullest," PM Modi said, adding, "India beat all odds in the fight against coronavirus."

The Indian PM lauded India's fight against coronavirus while informing that virus drugs was&nbsp;exported to 150 countries. "We prioritised saving each life at the hight of the pandemic," PM Modi asserted.

"In next some months, we will achieve our target of vaccinating 300 million elderly people and people with comorbidities," PM Modi said.

"Right now there are two Made in India vaccines. World Economic Forum will be relieved to know that many more vaccines will come from India in the future."

India's prime minister informed that &nbsp;"Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan" will help to build capacity stressing over&nbsp;India's reform which was long-awaited.

"When the virus hit, difficulties weren't any less for India,"&nbsp;the PM said, "I remember how experts from around the world predicted how India will be the worst affected country.&nbsp;It was said that as many as 700-800 million Indians will be affected while more than 2 million will die."

"India kept moving ahead with proactive approach. We trained our resources to fight the virus&nbsp;with testing and tracking to fight the virus. Today, India is one of the few countries which has been able to save most its&nbsp;citizens," India's prime minister said.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi today while addressing the virtual World Economic Forum(WEF) said that 2.3 million people have been vaccinated in just 12 days with a steady drop in coronavirus cases.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi today while addressing the virtual World Economic Forum(WEF) said that 2.3 million people have been vaccinated in just 12 days with a steady drop in coronavirus cases. "I bring the message of positivity and hope for the world on behalf of over 1.3 billion Indians," PM Modi told almost 400 industry leaders at the summit during the virtual summit. "India is now exporting PPE kits and masks," the Indian prime minister said. "We used technology to the fullest," PM Modi said, adding, "India beat all odds in the fight against coronavirus." The Indian PM lauded India's fight against coronavirus while informing that virus drugs was exported to 150 countries. "We prioritised saving each life at the hight of the pandemic," PM Modi asserted. "In next some months, we will achieve our target of vaccinating 300 million elderly people and people with comorbidities," PM Modi said. "Right now there are two Made in India vaccines. World Economic Forum will be relieved to know that many more vaccines will come from India in the future." India's prime minister informed that "Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan" will help to build capacity stressing over India's reform which was long-awaited. "When the virus hit, difficulties weren't any less for India," the PM said, "I remember how experts from around the world predicted how India will be the worst affected country. It was said that as many as 700-800 million Indians will be affected while more than 2 million will die." "India kept moving ahead with proactive approach. We trained our resources to fight the virus with testing and tracking to fight the virus. Today, India is one of the few countries which has been able to save most its citizens," India's prime minister said.

India beat all odds in fight against coronavirus, says PM Modi at World Economic Forum's virtual summit

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