British officials have authorized a COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use, greenlighting the world's first shot against the virus that's backed by rigorous science and taking a major step toward eventually ending the pandemic. The go-ahead Wednesday for the vaccine developed by American drugmaker Pfizer and Germany's BioNTech comes as the virus surges again in the United States and Europe, putting pressure on hospitals and morgues in some places and forcing new rounds of restrictions that have devastated economies. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency recommended the vaccine co

Swedish authorities said Friday they need more information before deciding whether to reopen the case of a 1994 ferry sinking in the Baltic that killed 852 people, in one of Europe's deadliest peacetime disasters at sea. A TV documentary aired Sept. 28 on the M/S Estonia includes video images from the wreck site showing a hole in the hull measuring 4 metres (13 feet) on the starboard side. A 1997 report concluded that it sank after the bow door locks failed in a storm, and flatly rejected the theory of a hole, which has long been the focus of speculation about a possible explosion on board. T

Julian Assange's partner, Stella Moris, has tweeted President Donald Trump on Thanksgiving, appealing to him to pardon the WikiLeaks founder. Moris posted a photo of their two young children on Twitter Thursday and wrote: "These are Julian's sons Max and Gabriel. They need their father. Our family needs to be whole again." She added: "I beg you, please bring him home for Christmas." Assange, 49, remains in a British prison cell as he awaits a judge's decision about whether he can be sent to the U.S. to face espionage charges. He attended four weeks of an extradition hearing at London's Centra

Argentine soccer ``Golden Boy'' Diego Maradona has died at the age of 60. A person close to Maradona said he died Wednesday of a heart attack. Maradona died two weeks after being released from a Buenos Aires hospital following brain surgery. Maradona was among the best players in history and led his country to the 1986 World Cup title before later struggling with cocaine use and other health problems. He captivated fans over a two-decade career and famously made the ``Hand of God'' goal in which he punched the ball into England's net during the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals. Former Brazilian

Chinese President Xi Jinping has congratulated US President-elect Joe Biden on his victory. Xi expressed hope for "win-win co-operation" with the US, amid conflicts over trade, technology and security. China is one of the last major governments to congratulate Biden. Some commentators suggest Beijing might want to avoid straining relations with President Donald Trump, who has not conceded the election.

Afghan officials say a roadside bomb attack in central Afghanistan has killed at least 13 civilians and a traffic policeman. The attack Tuesday comes as government negotiators and the Taliban meet to find an end to decades of war. A spokesman for the Interior Ministry says 45 others were wounded in a late afternoon blast in Bamiyan city in Bamiyan province. Several shops and vehicles were destroyed or damaged in the attack. A provincial official says there were two bombs that exploded in quick succession. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack but the Islamic State group aff

President-elect Joe Biden is set to meet in Delaware with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer. A Biden transition official confirms that Pelosi and Schumer are travelling to Wilmington to meet with the president-elect in person on Friday. The official wasn't authorized to share internal planning and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday. Biden spoke with the pair by phone last week about the intensifying pandemic and prospects for passage of a COVID-19 relief bill in the lame duck session of Congress. Biden has made addressing the v

President Donald Trump has summoned Michigan's Republican legislative leaders to the White House for a meeting Friday. The meeting comes amid a longshot GOP push to overturn the certification of Democrat Joe Biden's victory in the battleground state. Two people familiar with the matter tell The Associated Press that Trump invited Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey and House Speaker Lee Chatfield. They agreed to go, according to a state official aware of the leaders' plans. The two officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations. It was not immediately clear wha

US president-elect Joe Biden has announced top White House staff positions, drawing from the senior ranks of his campaign and some of his closest confidants. Louisiana Representative Cedric Richmond says he will be giving up his seat in Congress to become a senior adviser to Biden and director of the White House Office of Public Engagement. Biden has also confirmed that former campaign manager Jen O'Malley Dillon will serve as a deputy chief of staff. Dr. Anthony Fauci recommends "uniform wearing of masks" Dr. Anthony Fauci is recommending "uniform wearing of masks" to help curb the surge of