Today's Top News Story
White House plans holiday party as Americans urged to stay home
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House plans to hold an indoor holiday reception next week just days after Thanksgiving despite ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks at the compound, and against the advice of its own advisers who are urging Americans to sacrifice their normal holiday gatherings to curb the spread of the virus. Read More
More Top Stories
Despite COVID-19 warnings, U.S. air travel soars ahead of Thanksgiving
(Reuters) - Millions of Americans are defying health warnings and traveling ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday, likely exacerbating a surge in coronavirus inflections just before a series of promising new vaccines become widely available. More »
AstraZeneca says COVID-19 'vaccine for the world' can be 90% effective
LONDON (Reuters) - AstraZeneca said on Monday its COVID-19 vaccine could be as much as 90% effective, giving the world's fight against the global pandemic a new weapon, cheaper to make, easier to distribute and faster to scale-up than rivals. More »
Biden's team takes shape as Trump's hopes of overturning election fade
WASHINGTON/WILMINGTON, Del. (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's hopes of reversing his election loss hung by a thread on Monday as Michigan and Pennsylvania looked to push ahead with certifying results, while President-elect Joe Biden filled more top jobs in his incoming administration. More »
Republican former national security officials urge party to demand Trump concession
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - More than 100 former Republican national security officials demanded on Monday that party leaders denounce President Donald Trump's refusal to concede the presidential election, calling it a dangerous and anti-democratic assault on U.S. institutions. More »
U.S. manufacturing, services activity expanding rapidly in November: IHS Markit
(Reuters) - U.S. business activity expanded at the fastest rate in more than five years in November led by the quickest pickup in manufacturing since September 2014, a survey showed on Monday in an indication the economy keeps making progress at clambering out of the COVID-19 recession even as infections surge. More »
Analysis: With end of crisis programs, Fed faces tricky post-pandemic transition
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The possible arrival of a coronavirus vaccine in the coming weeks means the Federal Reserve may soon have to lay out its plans for helping the economy navigate the potentially choppy transition to a post-pandemic world. More »
Ethiopia says Tigray capital encircled after surrender ultimatum
ADDIS ABABA/NAIROBI (Reuters) - Ethiopian federal forces were encircling the Tigray region's capital from around 50 km (30 miles) on Monday, the government said, after giving the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) a 72-hour surrender ultimatum. More »
Netanyahu met Saudi crown prince, Pompeo in Saudi Arabia - Israeli minister
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travelled to Saudi Arabia and met its crown prince, an Israeli official said on Monday, in what would be the first publicly confirmed visit there by an Israeli leader as the countries close ranks against Iran. More »
U.S. infectious disease group backs Gilead's remdesivir for COVID-19 treatment
(Reuters) - The top U.S. infectious disease medical association said on Monday that Gilead Sciences Inc's antiviral drug remdesivir should be used for hospitalized COVID-19 patients despite a World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation last week against its use. More »
