AUSTRALIA PASSES LANDMARK LAW REQUIRING TECH FIRMS TO PAY FOR NEWS

Australia’s laws forcing Google and Facebook to pay for news are ready to take effect, though the laws’ architect said it will take time for the digital giants to strike media deals.

The Parliament on Thursday passed amendments to the so-called News Media Bargaining Code agreed between Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg on Tuesday.

In return for the changes, Facebook agreed to lift a ban on Australians accessing and sharing news.

Rod Sims, the competition regulator who drafted the code, said he was happy that the amended legislation would address the market imbalance between Australian news publishers and the two gateways to the internet.

“All signs are good,” Sims told Australian Broadcasting Corp.

“The purpose of the code is to address the market power that clearly Google and Facebook have. Google and Facebook need media, but they don’t need any particular media company, and that meant media companies couldn’t do commercial deals,” the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chair added.

The rest of the laws had passed earlier, so they can now be implemented.

JOE BIDEN REVOKES DONALD TRUMP-ERA BAN ON ISSUANCE OF GREEN CARDS

President Joe Biden has lifted a freeze on green cards issued by his predecessor during the pandemic that lawyers said was blocking most legal immigration to the United States.

Former President Donald Trump last spring halted the issuance of green cards until the end of 2020 in the name of protecting the coronavirus-wracked job market a reason that Trump gave to achieve many of the cuts to legal immigration that had eluded him before the pandemic.

Trump on December 31 extended those orders until the end of March.

Trump had deemed immigrants a risk to the US labour market and blocked their entry to the United States in issuing Proclamation 10014 and Proclamation 10052.

Biden stated in his proclamation on Wednesday that shutting the door on legal immigrants does not advance the interests of the United States". To the contrary, it harms the United States, including by preventing certain family members of United States citizens and lawful permanent residents from joining their families here. It also harms industries in the United States that utilize talent from around the world," Biden stated in his proclamation.

CORONAVIRUS | LARGE REAL-WORLD STUDY CONFIRMS PFIZER COVID-19 VACCINE 94% EFFECTIVE

The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine has proven 94% effective in a study involving 1.2 million people in Israel, the first peer-reviewed real world research confirming the power of mass immunization campaigns to bring the pandemic to a close.

The paper, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Wednesday, also demonstrated there is likely a strong protective benefit against infection, a crucial element in breaking onward transmission.

"The fact that the vaccines worked so well in the real world... really does suggest that if the nations of the world can find the will, we now have the means to end COVID-19 forever," said Ben Neuman, a virologist from Texas A&M University who was not involved in the research.

The experiment was carried out between December 20 2020 and February 1, 2021 -- a period when a newer variant first identified in Britain was rampant in Israel, making the vaccine's performance all the more impressive.

WE WILL FORM A COALITION GOVERNMENT: MADHAV KUMAR NEPAL

A day after the Nepalese Supreme Court reinstated the legislature, leading political figures held a round of consultation on Wednesday for forming a coalition government. Former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal said on Wednesday that the majority of the Nepal Communist Party is against Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli and they are in talks with likeminded parties to form a coalition government.

“We are open for the formation of a coalition government as soon as the House of Representatives meets 12 days later. We are in discussion with Nepali Congress and Janata Samajvadi Party. We expect to discuss all aspects, including leadership of the coalition," Mr. Nepal told The Hindu over the phone.

He said Prime Minister Oli is politically isolated and has no option but to resign. Mr. Nepal urged not to believe rumours of a crackdown on the opposition by Mr. Oli. "At the moment, there is no environment for him to impose a drastic measure like an emergency rule because the mood of the people here is very positive," said Mr. Nepal.

Mr. Nepal and co-chair of Nepal Communist Party Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ have been at the forefront of leading the anti-Oli campaign, which prompted Mr. Oli to dissolve the lower house of the Nepalese Parliament in December. Mr. Nepal said Mr. Oli should resign before the lower house meets as he will be otherwise forced to leave.

“He has the option of quitting before the House convenes or else we will move a motion for his undemocratic action of dissolving the House in December 2020. He will be expelled from the Parliament for his dictatorial actions,” said Mr. Nepal.

PM won't step down, will face Parliament: Official

Mr. Oli will not resign immediately and implement the Supreme Court's verdict against him by facing Parliament that is due to convene within two weeks, an official representing the embattled premier said on Wednesday.

U.S. WILL SEEK TO REJOIN UNHRC: BLINKEN

The U.S. will seek re-election to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Tuesday, as he “humbly” asked for the support of UN member states. This is the latest in a series of moves by the Biden administration to reverse a pattern of retreat from multilateralism that was characteristic of the Trump administration. Former U.S. President Donald Trump had taken the U.S. out of the Council in 2018 saying it was biased against Israel and had members who were human rights abusers.

While acknowledging that American democracy was “imperfect” and often fell short of its ideals, Mr Blinken , in a video message to the 47-member Council which is currently in session, said the U.S. was placing human rights at the centre of its foreign policy and therefore seeking to rejoin the Council.

"…I'm pleased to announce the United States will seek election to the human rights council for the 2022 to 2024 term. We humbly ask for the support of all UN member States in our bid to return to a seat in this body," Mr Blinken said.

Mr. Blinken also alleged that the Council was biased against Israel – a position shared by Democrats and Republicans. The Secretary also referred to the Council’s membership.

While he praised the Council for bringing attention to the coup d’etat in Mynanmar he said those with the "worst human rights record" should not be part of the Council.

"We must work together to improve the work and membership of the council," Mr Blinken said.

CORONAVIRUS | J&J SINGLE-DOSE VACCINE 66% EFFECTIVE, SAYS FDA

Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J) single-dose vaccine protects against COVID-19, according to an analysis by U.S. regulators on Wednesday that sets the stage for a final decision on a new and easier-to-use shot to help tame the pandemic.

The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) scientists confirmed that overall the vaccine is about 66% effective at preventing moderate to severe COVID-19. The agency also said J&J’s shot — one that could help speed vaccinations by requiring just one dose instead of two — is safe to use.

That’s just one step in the FDA’s evaluation of a third vaccine option for the U.S. On Friday, the agency’s independent advisers will debate if the evidence is strong enough to recommend the long-anticipated shot. The FDA is expected to make a final decision within days.

GHANA 1st NATION TO RECEIVE CORONAVIRUS VACCINES FROM COVAX

Ghana received the world’s first delivery of coronavirus vaccines from the United Nations-backed Covax initiative on Wednesday — the long-awaited start for a program that has thus far fallen short of hopes that it would ensure shots were given quickly to the world’s most vulnerable people.

The arrival of 600,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the West African country marks the beginning of the largest vaccine procurement and supply operation in history, according to the World Health Organization and UNICEF. It is a linchpin of efforts to bring the pandemic to an end and has been hailed as the first time the world has delivered a highly sought-after vaccine to poor countries during an ongoing outbreak.

“Today marks the historic moment for which we have been planning and working so hard. With the first shipment of doses, we can make good on the promise of the COVAX facility to ensure people from less wealthy countries are not left behind in the race for life-saving vaccines,” said Henrietta Fore, executive director of UNICEF, which delivered the vaccines.

2032 OLYMPIC GAMES: BRISBANE PREFERRED BIDDER, IOC ANNOUNCES

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has named Brisbane, Australia as the preferred bidder to host the 2032 Olympic Games.

The IOC's future host commission recommended the body enters "targeted dialogue" with Brisbane bid organisers and the Australian Olympic Committee.

Several cities and countries had expressed an interest in hosting the Games, including Indonesia, Budapest, China, Doha and Germany's Ruhr Valley.

Sydney hosted the 2000 Olympic Games.

FACEBOOK PLEDGES $1 BILLION IN NEWS INVESTMENTS OVER THREE YEARS

Facebook on Wednesday pledged to invest at least $1 billion to support journalism over the next three years as the social media giant defended its handling of a dispute with Australia over payments to media organizations.

Nick Clegg, head of global affairs, said in a statement that the company stands ready to support news media while reiterating its concerns over mandated payments.

"Facebook is more than willing to partner with news publishers," Mr. Clegg said after Facebook restored news links as part of a compromise with Australian officials.

"We absolutely recognize quality journalism is at the heart of how open societies function -- informing and empowering citizens and holding the powerful to account."

NEERA TANDEN'S CONFIRMATION VOTE GETS DELAYED, WHITE HOUSE SAYS 'FIGHTING' FOR HER NOMINATION

The White House has said it is "fighting" for the nomination of Indian-American Neera Tanden to lead the Office of Management and Budget as two crucial Senate committees abruptly postponed meetings on her confirmation.

Speculation was rife on Wednesday that the White House is struggling to get the required votes for the confirmation of Tanden, amidst strong opposition from the Republicans and a few Democratic senators over her past Twitter outbursts against several lawmakers, including those from her own party.

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and the Senate Budget Committee abruptly postponed votes on Tanden's confirmation, scheduled for Wednesday.