My Daily Routine (MD Mujeeb Subhan)

  Rivalry between China and the United States in   space exploration   is expected to intensify after Washington signed a legal framework for behaviour in space with seven other nations, Chinese observers say. Nasa’s new Artemis Accords were signed on Tuesday between the US and Australia, Britain, Canada, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg and the United Arab Emirates. The accords allow countries or private companies to extract lunar resources and create temporary “safety zones” on the moon for their operation to “avoid harmful interference” from others. They also require countries to be transparent about their plans in space and to share their scientific discoveries as required by the Outer Space Treaty, and to take part in mutual emergency help and reduction of space debris. Nasa says the accords will create a baseline for other nations to follow. Photo: MCT Mike Gold, Nasa’s acting associate administrator for the office of international and inter-agency relations, said even thou...

AFP/Files LONDON: British pharmaceuticals group AstraZeneca on Thursday said it had secured more than $1.0 billion from the United States to help fund production of its coronavirus vaccine. AstraZeneca is partnering with University of Oxford to develop and distribute a vaccine being trialled in the UK. It comes amid concerns that the United States could have a vaccine before other countries thanks to its large-scale funding of pharmaceutical companies around the world. France has slammed Paris-based drugs giant Sanofi for suggesting the US would receive its vaccine first, as world leaders demand that the science should be shared among nations. AstraZeneca on Thursday said it had "received support of more than $1.0 billion from the US Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authorit for the development, production and delivery of the vaccine". The company however added it was in contact with governments and international health institutions to ensure the vac...