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one out of every 50 peanle in England has COVID, with that ratio in London being one in 30. Prime Minister Boris Johnson “unveiled the statistics as he vowed f speed up the government’s vaccination program, in order eventual ily tol ift the lates st fockdown,“ which Johnson “put the “country into” on Monday. On AN 4 § 79 a once story >. AL er Muir, 7 7, 66M) }, James According te the AS (1/8, Kirka}, the UK “Is facing along, bleak winter as cold, wet weather and e more contagious variant of the coronavirus,” which has Se ut unprecedented strain onthe “nation’s haspitais and force record nurnbers of patients to wait 12 hours or more, sometimes on ambulance gurneys, before receiving treatment.” The : KY 3 (2/5, Castle, Santora, —20.6M} reports that with “more than a milion confirmed cases in the week ending Jan. 2 ora percent of England’s population, Britain is ina rece against ti individuals in England are now infected with the Oren Official survey results rry y N ime to distribute vaccines.’ Israel Leading Worid In Coronavirus Vaccination. {i/5, story &, 1:30, Holt, 6 BEM}, Richard Engel reported israel “is rolling gut the COVID vaccine far more quickly and efficiently than any other nation by far.” Accarding fo Engel, “israel has immunized 1.3 railon people, about 12% of the population, with the Pfizer vaccine. And of the top priority group including these over 60 or in fragie health they've given the first shot to 55%." However, the | (i/S, Tarnopoisxy, 3.37M} reports that while isgreel’s “extragrdinary achievement sing “hailed by public healt xpe rts at horne and ebroad, ard one that could propel if toward coveted herd immu aye more rapidly than almost any nation,” ‘the country faces “criticism for leaving behind the nearly 5 rniticn Palestinians uncer ifs control in the West Bank end Gaza Strip, who are expected to wait consider ably longer for | Mass inoculation.” | Palau Would Owe Vaccination Effort To Operation Warp Speed. The W Sast (1/5, Berger, 10.52M) reports Palau, ¢ “tiny isiand nation’ thal is “partnered ow ith the U i States under a ‘free association’ agreement,” could soon “vaccinate nearly its entire po pulation against the coronavirus. if it succeeds, it will have Operation Warp Speed, the ULS. vaccine development and distribution plan, to thank.” Te Post adds 7 that Palau sisclation has 'covid- £9, the iiness caused by the virus,“ and this week, al fer receiving 0 doses oft the ‘Moderna coronavirus vaccine through the U.S. program Saturday, the counts y ) swiftly began a | mass vaccination pian for its population of £3,000.” hi US Accuses iran Of Seizing South Korean Tanker In Response To Sanctions. Qo an Kwai, Choe, 20, 6M) repens tha 3 f South Korea | wil send a a 1 delegation to forces." hee ording ae the THY nes, “Lranian ¢ oO Fic “als * ‘said i the s ¢ ship v Was deta ined in nth rc Pe ers Sah ‘Gut hy the islamic Revolutiona ry Guards Corps because it had violated envircnrnentai protocols and was polluting the sea,” but the seizure happened “as Tehran has sought to pressure the government in Seoul to release bout S7 billion in revenues from oil sales that remain frozen in South Korean banks since the Trurnp administration tightened sanctions on Iran.” The Times reports that “news outlets linked te the Revolutionary Guards ran front-page headlines on Tuesday linking the seizure of the ship to negotiations with South Korea cn releasing the frozen funds.” The * (3/5, §6.52M)} reports that the State Departrnent called the seizure “part of a clear atternpt to extort the internationel community into relieving the pressure of ne sanctions.” Iran “rejected that characterization, even as # repeated ts deme ne for Seoul te return cnioney that has been frozen bY its banks due to U.S. sanctions.” Tranlan dovernrnent spokesman ' Al Rabiel toid reporters, "We've becarne used te such allegations... but if there is any hostage- 'taking, itis Korea’s Goverrunent that is holding $7 billion which belongs to us hostage on baseless s (1/5, Cha) says iran’s “ability to challenge shipping in the Gulf is one of its mein vattoterise)-58