This week’s coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic from Research Professional News
Europe
The European Medicines Agency has brought forward the date on which it could recommend approving EU use of the Covid-19 vaccine developed by BioNTech and Pfizer, by scheduling a meeting of its relevant committee for 21 December.
Nearly half of the European research libraries that responded to a survey on the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic said they expect to experience budget cuts or are already experiencing them.
A group set up to advise Croatia’s prime minister Andrej Plenković on the Covid-19 pandemic has been thrown into confusion following a high-profile falling-out among members, and between some members and the government.
Hopes that universities in France will reopen next month, along with bars and restaurants, have been dealt a blow by the Council of State, the highest administrative court.
Every tenth student in Germany is considering dropping out of their studies next year due to a shortage of money caused by the coronavirus pandemic, a survey has found.
Danish academics have scolded the government for not planning policy beyond the coronavirus pandemic, saying that the 2021 budget must be long term in outlook.
UK
The UK government has announced a virtual UK-India vaccines hub to help fight coronavirus and prevent future pandemics.
The government’s most senior scientists have said social care research, phase 2 clinical trials, and the national capacity to make tests and vaccines at scale were significant weaknesses in the UK’s initial R&D response to Covid-19.
The number of partnerships between UK universities and businesses was growing before the Covid-19 pandemic put a question mark over future collaborations, says report.
World
Two of the world’s most prominent government advisers have been honoured for their work defending science in the United States and South Africa in a year of unprecedented attacks and scrutiny.
Supercomputers in Australia and Japan are fast-tracking the fight against Covid-19, with their advanced modelling capabilities cutting years off the time needed to understand the virus, a forum has heard.
Australia
Australian universities reliant on tuition fees from international students remain in limbo as possibilities for the large-scale return of students remain unclear.