Test of vaccine to counter all flu bugs

LONDON • A seasonal flu vaccine that would be the first in the world to fight all types of the virus is to be tested in a two-year clinical trial involving more than 2,000 patients by researchers in Oxford, England.

Current flu vaccines have to be changed each year to match strains of virus circulating at the time and they do not always protect people that well, especially older patients with weak immune systems.

Significantly, the new vaccine works by stimulating the immune system to boost virus-killing T-cells, instead of antibodies.

REUTERS

EU not ready to talk trade with Britain

STRASBOURG • The European Parliament yesterday approved a motion saying Brexit talks had not made enough progress to begin the next phase, dealing a fresh blow to London's hopes of moving negotiations on to trade.

The motion urged EU leaders to postpone a decision on whether enough has been achieved in talks in order to start discussing a future relationship, at their next summit starting on Oct 19.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Taking steps towards Fatah-Hamas peace

GAZA •Prime Minister Rami al-Hamdallah yesterday chaired the first meeting in three years of the Palestinian Authority Cabinet in Gaza in a move towards reconciliation between the mainstream Fatah party and Islamist group Hamas.

Hamas seized the Gaza Strip in 2007 in fighting with Fatah forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas and has ruled the impoverished enclave of two million people since.

REUTERS