Highlights: Coronavirus cases in Europe surpass 25 million

Lockdown measures were being imposed in a northern Chinese province where coronavirus cases more than doubled in the region near Beijing that's due to host some events in next year's Winter Olympics. Rail, air and highway connections to the Hebei capital of Shijiazhuang, a city of at least 10 million people, have been suspended and prevention and control measured tightened over urban communities and villages in the area. Classes have been suspended and school dormitories isolated.

Spain will receive 600,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine against coronavirus within the coming six weeks as part of the European Union contract, Health Minister Salvador Illa said on Thursday. Illa, who announced he would run for presidency of the wealthy region of Catalonia, also said he would stay on as health minister until he begins campaigning for the elections, due in February.

Japanese authorities are set to impose a one-month state of emergency in Tokyo and three neighbouring prefectures after an advisory panel signed off on it Thursday, while the capital announced a record 2,447 new coronavirus cases.

China reported the biggest rise in daily Covid-19 cases in more than five months as Heibei province authorities imposed stricter curbs.

India on Thursday recorded 20,346 fresh cases in the last 24 hours. The final tally now stands at 10,395,278.

Top US health officials encouraged states to start vaccinating people more widely, acknowledging that the immunization rollout has been slower than anticipated and opening the spigot for a broader range of Americans to begin getting shots.

India has been reporting less than 300 deaths due to coronavirus disease (Covid-19) for the past 13 consecutive days, even as the total of number of people having succumbed to the viral infection in the country has crossed 150,000.