Covid: Israel and South Korea strike Pfizer vaccine deal

Israel has struck a deal to provide South Korea with vaccines in return for jabs in a future shipment.

The deal involves about 700,000 of Israel's Pfizer doses that are due to expire soon.

It comes just weeks after the Palestinian authority called off a deal to receive a million doses from Israel, claiming the vaccines were too close to their expiry date.

South Korea says the deal will allow it to accelerate vaccinations.

The vaccine doses are set to arrive in the next few days and authorities in South Korea hope to start using them by 13 July.

On Tuesday the country recorded 1,006 cases, the highest daily total in six months.

The doses will be used in the capital Seoul, where cases are rising among 20 - 30-year-olds.

Authorities there said the vaccines would be used to inoculate those considered at risk. This will also include street cleaners, delivery workers and retail employees, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.