The controversies around developing a Covid vaccine

Major global powers are in loggerheads due to vaccine research, with the US and China's fraught relationship coming under even more duress and France reprimanding a major drug manufacturer.

Two American agencies have accused Chinese hackers of trying to steal the country's vaccine research; China has denied all allegations.

The French, meanwhile, are miffed by drug manufacturer Sanofi with the latter reserving first shipments of any potential vaccines for America.

With the virus bringing world economies to a halt, the race for a vaccine is more important than ever, but that looks like it won’t happen as fast as possible, unless the bickering ends.