‘No alternative’: Portugal extends Covid-19 lockdown to March, amid huge pressure on hospitals

The Portuguese government has extended the country’s Covid-19 lockdown until March 1 as it battles to relieve pressure on the healthcare system, with hospitals under more strain than at any previous time in the pandemic. … Read More >‘No alternative’: Portugal extends Covid-19 lockdown to March, amid huge pressure on hospitals

Indian state asks govt to stop sending Covaxin vaccine doses as it won’t use them until efficacy data published

Local authorities in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh have asked the government to stop sending doses of the country’s homegrown Covid-19 vaccine until proper efficacy data for the jab has been provided. … Read More >Indian state asks govt to stop sending Covaxin vaccine doses as it won’t use them until efficacy data published

BBC World News banned from broadcasting in China, as London-Beijing media war heats up

BBC World News has been banned from the Chinese airwaves, Beijing’s state-controlled TV network announced. The tit-for-tat move comes after the UK media regulator, Ofcom, revoked the broadcast license of the Chinese CGTN network. … Read More >BBC World News banned from broadcasting in China, as London-Beijing media war heats up

From warfare to retail: AI is here to stay, and the NBA’s battle over the national anthem

With the mass production of ‘social robots’ set for 2021, is the world prepared for 21st century AI? The United States and NATO are raising military levels and tensions in Europe. The NBA and Mark Cuban are locked in a US national anthem controversy. Air pollution chokes out US subway systems. … Read More >From warfare to retail: AI is here to stay, and the NBA’s battle over the national anthem

US rhetoric might have changed, but there’s no ‘goodwill’ from the Biden administration, says Iran’s Rouhani

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has stressed that actions, not words, are important to Tehran, and is urging President Biden to act on his rhetoric and completely abandon Trump’s ‘maximum pressure’ strategy against Iran. … Read More >US rhetoric might have changed, but there’s no ‘goodwill’ from the Biden administration, says Iran’s Rouhani

After Russia booted out 3 EU diplomats, Moscow’s man in Brussels say it’s ‘hard to imagine’ his staff attending protests abroad

After three diplomats were kicked out of Russia for taking part in rallies in support of opposition figure Alexey Navalny, Moscow’s representative to the EU believes it’s unimaginable that Russian officials would do the same. … Read More >After Russia booted out 3 EU diplomats, Moscow’s man in Brussels say it’s ‘hard to imagine’ his staff attending protests abroad

‘If you want Visiting Forces Agreement, you have to pay!’: Philippines’ Duterte signals freebie for US is over

The President of the Philippines has conceded that the “exigency” of the geopolitical situation makes the presence of US troops in the country a necessity, but warned Washington it won’t be getting anything for free this time. … Read More >‘If you want Visiting Forces Agreement, you have to pay!’: Philippines’ Duterte signals freebie for US is over

‘Grave concern’: France, Germany, and UK condemn Iran’s uranium metal production as ‘key step’ in building nukes

The governments of France, Germany and the UK have jointly condemned Iran’s production of uranium metal, branding it a major step on the road to building atomic bombs, according to a joint statement released by the trio on Friday. … Read More >‘Grave concern’: France, Germany, and UK condemn Iran’s uranium metal production as ‘key step’ in building nukes