World

(Photo by Douglas MAGNO / AFP) European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said Tuesday that coronavirus vaccines from Russia and China could be approved for use in the bloc if they “show all the data”, lawmakers told AFP. Her remarks came as the EU faces criticism over a slow vaccination roll-out across the 27 nation bloc as supply shortfalls have hampered deliveries. Some European leaders have now expressed willingness to consider using Russia’s Sputnik V virus after trial results showed it was 91.6 percent effective. “If the Russian producers, the Chinese producers open their books, show transparency, show all…

SUNRISE, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 02: Law enforcement officers investigate the scene where two FBI agents were killed and others shot as they served a warrant in a child exploitation case on February 02, 2021 in Sunrise, Florida. The FBI agents were reportedly serving the search warrant at the apartment complex when the shooting took place. Joe Raedle/Getty Images/AFP JOE RAEDLE / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP Two FBI agents were shot dead and three were wounded on Tuesday while serving a search warrant on a suspect in a child pornography case in the southern US state…

A handout picture provided by Iran’s Defence Ministry on February 1, 2021 shows the launch of Iran’s newest satellite-carrying rocket, called “Zuljanah,” at an undisclosed location. IRANIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY / AFP The United States on Tuesday voiced concern about Iran’s launch of a satellite-carrying rocket, saying the test could boost missile work at a moment when the two nations are inching back to diplomacy. “The United States remains concerned with Iran’s efforts to development space launch vehicles (SLVs), given these programs’ ability to advance Iran’s ballistic missile development,” a State Department spokesperson said. “SLVs poses a significant proliferation concern due…

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, charged with violating the terms of a 2014 suspended sentence for embezzlement, stands inside a defendants’ cage during a court hearing in Moscow on February 2, 2021. (Photo by Handout / Moscow City Court press service / AFP) / A Moscow court on Tuesday began hearing whether jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny should face several years in prison, after his arrest, last month triggered protests across Russia and a massive police clampdown. Tens of thousands have taken to the streets of Moscow and other cities over the last two weekends to protest against the arrest…

Dubai on Monday ordered bars to close until the end of the month to suppress a spike in coronavirus cases after tourists flocked to the emirate over the holiday period. The closures, effective from Tuesday, are among a raft of steps "taken in response to rising violations of preventive measures," authorities said in a statement. Indoor venues, including cinemas and sports venues, will have their capacity cut by half. Hotels, swimming pools and private beaches must operate at 70 percent of capacity. Dubai's vast shopping malls must also reduce visitors to 70 percent of the usual traffic. Restaurants and cafes…

[FILES] Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends the test ride of an electric driverless bus in Ankara on February 1, 2021. (Photo by Adem ALTAN / AFP)President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday it may be time for Turkey to adopt a new constitution, feeding speculation that he could seek a way to extend his rule. Erdogan, 66, has governed Turkey as prime minister or president since 2002, cementing his control over the nation of 83 million people and surviving a failed coup. As prime minister, he pushed through changes to the constitution in 2017 that created an executive presidency…

(Photo by ERNESTO BENAVIDES / AFP) China will continue to provide COVID-19 vaccines to other countries, especially the developing ones, in a timely manner within its capacity and contribute to the building of a community of health for all, official said. The Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, disclosed this on Monday at a daily news briefing in Beijing. Wang said China had donated COVID-19 vaccines to Pakistan on Monday, saying that the first shipment of China’s vaccine aid to other countries. Reiterating China’s commitment to making its COVID-19 vaccines a global public good once developed and put into use, Wang…

A group pf Myanmar activists chant slogans during a protest outside the United Nations university building in Tokyo on February 1, 2021 following a military coup in the country by a general after arresting civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other senior officials. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP) Myanmar’s army said Monday it will hold fresh elections and hand power to the winning party once a year-long state of emergency has elapsed, hours after carrying out a coup. “We will perform real multi-party democracy… with complete balance and fairness,” a statement on the army’s official Facebook page said.…