Biden tells G7 and Munich Security Conference "America is Back"

Attending his first international events as President, Joe Biden has told a virtual gathering of G7 leaders and the Munich Security Conference that America is committed to multilateralism after the isolationist approach of his predecessor.

He addressed a range of shared concerns with his European partners including climate change, the coronavirus pandemic as well as tensions with China, Russia and Iran.

Our Washington Correspondent Jagruti Dave reports.

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Pfizer seeks approval to ease Covid-19 vaccine distribution

New data suggests Pfizer and BioNTech's Covid-19 vaccine can be stored
in freezers rather than ultra-cold storage facilities.

And a study suggests the vaccine is 85 percent effective after a single dose.

U.S. correspondent William Denselow reports from New York.

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US officially rejoins Paris Climate Deal

The United States has officially rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement.

America's re-entry into the global pact brings one the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases back into the fight to curb global warming.

Here's UN correspondent Liling Tan on what this means for America, and the world. 

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Millions of Texans now face water crisis after devastating winter storm

Power has returned to millions of Texan homes following a devastating winter storm that has swept across parts of the southern United States.

However Texas is now facing a water crisis with several cities under a boil water order.

Our correspondent Jagruti Dave reports.

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Harry and Meghan make final split with British Royal Family

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will not return as working members of the Royal Family. 

It means Prince Harry and Meghan will also return their honorary military appointments and patronages.

The couple sent shockwaves through the monarchy when they announced last January that they'd be stepping back as senior royals and instead try to become financially independent.

Benji Hyer has the latest from London. 

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UBER LOSES COURT APPEAL

The UK's Supreme Court has ruled that Uber drivers should not be considered outside contractors, but company staff. The decision means drivers should be entitled to basic rights of employment. Laura Makin-Isherwood has more.

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Prince Philip spends a third night in hospital

The British Queen's husband, Prince Philip, has spent a third night in hospital after he fell ill on Tuesday.

The Duke of Edinburgh, who is 99, is expected to stay in hospital over the weekend.

Chris Jones has more from London

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UK PM Boris Johnson to chair G7 meeting

*NOTE -- THE MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR 14GMT-16GMT FRIDAY, AFTER WHICH THIS VOICER WILL BE DATED*

Boris Johnson is pledging to donate most of Britain's surplus vaccine supply to developing countries, as he chairs the first top-level meeting of the UK's G7 Presidency.

The Prime Minister will convene a virtual call with the leaders of the US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan.

It's the first meeting of the group since April 2020, and the coronavirus pandemic will be top of the agenda, as Benji Hyer reports from London. 

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German Health Minister gives Covid-19 update in Berlin

Germany's Covid-19 infection rate continues to decline, with the latest daily data pointing to a four-month low. 

But the country's Health Minister has warned against an early of easing restrictions, saying Germany and Europe, are not out of the woods yet. 

Trent Murray reports from Berlin 

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DRC SEXUAL ABUSE SCANDAL

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The European Commission says it has collected more than two dozen documents of alleged sexual abuse by aid agencies operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The documents are linked to allegations made by Congolese citizens during an Ebola outbreak that occurred in eastern DRC between 2018 and 2020.

Chris Ocamringa has that report.

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UGANDA RECORDS DECLINE IN COVID-19 CASES

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Uganda's health ministry is reporting a decline in COVID-19 cases compared to the peak period last year.

 

In the last two weeks the country has recorded 496 cases compared to over 3,800 cases recorded in November.

 

The new development is in line with reports from the World Health Organisation, which has reported a decline of cases globally.

Hillary Ayesiga reporting from Kampala

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Air Pollution in Delhi causes an approximate of 54,000 premature deaths in 2020: Greenpeace Study

Air pollution in Delhi caused the premature deaths of approximately 54,00 people in 2020.

This is the highest number of deaths due to pollution across major metropolitan cities in the world, according to a study done by Greenpeace.

Sreoshi Mukherjee reports.

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UK CALLS ON G7 TO DONATE VACCINE SUPPLIES

The UK's calling on G7 allies to donate surplus coronavirus vaccine supplies to developing countries.

It's making the call at a virtual summit of the grouping of major economies, at which it's also urging countries to back new targets to speed up vaccine development.

Britain says a majority of its surplus Covid-19 doses will go to the COVAX facility which is designed to ensure equitable access to vaccine supply globally.

Foreign Office minister James Cleverly says the G7 summit can have an important impact.

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China says 4 soldiers were killed in deadly border clash with India last year

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China has said that four Chinese soldiers were killed in the violent Himalayan border clash with Indian troops last June.

This is the first time China has stated the number of deaths. India after the clash said that 20 of its soldiers died in the incident.

Our correspondent Rebecca Bundhun reports from Mumbai.

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US ready to meet with Iran to discuss Nuclear Deal

The United States has said it is prepared to meet with Iran to negotiate a pathway back to the 2015 nuclear deal.

Tensions between the two countries have escalated since former President Donald Trump withdrew from the JCPOA, the Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action, in 2018.

Our Washington Correspondent Jagruti Dave reports.

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Australia – Media guidelines criticized as Facebook standoff continues

Facebook's ban on news being shared or posted in Australia could continue for another week.

The social media company will launch an appeals process for organisations taken off the network, after calls for it to restore access to vital public safety information.

Shaun Bindley reports.

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China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine arrives in Hong Kong

China is delivering a million doses of Sinovac's COVID-19 vaccine to Hong Kong, as the city prepares to launch a mass vaccination programme. 

The jab will be the first to be administered in the city, after winning government approval this week. Health officials are facing criticism for approving the jab, despite it not yet having backing from the World Health Organisation.

Richard Kimber reports from Hong Kong.

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Biden to give $4 billion to WHO Covid-19 Vaccination effort.

US President Joe Biden will pledge $4 billion dollars for the World Health Organisation's COVAX programme to support vaccine distribution to poor and middle income countries, according to US officials.

He's expected to make the announcement at his first meeting with G7 leaders on Friday

Our Washington Correspondent Jagruti Dave reports.

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NASA rover 'Perseverance' successfully lands on Mars

NASA has successfully landed the robotic rover Perseverance on the planet Mars, where it will now search for signs of past life.

The 2 year mission is the agency's most ambitious effort to study whether there has ever been life on the planet.

US correspondent Ira Spitzer has more

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NASA's "Perseverance" rover lands successfully on Mars ahead of exploration for evidence of extinct life

NASA's Perseverance Rover has made a successful landing on the surface of Mars after a 7 month journey to the red planet.

It will soon start exploring the site of an ancient lakebed in a bid to find fossils or other evidence of extinct life.

Our US Correspondent Simon Marks reports.

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