UK TESTS FOR SA VARIANT

Urgent testing for the South Africa-discovered variant of Covid-19 is underway in England after cases were discovered in several different locations.

Those in affected areas are being asked to take a test whether they have symptoms or not.

Infections were found in people with no travel history to South Africa, prompting fears about community spread of the strain.

Correspondent Rachael Venables is in one of the west London postcodes which is being included in the testing operation.

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Twitter restores accounts blocked in India amid farmer protests

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Twitter has unblocked dozens of Indian accounts, including those of activists and news websites which were suspended for more than 12 hours after the government raised objections, citing public order.

The accounts were connected with protests being staged by farmers against new agriculture laws.

Our correspondent Rebecca Bundhun reports from Mumbai.

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India's annual spending plan criticised for being pro-corporate

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India's newly unveiled annual spending plan is being criticised for being pro- Big Business…

And not doing enough for India's middle and lower-income groups…

As the country navigates through a pandemic induced recession.

Ishan Garg has more.

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Republican senators upbeat after meeting with Biden on Covid relief package

A group of Republican senators emerged upbeat from a meeting with US President Joe Biden where they argued his 1.9 trillion dollar cover relief package was too ambitious.

Democrats can pass the bill without Republican support but the President has said he would prefer to reach a bipartisan deal.

Kate Fisher reports from Washington.

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China Cracks Fake COVID Vaccine Ring

Police in China have cracked a fake COVID-19 vaccine ring and arrested more than 80 people, according to official state media.

Reports say the suspects had been carrying out the ruse since at least September last year.

Patrick Fok reports.

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Wall Street recovers from GameStop shock

The Dow recovered from its worst week since October to rally 230
points on Monday.

Wall Street appeared to bounce back from concerns sparked by the
GameStop buying frenzy.

Sarah Walton reports

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Myanmar coup: UN condemns detention of leaders, call for their release

United Nations diplomats have condemned the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political leaders following a military coup in Myanmar, just as the new parliamentary session was to begin.

Myanmar's military announced the takeover and seizures of senior officials early Monday, citing a national emergency. 

Liling Tan reports from New York. 

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Myanmar coup: US threatens sanctions against military

The United States is threatening to reimpose sanctions on Myanmar
following a military coup in the country.

US President Joe Biden says the military's detention on the country's
leadership is a "direct assault on the country's transition to
democracy".

Nick Harper reports from Washington.

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US economy to return to pre-pandemic levels by mid-2021

New figures predict the US economy will return to pre-pandemic levels
quicker than expected.

It comes as President Joe Biden prepares to put forward another
coronavirus stimulus bill.

Sarah Walton reports

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Ghana reintroduces ban on social gatherings as COVID-19 infections surges

Ghana has reintroduced restrictions on funerals, weddings, and other social gatherings as the country records a surge in COVID-19 infections. It comes months after lockdown measures were lifted. The government hopes the new restrictions will limit the spread of the coronavirus. 

Nabil Ahmed Rufai reports from Accra.

 

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Silver jumps as Reddit-driven trading continues

The price of silver jumped the most in 11 years during early trading on Monday.

The commodity has attracted attention on the same social media
platforms that helped drive GameStop's shares up to record highs.

William Denselow reports from New York.

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Tony Bennett reveals Alzheimer's diagnosis

Iconic singer Tony Bennett and his family have opened up for the first time about his struggle with Alzheimer's Disease.

The 94-year-old was diagnosed in 2016 but has only just gone public in a magazine interview.

Our US correspondent Giles Gibson reports.

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Blinken condemns Russian response to Navalny protests

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has condemned Russia's government
over its handling of the opposition protests, which saw more than 5000
people arrested on Sunday.

Protesters are demanding the release of detained Russian opposition
politician Alexei Navalny.

US correspondent Nick Harper reports.

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US snow storm disrupts coronavirus vaccinations

New York has issued a state of emergency as a snowstorm is expected to
dump several feet of snow across the Northeast states.

It has led to the cancelation of some coronavirus vaccine appointments.
Sarah Walton reports

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BioNTech/Pfizer pledges another 75million doses in Q2 as EU battles vaccine shortages

The European Union will receive 75million doses of the BioNTech/Pfizer shot, as it battles to secure vaccine supplies for Europe. 

AstraZeneca has said it will deliver nine million additional vaccines to the bloc. 

Lucy Hough has more from Brussels. 

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UK gvt condemns Myanmar "coup"

The UK has condemned what it calls "a coup" in Myanmar after the country's military seized power, detaining civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other senior members of her governing party.

It follows a landslide win by Ms Suu Kyi's party in a recent election, which the army claims was undermined by fraud.

 

From London, Benji Hyer reports. 

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UK offers first vaccination to all of its care home residents

The UK government has now offered a coronavirus vaccination to all residents living in eligible care homes.

This comes as a record 598k first jabs were given out across the UK on Saturday.

Chris Jones has more in London

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RUSSIAN PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE SUPPORTS PRISON FOR NAVALNY

Russia's prosecution service says the request to turn Alexey Navalny's suspended prison sentence into a real prison term is "legal and reasonable".

It's another sign that Russia's most vocal opposition figure will be imprisoned for three and a half years when he attends court on Tuesday.

Stuart Smith reports from Moscow.

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German military deploys medical teams to Portugal

The Government of Portugal is requesting assistance from its European neighbours as the country's health system struggles to cope with a resurgence of Covid-19. 

The German military has responded to the plea - preparing to send doctors and nurses to help. 

Trent Murray reports from Berlin

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Nigerians to comply with COVID-19 protocols or face 6 months jail term

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari has signed a new law prescribing six-month jail term for persons convicted for disobeying any COVID-19 guideline.

He has also urged citizens to comply with the protocols to avoid the country imposing another lockdown.

Correspondent Phil Ihaza reports in Abuja

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