US & RUSSIA MEET IN GENEVA TO DISCUSS NUCLEAR WEAPONS & 'STRATEGIC STABILITY'

Delegates from the United States and Russia are meeting in Geneva to discuss how nuclear weapons should be managed and deployed by the world's two greatest nuclear powers.

The US is keen any new agreement includes Russia's large supply of tactical nuclear weapons, which are designed for battlefield situations and not covered by existing treaties.

Stuart Smith reports from Moscow.

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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets Indian counterpart S Jaishankar

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is meeting his Indian counterpart and other officials on a two-day visit.

This is Blinken's first official visit to India since he took charge under President Joe Biden.

Sreoshi Mukherjee has more on this story...

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50% of German population fully vaccinated against Covid-19

Germany has hit a major vaccine milestone, as the country races to provide second doses to people to help protect against the Delta variant. 

The news comes as Angela Merkel said she would meet with state leaders to ensure the country was prepared for any big surges of coronavirus cases. 

From Berlin, Trent Murray reports. 

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France becomes fifth country to pass mark of six million Covid-19 cases

France has become the fifth country in the world to pass the mark of six million confirmed Covid-19 cases, after the United States, India, Brazil and Russia.

It comes as France deals with its fourth waves of coronavirus infections

Ross Cullen reports from Paris.

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Frances 'owes a debt' to Polynesia over nuclear tests

The French president has admitted responsibility for the atomic weapons tests that France carried out in French Polynesia between 1966 and 1996.

Emmanuel Macron made the comments during the final day of a trip to the French territory in the South Pacific.

From FSN's bureau in Paris, here's Ross Cullen.

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Australia – Cases continue to rise in Sydney as Premier hopes for a better Spring

The lockdown in Sydney has been extended and three further areas included as new South Wales recorded another 177 cases of locally acquired covid.

At least 46 of those people infected with the Delta strain, were infectious in the community

Shaun Bindley reports.

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Foreign correspondents harassed covering China floods

Journalists from several foreign media outlets covering China's floods have faced harassment by local residents and online, according to the Foreign Correspondents Club of China.

Staff from the BBC and Los Angeles Times have even received death threats.

Samuel Wong reports.

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Japan tops Olympics medal table

Japan remains at the top of the medal table of the Tokyo Olympics, with 10 gold medals at the end of the fourth day of action. 

But there was disappointment for home fans as Olympic cauldron lighter Naomi Osaka was eliminated from the women's tennis competition. 

Phoebe Amoroso has more.

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US markets slip from record highs as tech stocks weigh

US markets edged down Tuesday from Monday's record highs as investors weighed a crackdown on US-listed Chinese stocks and waited on earnings reports out of major tech giants Apple, Google and Microsoft.

Continued worries over the Delta variant and concerns over a possible slowdown in the economic recovery didn't help. 

Here's Liling Tan with the Wall Street wrap.

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CDC revises indoor masking guidance for vaccinated Americans

The US Centers for Disease Control has revised its masking guidelines and is now recommending that everyone, regardless of vaccination status, in areas with the highest transmission of covid-19 should wear a face covering.

It comes as cases of the highly infectious delta variant continue to rise in the country.

Jagruti Dave reports from Washington.

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US Defense Secretary blasts China

The United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has delivered a blistering attack on China during an official trip to Singapore.

He's the first member of President Joe Biden's cabinet to visit South East Asia.

It comes as the US aims to build support in the region to counter the growing influence of China.

Sarah Walton reports

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Police officers describe "medieval" violence on 6th January

A select committee in the U.S. House of Representatives is hearing emotional testimony from police officers on duty on the 6th January, when a crowd of Trump supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol.

Our Washington correspondent Giles Gibson reports.

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Russia takes team gymnastics gold over Team USA as Simone Biles withdraws

Russia has beaten the US to gold in the Olympics team gymnastics competition.

It came after star gymnast Simone Biles withdrew from the competition
on health issues.

Sarah Walton reports

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Germany: Emergency warnings issued after chemical plant blast

Emergency warnings have been issued in parts of northwest Germany after an explosion at a chemical plant. 

The blast occurred in Leverkusen - an outer suburb of the city of Cologne. Initial reports suggest several people have been injured. 

From Berlin, Trent Murray has the latest. 

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HEALTH LEADERS WARN NHS FACING RECORD DEMAND

Health leaders in the UK have warned that the National Health Service is as stretched now as it was at the height of the Covid19 pandemic.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, NHS Providers say a combination of factors including increased hospitalisations and mental health care requests mean doctors are facing record levels of demand.

The groups' Chief Executive, Chris Hopson, warns that while confirmed Covid19 cases have dropped for a sixth consecutive day, the outlook is far from certain.

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France continues to tighten Covid-19 restrictions as fourth wave bites

More regions in France are re-imposing Covid-19 restrictions to fight the spread of the fourth wave of infections.

Face masks are once again obligatory in outdoor public places in 21 departments.

From FSN's bureau in Paris, here's Ross Cullen.

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UK to introduce new measures to tackle crime increasing police powers to stop and search

The UK has introduced new tactics to tackle crime, increasing the police's powers to stop and search.

As well as that, GPS tags will be attached to more burglars released from prison.

Speaking on the new measures, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged to ensure "less crime, fewer victims and a safer society" with the country on its recovery from Covid-19.

But these measures come just days after the Police Federation said it had no confidence in Home Secretary Priti Patel - after officers' pay was frozen.

Kit Malthouse is the Policing minister:

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on a two day visit to India

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The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will be in India on Tuesday on a two-day visit.

The trip comes against the backdrop of the United States pulling out of Afghanistan.

The repercussions of that, along with regional security matters could be up for discussion, as Ishan Garg reports from New Delhi.

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Hong Kong court to deliver verdict of first person charged under National Security Law

Hong Kong's High Court will deliver today the verdict of the first person ever trialled under the city's National Security Law.

This will be a landmark decision spelling implications for how Hong Kong's common law tradition is reshaped under its new national security regime.

Samuel Wong reports.

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Olympic medal table leaders go head-to-head

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Japan, the US and China are leading the Olympic medal table … but Day 4 of the Games may determine who edges ahead.
 
Japan and the US will meet in the softball final, and all three countries are battling it out in the women's team artistic gymnastics final.
 
Phoebe Amoroso reports from Tokyo.