World news

• Nearly 200 National Guard troops deployed to Capitol test positive for Covid

  22-01-2021 23:56 via independent.co.uk
  
  The troops were screened before arriving, but not all of them were tested
  
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• Biden doesn’t oppose pushing back Trump impeachment trial, vowing to focus on national ‘crises’ instead

  22-01-2021 23:47 via independent.co.uk
  
  ‘The more time we have to get up and running to meet these crises, the better’
  
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• Police ID Capitol riot suspect who was thrown off plane for chanting ‘Trump 2020!’

  22-01-2021 23:17 via independent.co.uk
  
  He’s the latest of the hundreds of suspected rioters to be identified
  
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• Florida governor walks back claim over 1 millionth shot

  22-01-2021 23:17 via independent.co.uk
  
  Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is walking back his claims that his state has now vaccinated 1 million seniors
  
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• Former police officer who climbed over fences to get into Capitol during riot claims he was there to see art

  22-01-2021 23:06 via independent.co.uk
  
  Regular phone camera roll shows no images from January 6 but ‘deleted’ folder filled with images and videos of officer inside Capitol building during riot
  
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• Tom Brokaw: Top moments from legendary broadcaster’s career

  22-01-2021 23:03 via independent.co.uk
  
  The 80-year-old journalist is retiring from the airwaves after 55 years at NBC 
  
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• What next for Trump - and Trumpism?

  22-01-2021 22:59 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Stripped of presidential powers and silenced online, can Trump still make a political comeback?
  
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• Maduro sent letter to Iran's Leader accrediting US fugitive

  22-01-2021 22:27 via independent.co.uk
  
  A Colombian businessman was carrying a letter from Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro accrediting him to Iran’s supreme leader when he was arrested on a U.S. warrant last year in the African nation of Cape Verde
  
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• Port Kembla drownings: three dead after being swept into surf near Wollongong

  22-01-2021 22:11
  
  NSW police said a group of people were standing on rocks near Hill 60 when a large wave knocked them into the waterThree people have died after being swept into the surf at Port Kembla, south of Wollongong.NSW police said a group of people were standing on rocks near an area known as Hill 60 when a large wave knocked them into the water just after 10pm on Friday. Continue reading...
  
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• UK woman living in France quoted £2,012 shipping fee due to Brexit

  22-01-2021 22:07 via independent.co.uk
  
  Consumers have seen changes to their online shopping post-Brexit including surprise tax additions, customs charges and higher delivery fees.
  
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• 'Touching fish' craze see China's youth find ways to laze amid '996' work culture

  22-01-2021 22:00
  
  An online movement is pushing back against the country’s ferocious work culture of long hours for seemingly little gainOn the Chinese microblogging platform Weibo, enthusiastic slackers share their tips: fill up a thermos with whisky, do planks or stretches in the work pantry at regular intervals, drink litres of water to prompt lots of trips to the toilet on work time and, once there, spend time on social media or playing games on your phone.“Not working hard is everyone’s bas
  
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• A year after Wuhan lockdown, a world still deep in crisis

  22-01-2021 21:58 via independent.co.uk
  
  Nearly a year to the day after the Chinese city of Wuhan imposed an extreme lockdown to contain a virus that had already escaped, U.S. President Joe Biden drew up a new war plan for fighting the scourge as Germany reached 50,000 deaths and Britain was closing in on 100,000 lives lost
  
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• Israeli minerals magnate Beny Steinmetz convicted of corruption

  22-01-2021 21:45
  
  Tycoon sentenced to five years in prison for bribing officials and forging documents to gain mining rights in GuineaThe Israeli diamond and minerals magnate Beny Steinmetz has been convicted of corrupting foreign agents and forging documents by a Geneva court, in a trial over an attempt to reap lavish iron ore resources in Guinea.Steinmetz, considered by some to be Israel’s richest man, was sentenced to five years in prison but had faced a maximum of 10 years in the case. Continue reading.
  
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• 'We have to act': Biden says government has 'moral obligation' to provide economic relief – live

  22-01-2021 21:30
  
  New president says: ‘We cannot, will not let the people go hungry’Impeachment articles to be sent to Senate on MondayLloyd Austin confirmed as Biden’s defense secretaryBiden team in race against time against new Covid strainSign up to receive First Thing – our daily briefing by email8.30pm GMT Joe Biden has now signed his two executive orders to aid American families who are financially suffering as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.One executive order will expand the
  
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• Coronavirus live news: France death toll surpasses 72,000; Brazil variant found in Germany

  22-01-2021 21:25
  
  France registers a further 23,292 new confirmed cases and 649 more deaths; Germany says first case of Brazilian version of virus discovered in Hesse; AstraZeneca blames production glitch for delivery shortfallIsrael Covid chief’s claim single vaccine jab less effective ‘inaccurate’German lockdown to continue despite drop in infection rate
  World’s poor need action not ‘vaccine nationalism’, say expertsUK coronavirus – latest updates8.24pm GMT Mali has cho
  
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• California hits record 764 Covid deaths in one day

  22-01-2021 21:14 via independent.co.uk
  
  That tops the previous record, set earlier this month
  
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• It’s ‘just a bust’: US embassy in London wades into controversy over Winston Churchill statue in White House

  22-01-2021 21:02 via independent.co.uk
  
  Video plays down removal of bust by pointing out benefits of ‘Special relationship’ between US and UK
  
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• Iran's supreme leader makes online threats to attack golfing Trump

  22-01-2021 20:52 via bbc.co.uk
  
  A photomontage seems to show the ex-president playing in the shadow of a warplane or large drone.
  
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• Prince Harry says social media misinformation is threat to democracies

  22-01-2021 20:39
  
  Duke of Sussex calls for more accountability and accuses platforms of shunning responsibilityPrince Harry has said that “time is running out” for social media companies to address misinformation which he believes is a threat to democracies.He has called for more accountability for platforms, accusing them of shunning responsibility, and highlighted both the role that they played in the US Capitol riots earlier this month and the treatment of the Rohingya population in Myanmar. Contin
  
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• Fox host angrily denounces Time magazine’s satirical cover showing mess left by Trump: ‘That’s not real!’

  22-01-2021 20:28 via independent.co.uk
  
  ‘Its literally a drawing,’ says Twitter user
  
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• Scottish parliament orders prosecutors to release Salmond leak evidence

  22-01-2021 20:20
  
  Holyrood makes unprecedented move to see private messages from SNP party officialsThe Scottish parliament has ordered the country’s prosecution service to release key evidence in the Alex Salmond affair, in a dramatic escalation of a battle over the non-disclosure of legal papers.In an unprecedented move, Holyrood issued an enforcement notice on the Crown Office instructing it to release private messages from senior Scottish National party officials and documents about the leak of allegati
  
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• Google and Australia’s fight is one that could decide the future of the internet

  22-01-2021 20:14 via independent.co.uk
  
  Struggles between governments and tech companies are likely to happen more and more, writes Andrew Griffin, and the consequences will be felt the world over
  
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• Spain's jab rollout dogged by delays, elitist queue-jumpers

  22-01-2021 20:05 via independent.co.uk
  
  Public outrage is growing in Spain as cases of politicians and well-connected opportunists jumping the queue in the national coronavirus vaccination campaign come to light, even as delivery delays have forced some regions to stop new inoculations
  
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• Press reset: can the Morrison government rebuild bridges with China – or is it too late?

  22-01-2021 20:01
  
  Despite a near record total of export goods to China last year, there are fears rocky relations between the two countries have yet to hit bottom
  If anyone was hoping for a breakthrough in the relationship between Australia and China in 2021, the signs are not good. The year has started much as 2020 ended, with dozens of ships carrying Australian coal still stranded off the Chinese coast and with Beijing accusing Canberra of “weaponising” national security by blocking an investment pr
  
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• Haunted hotel where notorious unsolved murder took place for sale in Massachusetts at $2million

  22-01-2021 19:53 via independent.co.uk
  
  The unsolved murders were the subject of a Netflix series 
  
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• Facebook's 'supreme court' to rule on decision to suspend Trump

  22-01-2021 19:51
  
  Former president’s account to remain suspended until board returns a ruling, which could take up to 90 daysFacebook’s oversight board, the “supreme court” set up to have a final say on the social network’s moderation decisions, will rule on the decision to suspend Donald Trump’s account, Nick Clegg has said.The referral will see the board, which is made up of more than 30 luminaries from around the world including former Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger, decide
  
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• Republican official flashes rifle when woman asks county to denounce Proud Boys in online meeting

  22-01-2021 19:50 via independent.co.uk
  
  ‘I was just going to show rifle and show that I fully support Second Amendment,' the official says
  
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• Reasons why Covid variant could kill more people are uncertain

  22-01-2021 19:36
  
  Whatever the answer, everyone has to try even harder not to catch it in the first placeCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThose who may have been comforted in recent weeks by the evolutionary theory of virus mutation – that the more transmissible they become, the less lethal they are – may now be pondering the news that the variant that originated in Kent not only spreads more easily but may kill more people too.Britain’s chief scientific adviser,
  
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• UK Covid variant could be more deadly, says Boris Johnson – video

  22-01-2021 19:12
  
  Boris Johnson said there was ‘some evidence’ that the new variant of the coronavirus first discovered in the south-east of England could be more lethal than the original. Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser, said the data was ‘not yet strong,’ but that the variant could be up to 30% more deadly than other strains.UK Covid live Continue reading...
  
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• Covid vaccines: what are the implications of new variants of virus?

  22-01-2021 19:02
  
  UK, South Africa and Brazil variants indicate changes may be neededCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageIn common with others, the virus that causes Covid-19 mutates as it spreads. Most mutations have little or no effect, but some can change the behaviour of the virus. Mutations in a variant found in the UK in September has helped the virus spread more easily and potentially more dangerously. Further changes in variants that emerged in South Africa and Brazil may hel
  
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• Former general Lloyd Austin confirmed as Biden's defense secretary

  22-01-2021 18:54
  
  Austin is first African American to lead PentagonSenate votes 97-2 after House waives ban on recently ex-officersUS politics live – follow latest updatesThe US Senate on Friday confirmed Joe Biden’s nominee, Lloyd Austin, to serve as secretary of defense, making the retired four-star Marine officer the first African American to lead the Pentagon. Continue reading...
  
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• Data on Covid infections in England suggests cautious approach best

  22-01-2021 18:22
  
  Some survey results show that the overall picture might not be as rosy as implied by othersCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageA quick glance at the government’s coronavirus dashboard might be fuel for optimism. But new data suggests the picture may not be so rosy.According to the dashboard, the number of people testing positive for Covid is falling: 37,892 positive tests were reported on Thursday, compared with 62,322 on 6 January. Cases by specimen date show
  
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• World's poor need action, not Covid 'vaccine nationalism', say experts

  22-01-2021 18:20
  
  Nations outbidding each other creates an ‘immoral race towards the abyss’Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coveragePharmaceutical companies should do more to transfer vaccine technology to prevent the poorest countries falling behind in the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines, according to an expert.The warning came from Dag-Inge Ulstein, the co-chair of the global council trying to speed up access to Covid vaccines for the world’s poor, known as the Act (
  
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• QAnon Shaman feels ‘duped’ after Trump doesn’t pardon him

  22-01-2021 18:19 via independent.co.uk
  
  ‘Only thing missing at Capitol was president stirring up Kool-Aid with big spoon,’ QAnon Shaman’s lawyer says
  
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• Chuck Schumer: Donald Trump impeachment trial will be full and fair – video

  22-01-2021 18:18
  
  The US Senate majority leader said the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, would transmit the article of impeachment on Monday. 'Make no mistake, there will be a trial, Schumer said. 'And when that trial ends, senators will have to decide whether they believe Donald John Trump incited the insurrection'US politics – live updates Continue reading...
  
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• Hungary becomes first EU country to buy Russia’s Sputnik coronavirus vaccine

  22-01-2021 18:09 via independent.co.uk
  
  Foreign minister Péter Szijjártó announces acquisition of 2 million doses as European frustrations grow over delays in deliveries of Western alternatives
  
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• China goldmine blast: Trapped workers must wait another two weeks for rescue

  22-01-2021 18:01 via independent.co.uk
  
  Miners trapped since 10 January under 70 tonnes of debris
  
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• Venezuela power struggle impedes delivery of COVID vaccine

  22-01-2021 17:52 via independent.co.uk
  
  Venezuela’s political conflict has claimed another casualty: relief from the coronavirus pandemic
  
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• Google threatens to leave Australia – but its poker face is slipping

  22-01-2021 17:47
  
  Analysis: tech firm’s refusal to pay news publishers comes as it agrees to do exactly that in FranceThe biggest companies in technology love an ultimatum but rarely do they spell out their threats. This week, however, Google has done exactly that, telling an Australian parliamentary hearing that a proposed law forcing the company to pay news publishers for the right to link to their content “would give us no real choice but to stop making Google Search available in Australia”.T
  
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• Zip tie rioter stashed weapons outside the Capitol and had arsenal at home

  22-01-2021 17:40 via independent.co.uk
  
  Eric Gavelek Munchel was charged with conspiracy after being arrested on 10 January
  
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• MEPs vote to add Channel and British Virgin Islands to tax haven blacklist

  22-01-2021 17:31
  
  UK overseas territories such as Cayman Islands also may lose protection once afforded by UK’s EU membership The European parliament is pushing for UK overseas territories including the British Virgin Islands, Guernsey and Jersey to be added to an EU tax havens blacklist after the conclusion of the Brexit deal.Sending a signal that tougher action on tax avoidance was required in response to the coronavirus pandemic, MEPs voted overwhelmingly in favour of adding more nations and territories
  
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• As Covid cases spike, Dubai works to keep its economy open

  22-01-2021 17:01
  
  For an emirate dependent on trade, transport and tourism, vaccination, not lockdown, is key to keeping its economy goingAs if the Boohoo online fashion company had not generated enough controversy in recent months, its bosses once again found themselves in the headlines last week for hosting a four-day meeting with suppliers in the luxurious surroundings of a Dubai hotel.The company’s top executives had taken a private jet to the emirate for the get-together with the businessmen and women
  
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• Quarter of known bee species have not been recorded since 1990

  22-01-2021 17:00
  
  Global study finds that species numbers reported in the wild fell sharply between 1990 and 2015The number of wild bee species recorded by an international database of life on Earth has declined by a quarter since 1990, according to a global analysis of bee declines.Researchers analysed bee records from museums, universities and citizen scientists collated by the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, (GBIF) a global, government-funded network providing open-access data on biodiversity. Contin
  
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• Google threatens to pull search engine in Australia

  22-01-2021 16:58 via independent.co.uk
  
  Google is threatening to make its search engine unavailable in Australia if the government proceeds with plans to make tech giants pay for news content
  
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• UN warns most will live downstream of ageing large dams by 2050

  22-01-2021 16:57
  
  Global study calls on governments to step up maintenance efforts to prevent failures, overtopping or leaksBy 2050 most people will live downstream of a large dam built in the 20th century, many of which are approaching the limits of the useful lifetime they were designed for, according to global research.To avoid the potential for dam failures, overtopping or leaks, the dams will require increasing maintenance, and some may have to be taken out of service. Many governments have not prepared for
  
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• Iran, pressured by blackouts and pollution, targets Bitcoin OLD

  22-01-2021 16:46 via independent.co.uk
  
  Social media in Iran has been gripped by speculation that Bitcoin is to blame for a series of recent power blackouts across the country
  
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• Bitcoin blamed for power outages across Iran

  22-01-2021 16:45 via independent.co.uk
  
  Social media in Iran has been gripped by speculation that Bitcoin is to blame for a series of recent power blackouts across the country
  
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• Central African Republic declares emergency as rebels surround Bangui

  22-01-2021 16:40 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Central African Republic, two-thirds controlled by rebels, is "at grave risk" the UN envoy says.
  
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• Elon Musk wants to build tunnels under Miami

  22-01-2021 16:20 via independent.co.uk
  
  ‘Road tunnels under Miami would solve traffic & be an example to the world,’ claims Tesla CEO
  
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• Nearly 2000 Covid vaccine doses destroyed after freezer fails in Boston

  22-01-2021 16:13 via independent.co.uk
  
  State has seen a 24 per cent decrease in vaccine administration over last seven days
  
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