Six In The Morning Tuesday 26 January 2021

 

Pfizer and AstraZeneca take heat as vaccine delays threaten Europe's recovery

By Julia Horowitz, CNN Business

Updated 1350 GMT (2150 HKT) January 26, 2021

The European Union is calling out vaccine makers AstraZeneca (AZN) and Pfizer (PFE) over delivery delays that could slow its recovery from the pandemic. Officials are even threatening to take legal action and introduce export controls on doses produced in the bloc as anger mounts.

AstraZeneca will not be able to deliver as many doses of its vaccine as promised, according to EU officials, putting government rollout plans at risk. The news comes after Pfizer said it had delivered fewer doses of its vaccine than expected last week.

EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides on Monday expressed dissatisfaction on talks with AstraZeneca and said conversations would continue. She said the drugmaker "intends to supply considerably fewer doses in the coming weeks than agreed and announced."

Violent clashes as Indian farmers storm Delhi's Red Fort

Farmers protesting against new agriculture laws enter grounds of historic fort as violence breaks out

Hannah Ellis-Petersen and Aakash Hassan in Delhi

Tue 26 Jan 2021 13.44 GMT

Farmers protesting against new agriculture laws in India broke through police barricades around the capital and entered the grounds of Delhi’s historic Red Fort on Tuesday, in chaotic and violent scenes that overshadowed the country’s Republic Day celebrations.

Police hit protesters with batons and fired teargas to try to disperse the crowds after hundreds of thousands of farmers, many on tractors or horses, marched on the capital. One protester was confirmed to have died in the clashes and dozens of police and protesters were injured.

Mobile internet services were suspended in parts of Delhi and some metro stations closed. As the clashes continued into the afternoon, home minister Amit Shah met Delhi police to discuss how to get the protests under control.

Netherlands Covid protests: More than 150 arrested in third night of unrest

Unrest has been triggered by a new night-time curfew implemented by Dutch authorities

Joe Middleton

Protesters clashed with police in a third night of unrest in the Netherlands triggered by a new night-time curfew implemented to help curb Covid-19.

Dutch police detained more than 150 people as roaming groups threw rocks, looted stores and set fires in response to strict coronavirus measures that came into force despite weeks of declining numbers of new infections.

The curfew, which runs from 9pm to 4.30am, has been implemented following a warning by the National Institute for Health (RIVM) over a new wave of infections due to the "British variant" of Covid-19.

Australia marks national day with protests over 'Invasion Day'

Government leaders marked a socially distanced Australia Day with calming words Tuesday as protesters denounced celebrations of a day some dub “Invasion Day” because of historical wrongs committed against Indigenous people.

The 4,000 protesters who gathered in small groups in Sydney’s Domain were warned they could be fined or jailed for breaching limits on large crowds. But many protesters wore masks and adhered to social distancing guidelines. Five people were arrested for not following police orders.

Protest organizers called for Australia Day, which recognizes the day the British navy arrived with convict ships and raised a flag signaling the intent to found a British colony, to be abolished.

Egypt’s military dominates 10 years after revolution

Since the 19th century, Egypt’s army has played an outsized role in governing the country and continues to do so post-Arab Spring revolution.

The Egyptian military and its top brass reigned supreme over Egypt in the months after their historic decision to force longtime Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to step down on February 11, 2011.

The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), a body of 25 senior members of Egypt’s military, decided to step in and ostensibly support the revolution against Mubarak, which began on January 25 of that year, exactly 10 years ago.

Since the 19th century, Egypt’s army has played an outsized role in governing the country, and in many ways has acted as the ultimate authority in the country. This was particularly evident in 2013 when Abdel Fattah el-Sisi overthrew democratically elected President Mohammed Morsi in a military coup.

Some Colombians fear ex-paramilitary leader deported from US

ASTRID SUÁREZ

On the north coast of Colombia there is anxiety over the return to the South American country of one of the most feared former paramilitary commanders: Hernán Giraldo Serna. “El Patrón” (the boss) or “El Taladro” (the drill, as he became known for sexually abusing girls in the area) stepped on Colombian soil Monday after finishing a 16-year sentence in a U.S. prison for drug trafficking earlier this month.

Giraldo, 74, was deported from the U.S. and immediately taken into custody by authorities in Colombia, where he is expected to serve time for crimes against humanity, including torture, forced displacement of people, sexual slavery and kidnapping, as well as drug trafficking.