Six In The Morning Tuesday 5 January 2021

 

Georgia Senate election: Control of Congress up for grabs

The US state of Georgia is going to the polls for a second-round vote that will decide whether President-elect Joe Biden's Democrats control the Senate.

Mr Biden's party needs to win both seats in the state's runoffs to gain full control of Congress - and with it the power to push forward his agenda.

The Republican Party of outgoing President Donald Trump needs only to win one in order to retain the Senate.

Trump protesters warned not to carry guns as Washington DC calls up National Guard

DC police chief says ahead of inauguration protests ‘there are people intent on coming to our city armed’

Peter Beaumont and agencies

Washington DC has mobilised the National Guard to help police planned protests by Donald Trump supporters in the lead-up to the congressional vote affirming Joe Biden’s election victory this week.

Amid fears of violence, Washington’s chief of police and mayor have issued warnings that the carrying of firearms to the protests is illegal and urged residents to avoid the areas where far-right groups, including the Proud Boys, are planning to gather.

The protests are timed to come as the newly sworn in Congress meets on Wednesday to officially count and ratify electoral college ballots, the final formal step before President-elect Biden is sworn in on 20 January.

I took Russia’s Sputnik vaccine - but is it safe?

Moscow is promoting its vaccine all over the world, but back home, Russians remain sceptical

Oliver Carroll

Moscow Correspondent

@olliecarroll

In the ongoing global race for vaccine roll out, Vladimir Putin declared an early victory —licensing a Russian vaccine even before it had fully completed clinical trials.

The name for the new vaccine left little to the imagination. “Sputnik”, a reference to the Soviet’s first satellite in space, and a byword for Russian Cold War prestige. And “V”,  a shorthand for victory.

At the time, some scientists struggled to contain their laughter. But for the Russian leader, it was no joke. From the outset, the Kremlin has hung its star high over Sputnik V’s orbit.

Gulf leaders sign agreement to end Qatar blockade

The Saudi crown prince embraced the emir of Qatar before signing a deal to end Saudi Arabia's years-long boycott of its smaller neighbor.

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said Tuesday that the Gulf states had signed an agreement on regional "solidarity and stability" at a summit aimed at resolving a three-year embargo against Qatar.

"These efforts helped us reach the agreement of the Al-Ula statement that will be signed at this summit, where we affirm our Gulf, Arab and Islamic solidarity and stability," he said, thanking the United States and Kuwait for mediating.

Under fire, France vows to extend and speed up Covid-19 vaccine rollout

France will extend and speed up its Covid-19 vaccination rollout, Health Minister Olivier Véran said on Tuesday, following outrage over the government’s slow start in one of the world’s most vaccine-sceptical countries.

"We are going to amplify, accelerate and simplify our vaccination strategy," Véran told French radio station RTL.

France will also extend vaccinations to people aged above 75 who are not in care homes and 500 to 600 vaccination centers will be set up in France by end-January, Véran promised.

Armed Iranian troops boarded South Korean tanker, ship's owner says

By Jake Kwon, Gawon Bae and Zamira Rahim, CNN

Updated 1214 GMT (2014 HKT) January 5, 2021

The owner of a South Korean-flagged tanker which was seized by Iran in the Persian Gulf on Monday has described how "armed soldiers" boarded the vessel.

The crew of the Hankuk Chemi tanker received a 10 to 20 minute warning from Iranian authorities before the ship was boarded by troops, its owner, DM Shipping Co Ltd., told CNN in a statement Tuesday.

The company said its communication with the tanker was cut off as soon as the ship was seized.