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Killing in the name of blasphemy

Top Six Umer Beigh -

Pakistan’s harsh laws against religious profanity are being abused to settle personal and political scores, leading to an alarming rise in convictions and even murder

Trump rages at Covid experts who criticised him

World Agence France Presse -

The bitter outburst came after Fauci told CNN how shocked he had been when Trump last April called for states to "liberate" themselves as experts pleaded with Americans to obey shutdown orders

Boeing seals large 737 MAX order as airlines eye recovery

World John Biers -

After being grounded for 20 months, the aircraft is on the road to recovery

Former French president Sarkozy handed jail term for corruption

World Anne Lec'hvien & Claire Gallen -

The conviction sets a new low-point in the tumultuous political career of the right-winger who remains a dominant political figure in France, admired by fans for his tough talk on crime and immigration

‘Held to ransom’: Pfizer demands governments gamble with state assets to secure vaccine deal

Health Madlen Davies, Rosa Furneaux, Iván Ruiz & Jill Langlois -

Pfizer is accused of bullying Latin American governments by demanding they grant indemnity against potential civil claims relating to the vaccine

Governments around the world condemn Myanmar’s military coup

World Agence France Presse -

The United States led governments around the world in calling for the restoration of Myanmar's democracy on Monday after the military staged a coup, arresting civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other politicians

Trump slinks off world stage, leaving others to put out the fires he started

World Nick Roll -

What his supporters and assorted right-wingers will do now in a climate that is less friendly to them is anyone’s guess

‘No one took us seriously’: Black cops warned about racist Capitol police for years

World Joshua Kaplan, Joaquin Sapien & ProPublica -

Allegations of racism against the Capitol Police are nothing new: Over 250 Black cops have sued the department since 2001. Some of those former officers now say it’s no surprise white nationalists were able to storm the building

Wikipedia wants you to join the good side of the internet

Sci-tech Sarah Smit -

The collaborative online encyclopedia, which has become a reliable source amid a flood of misinformation, turns 20 today

Trump impeached for ‘inciting’ US Capitol riot

World William Roberts -

In historic vote, Trump becomes first US president to be impeached a second time for inciting mob that attacked the Capitol

WHO experts to arrive in Wuhan for delayed virus probe

Coronavirus Agence France Presse -

The 10 scientists will investigate the origins of the new virus in a politically fraught mission that comes more than a year after the pandemic began, with accusations Beijing has tried to thwart the project.

Call for media workers to get Covid vaccine

Coronavirus Agence France Presse -

Most of the coronavirus deaths were in Peru, Brazil, India, Mexico, Ecuador, Bangladesh, Italy and the United States

US democracy is stronger than it looks

World Simon Allison -

We learnt this week that an American president, no matter how rogue, cannot keep himself in power against the will of the people

Why are so many in France hesitant to take the Covid-19 vaccine?

Coronavirus Rebecca Rosman -

Misinformation and a history of health scandals have led to a powerful anti-vax movement, presenting France with a fresh challenge in the pandemic

Insurrectionist mob storms US Capitol as Trump is accused of ‘coup’

World Agence France Presse -

Egged on in an extraordinary rally across town by an aggrieved Trump, a flag-waving mob broke down barricades outside the Capitol and swarmed inside, rampaging through offices and onto the usually solemn legislative floors

Democrats win first Georgia runoff, control of Senate in reach

World Agence France Presse -

Should Republicans lose the second race it would be a political debacle just as Trump is expected to suffer another bitter blow when Congress affirms Biden's Electoral College victory

WikiLeaks founder Assange denied bail despite US extradition block

World Joe Jackson -

Julian Assange will have to remain in custody in Britain, pending a US appeal of the decision to block his extradition to face charges for leaking secret documents, a judge in London ruled on Wednesday

Vaccine-destroying US pharmacist was ‘conspiracy theorist’ — police

World Agence France Presse -

Steven Brandenburg destroyed vials of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine because he believed that they were dangerous and could alter human DNA.

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