Friday, April 16, 2021

*) US imposes fresh sanctions on Russia The US has imposed new sanctions on Russia after accusing Moscow of launching a massive cyber attack last year, and interfering in November's presidential election. Moscow denies all the allegations and says it will respond. The US is also expelling some staff from Russia’s embassy in Washington, and placing targeted sanctions on individuals and entities in Russia. *) Chicago release video of police killing 13-year-old Footage from a police body camera has been released, showing a policeman shooting and killing a 13-year-old boy in Chicago last month. Police say Adam Toledo was shot after running down an alley with a gun in his hand, and had ignored an officer's request to stop and drop the weapon. The lawyer representing Toledo's family denies the teen was carrying a gun. *) French MPs approve controversial security law France's parliament has passed a security bill extending police powers. The legislation gives police more power, while limiting the publication of images and video of officers performing their duties. The law was passed despite criticism from civil rights activists, who fear it protects police brutality and threatens efforts to denounce it. *) Pfizer: Third Covid vaccine dose needed within a year Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla says people will likely need a third dose of his company's Covid-19 vaccine within a year of being fully vaccinated. He added that annual vaccinations against the coronavirus may also be required. His statement comes after Pfizer researchers said they did not know how long their vaccines will provide protection against the coronavirus as variants keep mutating. *) Cuban zoo welcomes birth of endangered Bengal tigers Zookeepers at Cuba's National Zoo in Havana are celebrating the birth of a litter of Bengal tigers, among them a rare white cub. This birth comes after two decades of trying to breed the endangered animals. Thousands of Bengal tigers once roamed the forests of Bangladesh, India and Nepal, but numbers hav