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| - Duty Editor: Jenny Vaughan Contact: Engdeskers@afp.com -- TOP STORIES -- + Biden to announce anti-gun violence plans + Myanmar regime 'seizes' London embassy + New AZ setbacks as countries scramble for vaccines + Northern Ireland battles fresh riots + Turkey blames EU for 'sofagate' scandal US-politics-weapons-Biden,WRAP WASHINGTON President Joe Biden will unveil measures aimed at curbing rampant US gun violence, especially seeking to prevent the spread of untraceable "ghost guns" built from home kits. 650 words 1430 GMT by Sebastian Smith. Picture. File picture Myanmar-politics-military,WRAP LONDON Britain condemns "bullying" by the Myanmar junta after the country's ambassador to London was ousted in an extraordinary diplomatic coup after calling for the release of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi. 750 words 1430 GMT. Picture. Video. Graphic Health-virus,WRAP LONDON The fallout over the AstraZeneca jab continues with several countries halting its use among younger people, as nations raced to secure much-needed vaccines in the face of fresh virus surges. 800 words moved by AFP bureaus. Picture. Video. Graphic Britain-NIreland-unrest-Brexit,WRAP BELFAST Leaders in Northern Ireland condemn days of rioting stemming from the territory's pro-UK community, including a petrol-bomb attack on a moving bus, as police said they were probing possible paramilitary involvement. 600 words moved by Joe Stenson. Picture. Video. Graphic Turkey-EU-diplomacy,WRAP ISTANBUL Turkey blames Brussels for seating arrangements that left European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen without a chair during a meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. 600 words 1430 GMT by Fulya Ozerkan. Picture. Video -- SPOTLIGHT -- US-gender-health-sports,FOCUS WASHINGTON On soccer fields, in locker rooms and even at the doctor's office, the rights of US transgender youths have become a political lightning rod, with dozens of recent bills attempting to dictate their fate in conservative states. 700 words moved by Camille Camdessus. Picture Health-virus-Venezuela-internet-crowdfunding,FOCUS CARACAS Four family members with Covid-19, zero savings and no relief from Venezuela's collapsed public health system: Gabriela Rodriguez sees no option but to seek help from crowdfunding. 600 words moved Mexico-softball-gender-indigenous,FOCUS HONDZONOT, Quintana Roo, Mexico Barefoot and resplendent in traditional embroidered garments, women from an indigenous Mayan community in rural Mexico are challenging gender stereotypes and the country's machismo culture on a dusty softball field. 600 words moved by Alejandro Castro. Picture Yemen-conflict-entertainment-music,FOCUS DUBAI Yemen's Huthi rebels, whose austere interpretation of Islam outlaws most forms of music, are increasingly turning to traditional poetry to woo support in a "soft war" against the Saudi-backed government. 750 words moved by Shatha Yaish -- CORONAVIRUS -- Health-virus-India-vaccines,lead MUMBAI Vaccination centres in parts of India turn people away and large parts of the country reportedly ran low on doses, just as infections rose at their fastest rate since the pandemic began. 650 words moved by Ammu Kannampilly. Picture. Video. Graphic Health-virus-vaccines-Covax,FOCUS GENEVA The Covax facility backs the AstraZeneca jab as it marks reaching 100 different territories around the world with first doses of coronavirus vaccines, despite delays dogging deliveries. 750 words 1500 GMT by Robin Millard Health-virus-Germany-vaccine-Russia,3rdlead BERLIN Germany says it will talk to Russia about purchasing doses of the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine pending approval from European regulators, without waiting for coordinated EU action. 650 words moved by Deborah Cole. File Picture Health-virus-Iran,FOCUS TEHRAN Iran's confirmed Covid infections pass the two-million mark, while the daily caseload sets a new record in what a health official labels a "meteoric" spike. 500 words moved. File picture Health-virus-vaccines-China,FOCUS BEIJING Tickets to tourist attractions, shopping coupons, and report cards naming and shaming stores where staff haven't been vaccinated: China is veering from compulsion to persuasion in its bid to inoculate its population from Covid. 500 words moved by Jing Xuan Teng. Picture. Video Health-virus-ECHR-justice-Czech,3rdlead STRASBOURG, France The European Court of Human Rights rules that obligatory vaccinations can be seen as necessary in democratic societies, in a landmark judgement after a complaint brought by Czech families over compulsory jabs for children. 550 words 1600 GMT by Herve Asquin with Stuart Williams in Paris -- EUROPE -- Ukraine-Russia-conflict-politics,WRAP KIEV Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky travells to the country's eastern frontline, as German Chancellor Angela Merkel urges Vladimir Putin to reduce Russia's troop buildup on Ukraine's border. 650 words 1430 GMT Olga Shylenko. Picture. Video EU-Turkey-diplomacy-politics,POINTS BRUSSELS The incident was over in seconds, but "Sofagate" was enough to send Brussels into a tailspin, raising real questions about sexism in Europe's hallways of power and shining a light on the EU's byzantine leadership structure that even US presidents find confusing. 650 words 1500 GMT by Alex Pigman. Picture. Video France-politics-education-ENA,WRAP PARIS French leader Emmanuel Macron is set to abolish the top university he attended along with four of the last six presidents in a move portrayed as blow against elitism and in favour of greater diversity. 500 words 1500 GMT by Jerome Rivet France-health-euthanasia,WRAP PARIS A bill to legalise euthanasia goes before a deeply divided French parliament, with right-wingers planning to torpedo any vote with thousands of amendments and the government not taking sides. 650 words 1630 GMT by Jurgen Hecker -- MIDDLE EAST -- Israel-conflict-Palestinians-US-aid,FOCUS AL JALAZUN REFUGEE CAMP, Palestinian Territories In a West Bank refugee camp, Palestinian Mohammad Zaid expresses a sentiment not often heard there during Donald Trump's presidency: gratitude for the US. 650 words 1500 GMT by Claire Gounon with Adel Zaanoun in Gaza City. Picture. Video Also moved: US-Palestinians-aid-UN,lead Iran-nuclear-diplomacy,Q&A VIENNA Here is where the Iran nuclear deal -- thrown into disarray when the US left it in 2018 -- stands with negotiations beginning this week in Vienna to put it back on track. 650 words moved by Anne Beade. File picture -- AFRICA -- Benin-vote,WRAP SAVE, Benin One person is killed and at least three wounded by gunfire, local officials say, after troops in Benin clear opposition protesters in a flashpoint city three days before President Patrice Talon seeks re-election. 700 words 1530 GMT by Camille Malplat with Josue Mehouenou a Cotonou. Picture. Video. Graphic Mozambique-unrest,FOCUS JOHANNESBURG The violent escalation of an insurgency in northern Mozambique last month has whipped up fresh concerns about security in southern Africa, a region that has enjoyed relative stability in recent decades. 750 words 1600 GMT by Sofia Christensen -- AMERICAS -- US-politics-immigration,WRAP WASHINGTON Apprehensions of migrants on the US border with Mexico soared 70 percent in March to a 15-year high, posing a growing social and political challenge to President Joe Biden. 500 words 1430 GMT by Paul Handley. File Picture -- ASIA -- Britain-HongKong-China-politics-law,WRAP BEIJING China accuses the UK of sheltering "wanted criminals" after prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Nathan Law said he had been granted political asylum there. 600 words moved. Video Indonesia-ETimor-disaster,WRAP LEMBATA, Indonesia Two Indonesian navy ships packed with aid arrive in a cyclone-ravaged section of the archipelago, as the disaster's death toll rises to nearly 180 people, including dozens killed in neighbouring East Timor. 550 words moved. Picture. Video. Graphic Kyrgyzstan-crime-marriage-protest BISHKEK Hundreds of people rally in Kyrgyzstan calling for police chiefs to be sacked after a young woman abducted for marriage was found dead in a country known for systemic bride kidnapping. 400 words moved by Tolkun Namatbayeva. Picture. Video US-internet-democracy-protest-Twitter-MilkTeaAlliance HONG KONG Twitter has launched an emoji to spotlight the "#MilkTeaAlliance" online protest movement that has forged links between pro-democracy activists across Asia, the social media giant says. 400 words moved China-technology-robots-economy-internet-computers-science NANJING, China It's whip fast, obeys commands and doesn't leave unpleasant surprises on the floor -- meet the AlphaDog, a robotic response to two of China's burgeoning loves: pets and technology. 500 words moved by Helen Roxburgh and Qian Ye. Picture. Video -- ECONOMY -- IMF-economy,WRAP WASHINGTON The world is recovering from the pandemic crisis more quickly than expected, but the battle is not over and the IMF is urging policymakers to continue to provide funds to shore up the global economy and ensure no one is left behind. 600 words 1630 GMT by Heather Scott -- SPORT -- Tennis-FRA-Open-health-virus,3rdlead PARIS The French Open is delayed by a week to May 30-June 13 in the hope that heightened Covid-19 restrictions in France will have eased by then to allow the maximum number of fans to attend the claycourt Grand Slam tournament. 600 words moved. File picture Fbl-Eur-C1-GER-FRA-Bayern-PSG BERLIN Bayern Munich forward Thomas Mueller says the holders must show their "killer instincts" and finish their chances against Paris Saint-Germain in next Tuesday's return leg in the French capital to avoid a Champions League quarter-final exit after losing 3-2 at home in the first match. 450 words moved. Picture afp
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