News Headlines - 08 February 2021
▽Germany, Poland and Sweden expel Russian diplomats | The Guardian
Germany, Poland and Sweden have each expelled a Russian diplomat in a coordinated act of retaliation over the expulsion of three EU officials by Moscow while the bloc’s foreign policy chief was visiting last week.
The tit-for-tat expulsions on Monday underscored the volatility in east-west relations and an erosion of trust among former cold war foes, as the west accuses Moscow of trying to destabilise it and the Kremlin rejects what it sees as foreign interference.
A teenager survived a flight from London to Holland after clinging to the landing gear in freezing conditions at 19,000ft.
The 16-year-old boy was found on a jet that landed at Maastricht Airport and is in hospital with hypothermia.
A spokesman for airport told DutchNews.nl the teen "had tremendous luck to get through this".
▽Beijing 2022: 180 human rights groups call for Winter Olympics boycott | The Guardian
More than 180 human rights organisations have called for a boycott of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games in protest against China’s mass human rights abuses.
The coalition of groups - primarily regional associations in support of Tibet, Taiwan, the Uighur community and Hong Kong - said the hopes in 2015 that awarding Beijing the Games would be a catalyst for progress, had faded.
▽Biden says decision on 2020 Games 'has to be based on science' | Reuters
Any decision about holding the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, postponed by a year due to the coronavirus pandemic, must be based on science, U.S. President Joe Biden told a radio show... Biden, speaking on a Westwood One Sports radio programme broadcast on Sunday during halftime of the Super Bowl, said he hoped the Games would take place, mainly for the sake of the athletes who have trained so hard for them.
▽Rikako Ikee reaches first podium since leaving hospital | The Japan Times
Rikako Ikee said she felt stronger Sunday following her second place finish in the Japan Open women’s 50-meter freestyle, her first podium finish since returning to competition from leukemia treatment... In January, Ikee put a damper on talk about competing in this year’s postponed Olympics after becoming eligible for the 100 freestyle at April’s national championships, a qualifying event for Japan’s Olympic team.
