Already the subject of multiple anti-trust investigations, search giant Google is facing another challenge, this time from within. Hundreds of its workers have formed a union, in a surprising move because they're the best-paid people in the industry. It's also an oddity in Silicon Valley, where tech firms have long resisted organised labour. The group's leaders say they want to give a voice to loyal workers unhappy with how the company's being run. And while their ranks are still small, the union is confident support will grow. Paolo Montecillo reports. For more, we were joined by Bob O'Donnell. He's the founder and chief analyst at TECH-nalysis Research in Foster City, California.

#Google #EmployeeUnion #SearchEngine

There's been a major breakthrough in the blockade against Qatar. Saudi Arabia and its allies have agreed to end a three-and- a-half year long boycott of the Gulf nation, after intense mediation involving Kuwaiti and US officials. Turkey has welcomed the move, and has called for the removal of sanctions imposed on its ally, Qatar. As Yasmine El-Sabawi reports from Washington, the Trump Administration is taking credit for the new era in Gulf relations. For more on this, Jasim Husain spoke to us from Bahrain. He's an independent researcher focusing on economic and political developments within countries of the Gulf Co-operation Council. He's also a former member of Bahrain's parliament.

#QatarBlockade #SaudiArabia #GulfCrisis

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic has sharply decreased global demand for oil. Economies that rely on oil exports are strapped for cash. In Iraq, it's led to a financial crisis from the central banks to the supermarket queue. Sarah Balter has more. #Iraq #CashCrunch #Pandemic

US stocks have given-up some of their New Year gains ahead of Tuesday's run-off elections for two Senate seats in the state of Georgia - which could determine whether Democrats have full control of Congress. It comes after The Washington Post released a recording of Donald Trump pressuring Georgia's top election official to 'find' votes to overturn Joe Biden's win. Trump also threatened the officials with criminal charges. Natasha Hussain reports.

#DonaldTrump #JoeBiden #USelection

The world has been living with the potentially deadly COVID-19 virus for a year now. The mysterious new illness was first reported to the World Health Organization on 31st of December 2019. And while global health experts have moved rapidly to identify, treat and develop vaccines to fight the virus.. there's still a lot they don't know. Melinda Nucifora explains.

#Coronavirus #SocialDistancing #WorldHealthOrganization

Global investors have rung-in the New Year with record highs as markets rallied on optimism the next 12 months will be better than the last. And for good reason. Major economies are ramping-up the distribution of coronavirus vaccines in the hope of stopping the spread of COVID-19 once and for all. But a new, more contagious strain means governments can't rely on inoculations alone, and it's forcing them to restrict their economies even further. Paolo Montecillo reports. For more, we spoke to Doctor Muhammad Munir. He's a virologist at Lancaster University.

#AstraZeneca #Vaccine #UKrollout

Animals make great companions but it's always difficult to say goodbye when they pass on. In Colombia, one company uses the remains of dead pets to fertilize plants. It's a growing business that provides comfort to some pet owners. Manuel Rueda sent us this report.

#Colombia #Dogs #PetBurials

Indonesia is one of the most biodiverse places in the world. It's one of the few countries where you can find tigers, rhino, bears and elephants all in the same forest. Sadly, the nation has one of the highest rates of deforestation and that's driven many species to the very brink of survival. Natasha Hussain reports on a group of women on a mission to reverse environmental destruction.

#Indonesia #Rainforests #Conservation

According to the Food and Agricultural Organization, the average person consumes almost 50 kilogrammes of meat a year. Research shows that reducing the consumption of meat is crucial to combating the climate crisis. Recently Singapore became the first country to approve so-called 'cultured meat'. Also known as 'clean meat', it's produced in labs, using animal cells, but without slaughtering any livestock. Mustafa Fatih Yavuz takes a look at whether cultured meat is likely to end up on menus in Israel any time soon.

#LabGrownMeat #CulturedMeat #SingaporeFoodAgency

Media sceptics have written close to 400 obituaries for bitcoin since its launch in 2009. That's according to the cryptocurrency tracking site 99-bitcoins. But every time, the virtual asset has come back to life stronger than ever. The latest revival came this week as bitcoin prices reached new record highs. Paolo Montecillo has the details. We were joined by Daniele Bianchi. He's an assistant professor of finance at Queen Mary University of London and specialises in crypto- currencies.

#PriceBreaches #Bitcoin #USdollar