*) US, Russia ties hit new low as Putin mocks Biden over ‘killer’ comment

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that US President Joe Biden’s remarks about him reflect the United States' own past and current problems.

Putin’s statement came a day after Biden was asked in an interview whether he thought Russian President is a killer and he said, “I do.”

Putin pointed at the US atomic bombing of Japan and its past history of slaughtering Native Americans, arguing that the painful legacies weigh on the United States.

*) US, China spar in first face-to-face meeting under Biden

Top Chinese and US diplomats have clashed at the start of the first, high-level, in-person talks between the Biden Administration and Beijing.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said China's actions threaten the rules-based order that maintains global stability.

While China said Washington uses its military force to suppress other countries.

The bilateral talks continue in the US state of Alaska.

*) EU countries to resume using AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine

Several European nations, including Germany and France, will resume using the AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine.

That's after investigations by the World Health Organization and the European Medicines Agency concluded the shot is safe and effective.

Countries around the world had suspended use of the vaccine after some people who'd received it reported experiencing blood clots.

*) Myanmar junta tightens grip, builds bribery case against ousted Suu Kyi

Myanmar's ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi has faced fresh corruption charges from the ruling junta.

Suu Kyi’s lawyer has dismissed the charges as "groundless" but the allegations could ensure she would never be able to return to politics.

Scores of people have died in protests calling for the Myanmar military to reinstate the civilian rule following the February 1 coup.

And finally …

*) Climate change could cut 63 countries' credit ratings by 2030 – study

A new study by a group of UK universities has predicted that 63 countries could see their credit ratings cut because of climate change by 2030.

Researchers looked at a "realistic scenario" known as RCP 8.5, where carbon and other polluting emissions continue rising in coming decades.

The hardest-hit countries included China, Chile, Malaysia, and Mexico which could see six notches of downgrades by the end of the century.