“America is back” and is fully engaged in helping resolve issues including the pandemic, climate change and Iran’s nuclear ambitions, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has told the BBC.

In his first international interview, Mr Blinken stressed the importance of worldwide vaccination against Covid-19.

He also criticised China for its lack of transparency in uncovering how the coronavirus emerged.

It marks a break with the “America First” policy of Donald Trump.

Mr Blinken was speaking as the leaders of the G7 richest industrialised nations met in virtual session.

The US is giving $4bn (£2.85bn) to the Covax vaccination scheme, which aims to deliver more than two billion doses to people in 190 countries in less than a year.

“Unless and until everyone in the world is vaccinated, then no-one is really fully safe, because if the virus is out there and continuing to proliferate, it’s also going to be mutating,” Mr Blinken said.

“And if it’s mutating, it’s also going to come back and bite people everywhere.”

The US has now vaccinated more than 27 million of its own people. However, in many poorer countries, vaccination has yet to begin.

Mr Blinken also accused China of failing to share information that might shed light on the origins of the coronavirus.

A team of investigators from the World Health Organization (WHO) spent four weeks in China on a fact-finding mission at the beginning of 2021. However, two experts from the WHO team said afterwards that China refused to grant full access to the data they sought.

The secretary of state said a better health security system was needed to spot pandemics before they fully emerged.

“It requires countries to be transparent. It requires them to share information. It requires them to give access to international experts at the beginning of an outbreak – things that unfortunately we haven’t seen from China,” he said.

Texas Senator Ted Cruz flew to Mexico with his family amid a winter weather crisis that has left millions in his state without power.

In a statement on Thursday, Mr Cruz said that he planned the trip for his daughters, “wanting to be a good dad”.

Photos of the Republican lawmaker at an airport emerged on Twitter on Wednesday, fuelling reports that he had left Texas amid the energy crisis.

Texas has seen power and water outages due to the uncommonly frigid weather.

The high profile Republican has drawn quick criticism for taking an international trip amid the weather emergency in his state.

“People in Texas are literally freezing to death and yet Ted Cruz went on vacation to Cancun,” wrote Democratic Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal on Twitter.

How has Cruz defended his trip?

In a written statement released on Thursday afternoon, Mr Cruz described an “infuriating week for Texans”.

With schools closed in the state, the senator said he booked the vacation for his young daughters who “asked to take a trip with friends”.

Mr Cruz did not apologise for making the trip amid the state of emergency in Texas, but said that he and his staff “are in constant communication with state and local leaders to get to the bottom of what happened in Texas.”

The Republican will be returning to Texas on Thursday afternoon, according to his statement. It is not clear if his return flight was originally scheduled for Thursday or is a change in plans.

As a federal lawmaker, Mr Cruz does not have a direct role in Texas’ emergency response, but residents often reach out to their elected officials – like Mr Cruz – during natural disasters for help accessing resources.

The Houston Police Department told CBS News that a member of Mr Cruz’s staff contacted authorities on Wednesday to request assistance upon Mr Cruz’s arrival at Houston’s international airport.

The senator arrived at the airport on Wednesday, Chief Art Acevedo said, and officers “monitored his movements through the terminal”.

What’s the reaction been?

The senator’s travel plans amid the crisis in Texas drew immediate criticism online.

“Ted Cruz not only fled the state while millions of vulnerable Texans are without heat and water but specifically diverted police resources to get him through security and crowds faster for his outgoing vacation flight,” wrote progressive rights activist Charlotte Clymer on Twitter.

Journalist David Shuster shared a photo of a man who appears to be Mr Cruz boarding a plane, noting that millions of Texans “remain without electricity/water and are literally freezing”.

Some communities in Gurmana Ward of Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State have been attacked by gunmen.

It was discovered that Sarkin Zama, Bakin Kogi (Lagbe), Siyiko and other adjoining villages were invaded by armed gangs who operated unchallenged for hours.

According to Co-convener, Concerned Shiroro Youths, Sani Abubakar Yusuf Kokki, some residents were killed in the attack which happened hours after students and staff were abducted at Government Science College, Kagara, Rafi Local Government Area of the state.

“Countless deadly attacks have become daily occurrences thereby compelling the affected victims to live at the mercy of hydraheaded monsters. Defenceless, unarmed and peaceful locals have been abandoned to their fate,” Kokki said.

Details later…