Here’s the news to start the week.

• President Joe Biden’s call for authorizing Medicare to negotiate lower prescription drug prices has energized Democrats on a politically popular idea they’ve been pushing for nearly 20 years, but they still lack a clear path to enact legislation. 
• Russia is turning to multiple Chinese firms to manufacture the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine in an effort to speed up production as demand soars for its shot.
• And take a look at the narrow footbridge suspended across a river canyon in northern Portugal which has just opened and claims to be the world’s longest. It’s not for the faint-hearted!

Also this morning:

• Tokyo Olympic Games needs 500 nurses, but they are busy with COVID-19
• What’s at stake in Spain’s upcoming election 
• 11-year-old opens weekly newspaper in Wyoming

ANDREW MELDRUM

The Associated Press

Johannesburg, South Africa

The Rundown

Democrats seek narrow path to rein in cost of medicines

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s call for authorizing Medicare to negotiate lower prescription drug prices has energized Democrats on a politically popular idea they’ve been pushing for nearly 20 years only to encounter frustration. But they…Read More

Russia, facing lags, turns to China to produce Sputnik shots

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Russia is turning to multiple Chinese firms to manufacture the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine in an effort to speed up production as demand soars for its shot. Russia has announced three deals totaling 260 million doses with Ch…Read More

Indian leader’s party takes electoral hit amid virus surge

NEW DELHI (AP) — Preliminary voting trends released by India’s electoral body on Sunday indicate Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist party failed to make gains in four recent state elections, a sign his political strength may be slippi…Read More

High jinx: New Portuguese bridge not for the faint-hearted

AROUCA, Portugal (AP) — It’s probably best if you gird yourself before you look down from the Arouca Bridge. The narrow footbridge suspended across a river canyon in northern Portugal claims to be the world’s longest pedestrian bridge and was offic…Read More

OTHER TOP STORIES

Nurses, doctor help ‘lucky’ mom who gave birth on flight

HONOLULU (AP) — A doctor and a team of neonatal medical professionals were in the right place at the right time — helping a Utah woman deliver her baby onboard an hourslong fl…Read More

EXPLAINER: COVID-19, far-right are top themes in Madrid vote

MADRID (AP) — Residents in Madrid, one of Europe’s worst-hit regions in the pandemic, are voting Tuesday for a new regional assembly in an election that tests the depths of re…Read More

Tokyo Games need 500 nurses; nurses say needs are elsewhere

TOKYO (AP) — Some nurses in Japan are incensed at a request from Tokyo Olympic organizers to have 500 of them dispatched to help out with the games. They say they’re already n…Read More

Wyoming 11-year-old launches weekly newspaper

KELLY, Wyo. (AP) — Watch out, Jackson Hole News & Guide, there’s a new kid in town. Well, maybe not in town, but in the town of Kelly. An 11-year-old’s newspaper is catchi…Read More