France opts for 3rd shots, not lockdown
France has launched a plan to give Covid-19 booster shots to all adults, as it opted against a further lockdown or curfew to help combat a worrying uptick in infections in the country. Continue Reading
WORLD
Foreign powers blamed for Solomon Islands unrest
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare on Friday blamed foreign interference over his government’s decision to switch alliances from Taiwan to Beijing for anti-government protests that have ravaged the capital Honiara. Continue Reading
UN condemns terror attack on UN convoy in Somalia
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has strongly condemned Thursday’s deadly terrorist attack on a UN-affiliated convoy in front of a school in Mogadishu, Somalia, said his deputy spokesman. Continue Reading
New Covid-19 variant with high mutations confirmed in SA
A new variant of Covid-19, feared to have a high amount of spike mutations unseen before, has been detected in South Africa, with authorities there confirming 22 positive cases associated with it on Thursday. Continue Reading
Putin says Russia will offer good gas deal to Serbia
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that Moscow would continue providing natural gas to Serbia on terms favorable to its ally. Continue Reading
France calls for European aid after 27 migrant deaths at sea
French President Emmanuel Macron appealed Thursday to neighbouring European countries to do more to stop illegal migration into France after at least 27 people died trying to cross the English Channel. Continue Reading
58 Brazilian cities cancel Carnival over Covid fears
At least 58 cities in Brazil’s states of Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais have decided to cancel Carnival 2022 celebrations over fear of Covid-19 outbreaks, according to media reports. Continue Reading
Sweden’s first female Prime Minister quits hours later
Hours after being tapped as Sweden’s prime minister, Magdalena Andersson resigned on Wednesday after suffering a budget defeat in parliament and its coalition partner left the two-party minority government. Continue Reading
Iran says agreement with IAEA possible
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian has tweeted that an agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is possible, and a meeting will be held soon. Continue Reading
New Zealand passes drug-checking law
New Zealand Health Minister Andrew Little on Tuesday said drug-checking services will continue to operate legally at festivals, pop-up clinics, university orientation and other places this summer and beyond after a law was passed earlier in the day. Continue Reading