India AstraZeneca shot delay could be ‘catastrophic’ for Africa: health

By Reuters Staff ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – India’s temporary hold on major exports of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 shot will undermine Africa’s vaccination plans, and could have a “catastrophic” impact if extended, the head of the continent’s disease control body said on Thursday. India decided to delay big exports of the shots made in its territory by […]

John Magufuli: Tanzania’s president dies aged 61 after Covid rumours

Tanzania’s President John Magufuli has died aged 61, the country’s vice-president has announced. He died on Wednesday from heart complications at a hospital in Dar es Salaam, Samia Suluhu Hassan said in an address on state television. Magufuli had not been seen in public for more than two weeks, and rumours have been circulating about […]

Lebanon’s politicians show no sign of saving their country, France

By Reuters Staff                                 French European and Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian attends a joint press conference following a meeting on the Middle East Peace process, in Paris, France March 11, 2021. Ludovic Marin/Pool via REUTERS PARIS (Reuters) – […]

Senegal protests: Ousmane Sonko charged with rape

A judge in Senegal has charged opposition leader Ousmane Sonko with rape and released him on bail, after days of deadly protests sparked by his arrest last week. “He is going home. He is free,” said Etienne Ddione, Mr Sonko’s lawyer. Mr Sonko, 46, is accused of assaulting a woman who worked in a beauty […]

Bata explosion: Equatorial Guinea blasts kill 31

A series of explosions on Sunday in Equatorial Guinea is now known to have killed 31 people, officials say. The number of those injured rose to 600. The blasts hit a military base in the country’s main city, Bata. Officials blame badly stored dynamite along with stubble burning by nearby farmers. Teams including volunteers continue […]

Iran releases British-Iranian aid worker Zaghari-Ratcliffe from house arrest but

By Reuters Staff DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran has released British-Iranian aid worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe from house arrest at the end of her five-year prison sentence, but she has been summoned to court again on another charge, her lawyer said on Sunday. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said his government would continue to do everything possible to […]

Khashoggi’s fiancee criticises lack of action against Saudi crown prince

By Ali Kucukgocmen ISTANBUL (Reuters) – The fiancee of slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi said on Thursday that world leaders should not maintain relations with a “murderer”, after a U.S. intelligence report implicated Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler in his killing. Khashoggi, a critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was last seen entering […]

Covid: Police break up ‘fake vaccine network’ in China and

Coronavirus pandemic I Police in China and South Africa have seized thousands of doses of counterfeit Covid-19 vaccine and made dozens of arrests, Interpol says. In China, police made 80 arrests at a factory allegedly making fake vaccine, where at least 3,000 doses were found. Three Chinese nationals and a Zambian were detained at a […]

DR Congo’s mysterious metal monolith destroyed by mob

A metal structure that mysteriously appeared on a roundabout in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been destroyed over fears about its origins. People in the capital, Kinshasa, stoned and torched the 12ft (3.7m) triangular prism that looked like other metal monoliths that have cropped up around the world over the last few months. It […]

Thousands protest Myanmar coup despite internet ban

By Reuters Staff (Reuters) – Thousands of people took to the streets of Yangon on Saturday to denounce this week’s coup and demand the release of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi despite a blockade on the internet by the junta. In an upwelling of anger in the country’s largest city protesters chanted, “Military dictator, fail, […]