China is the last major economy committed to a zero-COVID strategy, with restrictions aimed at stamping out all infections. China has reported zero new COVID-19 infections in Shanghai for the first time since March, as the country’s latest outbreak subsides after months of lockdowns and other restrictions. China is the…
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The country has recorded the most coronavirus cases and deaths in Africa, with more than 3.9 million confirmed infections and 101,000 deaths South Africa has repealed COVID-19 rules that made masks mandatory in indoor public spaces, limited the size of gatherings and imposed entry requirements at its borders, the health…
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The gold-crowned tooth of Democratic Republic of Congo independence hero Patrice Lumumba has been buried more than 60 years after he was assassinated. It is the only part of his body that exists after his remains were dissolved in acid. The Belgian policeman who oversaw the disposal took the tooth…
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In 1997 Hong Kong was handed back to China, triggering the start of a grand political experiment. Many were anxious about how the capitalist, free-wheeling former British colony would fare under Communist Chinese rule. So Beijing promised Hong Kong’s civil liberties and freedom – unavailable in the mainland – would…
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The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has lost some of its power to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The landmark ruling by the US Supreme Court represents a major setback to President Joe Biden’s climate plans. He called it a “devastating decision” but said it would not undermine his effort to…
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Masaya Maruyama, his wife Junko and his brother Koichi, were sitting under the tailgate of their work van, trying to find a tiny bit of shade, as they drank profusely from large bottles of orange soda. The family of plumbers had been out in the baking sun laying pipes since…
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The IMF has said Sri Lanka needs to whittle down existing debt to ‘sustainable’ levels before it can receive any aid. The International Monetary Fund has reported constructive talks with Sri Lankan authorities, raising hopes it could soon grant preliminary approval for a credit facility to alleviate a crisis in…
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Thousands of people have marched through the Indian city of Udaipur, many holding Hindu saffron flags and placards, following the murder of a Hindu tailor, with many calling for the death penalty for the two Muslim men accused of killing him. Police had barred public gatherings in the northwestern state of…
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An ex-Canadian government IT worker has admitted to being a high-level hacker with a Russian cyber-crime group. Sebastien Vachon-Desjardins, from Quebec, Canada, has agreed to plead guilty in a Florida court. The 34-year-old was affiliated to the NetWalker ransomware crew, which has attacked companies, municipalities, hospitals, schools and universities. When…
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Google is facing action from a coalition of ten European consumer organisations over the company’s account sign-up process. A Google account is essential in order to use a number of its products and services. But the coalition alleges the sign-up process steers users towards options that collect more data. Google…
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