Israel refuses to co-operate with ICC on war crimes

Israel on Thursday said it has formally decided not to co-operate with an International Criminal Court war crimes investigation into the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth II’s husband dies aged 99

Queen Elizabeth II’s husband Prince Philip, who recently spent more than a month in hospital and underwent a heart procedure, died on Friday, Buckingham Palace announced. He was 99.

Outcry as Myanmar military turns on London ambassador

Myanmar’s military leaders turned their sights on Thursday to the country’s ambassador to London and a famous actor as they continued to try to quell protests more than two months after claiming power in a coup.

US to blame for tensions over Taiwan: China

Beijing blamed the United States on Thursday for tensions over Taiwan after a U.S. warship sailed close to the Chinese-claimed island, asking rhetorically whether China would sail in the Gulf of Mexico as a “show of strength”.

Bangkok COVID-19 outbreak may take months to contain: Thailand

A coronavirus outbreak in Thailand’s capital may take more than two months to control, a health official said on Thursday, as authorities announced a broad ban on nightlife to tackle a new wave of infections and a highly contagious variant.

Brazil’s daily Covid-19 death toll passes 4,000 for first time

Brazil registered more than 4,000 Covid-19 deaths in 24 hours for the first time Tuesday, the health ministry said, as the country reeled from a surge of infections that has made it the current epicenter of the pandemic.

Vienna talks open ‘new chapter’: Rouhani

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Wednesday that talks in Vienna on rescuing a troubled 2015 nuclear deal had opened a “new chapter”.

India posts record COVID-19 cases, 13-fold jump over two months

-India’s second wave of coronavirus infections continued to swell as it reported a record 115,736 new cases on Wednesday, a 13-fold increase in just over two months and raising pressure on the government to expand its vaccination campaign.The federal government has asked states to decide on local curbs to control the spread of the virus, but has so far refused to impose any national lockdown after the last one in 2020 devastated its economy and l

Indian capital imposes night curfew ahead of ‘critical’ four weeks in COVID-19 fight

The Indian capital of New Delhi on Tuesday imposed a night-time curfew until April 30 with much of the country struggling to contain a second surge in coronavirus infections that has eclipsed the first wave.

Biden to speed up eligibility for vaccine

President Joe Biden will announce on Tuesday that the US delivered 150 million vaccines since he took office and move up by nearly two weeks a deadline to make doses widely available, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Australia falls short 3 Million doses of Covid-19 vaccine

Australia is struggling to meet its Covid-19 vaccination targets, in part due to red tape involved with importing doses of the drug. Government officials have blamed Brussels for the shortfall.

Turkey detains 10 retired admirals over ‘evoking coup’

Turkey on Monday detained 10 retired admirals after a letter signed by more than 100 of them warned against a possible threat to a treaty governing the use of Turkey’s key waterways.

Johnson launches mass testing programme as economy reopens

Johnson, who is expected to confirm plans to relaunch international travel and open sections of the economy later on Monday, said the new mass testing programme would break the chain of transmissions and spot cases without symptoms.

Japan fears COVID-19 variants behind possible fourth wave

Japanese health authorities are concerned that variants of the coronavirus are driving a nascent fourth wave in the pandemic with just 109 days remaining until the Tokyo Olympics.

Train crash kills 50 in Taiwan’s deadliest rail tragedy in decades

A Taiwan express train with almost 500 aboard derailed in a tunnel on Friday after hitting a truck that had slid down a bank onto the track, killing at least 50 passengers and injuring 146 in the island’s worst rail disaster in seven decades.

EU condemns China media ‘harassment’ after BBC departure

The European Union on Friday condemned the “harassment” of foreign journalists in China after a BBC correspondent left the country in the face of legal threats and pressure from authorities.

Myanmar junta cuts internet, protesters say they will not surrender

Opponents of military rule in Myanmar marched and laid bouquets of flowers on Friday while trying to find alternative ways to organise their campaign of dissent after the authorities cut off most users from the internet.

Suu Kyi faces new charge under Myanmar’s official secrets act

Myanmar’s deposed leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been charged with breaking a colonial-era official secrets law, her lawyer said on Thursday, the most serious charge against the veteran opponent of military rule.

Hong Kong activists convicted over unauthorised protests

Seven high-profile Hong Kong pro-democracy figures were convicted on Thursday for taking part in unauthorised protests in 2019.

WHO criticizes Europe for ‘unacceptably slow’ rollout of Covid-19 vaccines

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has labeled Europe’s rollout of Covid-19 vaccines as “unacceptably slow,” warning delays are “prolonging the pandemic” and described a surge in new infections in the region as “worrying.”

China deflects questions after WHO chief revives lab leak theory

China deflected questions over an investigation into the origins of Covid-19 on Wednesday, after the WHO chief revived a theory it may have leaked from a Chinese lab and the United States led concerns over data access.

Myanmar’s Suu Kyi ‘looks healthy’, lawyer says, as US orders non-essential staff to leave

Myanmar’s deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi appeared in good health in a video meeting on Wednesday, one of her lawyers said, as the United States ordered its non-essential embassy staff to leave after “horrifying” violence against opponents of a coup.

EU fails to achieve March vaccination goals amid looming third wave

The European Union has fallen short of vaccinating 80 per cent of health care workers and people over the age of 80 against Covid-19 by the end of March, a target set by the bloc’s executive branch.

World leaders call for new international pandemic treaty

Twenty-five world leaders have thrown their weight behind a proposal from European Council President Charles Michel to draw up a new international treaty on pandemic preparedness in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis.

Thai authorities force back refugees fleeing Myanmar air strikes

Thai authorities forced thousands of refugees fleeing air attacks by the army in neighbouring Myanmar to return to southeastern Karen state, two activist groups said on Monday.

Traffic in Suez Canal resumes after stranded ship refloated

Shipping traffic through Egypt’s Suez Canal resumed on Monday after a giant container ship which had been blocking the busy waterway for almost a week was refloated, the canal authority said.

China warns firms not to engage in politics over Xinjiang

Chinese officials on Monday said Sweden’s H&M and other foreign brands should not make rash moves or step into politics after the companies raised concerns about forced labour in Xinjiang, sparking a furious online backlash and boycotts.

Indian state imposes night curfew after record COVID jump

India’s western state of Maharashtra imposed night curfews on Sunday to tackle a surge in coronavirus cases, with the financial capital Mumbai reporting its highest single-day jump since last March.

Troops fire at funeral as Myanmar mourns bloodiest day since coup

Myanmar security forces opened fire on Sunday, witnesses said, at people gathered for the funeral of one of the 114 people killed the previous day, the bloodiest day of protests since the military coup on Feb. 1.

Egypt races to free supertanker from banks of Suez as vessels reroute

The pressure is mounting on Egypt to dislodge a massive container ship which has blocked the Suez Canal since Tuesday, as more shipping firms are rerouting their vessels away from the waterway.