Netanyahu opponents grapple to form cabinet before deadline

Israeli politicians worked against the clock Tuesday to overcome final hurdles to building a coalition that would end the record rule of right-wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

WHO approves China’s Sinovac Covid jab

The World Health Organization on Tuesday approved the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use -- the second Chinese jab to receive the WHO’s green light.

China allows couples to have three children: state media

China has relaxed its family planning policy to allow couples to have a maximum of three children after a census showed its population is rapidly ageing, state media Xinhua reported Monday.

Netanyahu could be ousted in days: Rivals move to unseat him

Far-right party leader Naftali Bennett threw his crucial support on Sunday behind a “unity government” in Israel to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in what would be the end of a political era.

New Zealand, Australia play down differences on China

New Zealand and Australia downplayed policy differences on China Monday, with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern denying Wellington was taking a soft stance on human rights to avoid offending its largest trading partner.

Netanyahu’s ‘kingmaker’ rival agrees to join coalition to unseat him

Far-right party leader Naftali Bennett threw his crucial support on Sunday behind a “government of change” in Israel to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in what would be the end of a political era.

Thousands rally against president’s Covid policies in Brazil

Brazilians took to the streets in dozens of cities in their thousands on Saturday to protest against the Covid policies of President Jair Bolsonaro and his government.

Vietnam detects hybrid of Indian and UK Covid-19 variants

Authorities in Vietnam have detected a new coronavirus variant that is a combination of the Indian and UK Covid-19 variants and spreads quickly by air, it’s health minister said on Saturday.

UN to investigate possible war crimes during Israel-Gaza war

The UN Human Rights Council issued strongly-worded criticism of Israel and Hamas on Thursday, and its members decided to launch a probe into possible war crimes committed during the recent military escalation in the region.

US planning to evacuate Afghan interpreters: Top US General

‘Defence One’ and the BBC reported Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley saying the US was planning to evacuate Afghans whose work with the US had placed them in danger of being killed by the Taliban after U.S. and coalition forces complete their withdrawal.

South Asia crosses 30 million Covid-19 cases

Coronavirus infections in the South Asia region surpassed 30 million on Friday, according to a Reuters tally of official data, led by India which is struggling with a second Covid-19 wave and a vaccine shortage across the region.

Nine dead, thousands homeless, as cyclone batters Covid-ravaged India

Thousands of people were homeless Thursday after a cyclone battered Covid-ravaged India and neighbouring Bangladesh, killing nine people including four children.

Mali military frees President, prime Minister

Mali’s interim president and premier have been released, a military official said Thursday, three days after they were detained and stripped of their powers in what appeared to be the country’s second coup in nine months.

Courts go up in flames during protests in Colombia

After about a month of protests in Colombia, the law courts in Tulua have been destroyed in a fire, presumably as a result of arson.

Fears grow, detained Belarusian journalist subject to torture

Fears grew on Tuesday that the Belarusian dissident journalist Roman Protasevich, who was detained in Minsk after his plane was forcibly rerouted, has been subject to torture while in custody.

Cyclone batters eastern India, 1.2 million seek shelter

Heavy rains and howling winds lashed eastern India on Wednesday as the Covid-stricken country’s second cyclone in as many weeks roared towards the coast, forcing more than 1.2 million people to seek shelter.

WhatsApp Sues Indian government over new social media rules

WhatsApp has reportedly filed a legal case against the Indian government over a new set of social media rules that just took effect, asking a Delhi court to declare one guideline an unconstitutional privacy violation.

Two Israelis stabbed, Palestinian assailant killed in Jerusalem

A Palestinian stabbed and wounded two Israelis, one of them a soldier, and was then shot dead on Monday near a flashpoint area of East Jerusalem that has been the focus of Palestinian protests, emergency services said.

‘Black fungus’ Declared an epidemic in Jammu & Kashmir as India battles deadly infection

Jammu and Kashmir has become the latest union territory in India to declare black fungus an epidemic, as cases of the coronavirus-linked infection continue to rise.

Forced landing of plane in Belarus ‘state-sponsored hijacking’: Ryanair CEO

The actions of the Belarusian authorities to force Ryanair Flight 4978 to land at Minsk Airport on Sunday were an act of state-sponsored “hijacking” and “piracy,” according to the chief executive of the Irish low-cost airline.

Tension in Jerusalem high but Gaza ceasefire holds

The Temple Mount in Jerusalem’s Old City, referred to by Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary, reopened for Jewish visitors on Sunday, days after a ceasefire came into force between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza.

India orders social media: Remove reference to ‘Indian variant’

India’s information technology (IT) ministry has written to all social media companies asking them to take down any content that refers to an “Indian variant” of the coronavirus, according to a letter issued on Friday which was seen by Reuters.

Two Covid shots effective against Indian variant -UK

A double dose of COVID-19 vaccines is almost as effective against the fast-spreading variant of the coronavirus first identified in India as it is against Britain’s dominant strain, English health officials said on Saturday.

Israel pummels Hamas tunnel system as diplomats look for truce

Israel’s army on Thursday said it “neutralized” an extensive tunnel system dug by Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, keeping up its military offensive as diplomats continued to search for a ceasefire deal.

Spain accuses Morocco of ‘blackmail’ over Ceuta migrant surge

Spain’s defence minister accused Morocco of “blackmail” on Thursday over its passivity in the face of a surge in migrant arrivals in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta earlier this week.

US warship illegally enters territory in S.China Sea: China

China said on Thursday a US warship had illegally entered its territorial waters in the South China Sea, and was expelled by its forces, an assertion the United States denied, in the latest exchange of salvos over Beijing’s claims in the busy waterway.

‘De-escalate today’ Biden in call with Netanyahu

U.S. President Joe Biden prodded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday to immediately lower tensions in the Gaza conflict “on the path” to a ceasefire, the White House said.

Nepal, Bangladesh scramble to secure COVID-19

Nepal and Bangladesh are making frantic diplomatic efforts to secure COVID-19 vaccines to prop up their faltering inoculation drives as their stocks run out and supply prospects have become clouded by a prolonged Indian curb on vaccine exports.

Rescuers hunt 51 missing persons after cyclone sinks barge

Naval vessels and aircraft scoured the waters off India’s west coast on Wednesday after the most powerful cyclone in more than two decades battered the region, sinking a barge and killing 22 aboard, authorities said.

Scores missing at sea as cyclone tears up Indian west coast

The Indian Navy mounted a massive air and sea rescue mission on Tuesday for 81 oil workers and crew whose barge sank in heavy seas following a powerful cyclone that tore up the west coast killing at least 19 people.