Western countries have 'hoarded' Covid vaccines. Africa is being left behind as cases surge
Updated 1315 GMT (2115 HKT) February 5, 2021
African nations are being left behind in obtaining Covid-19 vaccines as richer countries stockpile vaccines and prioritize their own populations -- despite a surge in cases and a new variant affecting the continent.
Islamic extremists planning 'rash of attacks' after Covid curbs lifted, says UN
Report says pandemic gives Isis and al-Qaida opportunity to undermine governments in conflict zones
Islamic extremists are planning a possible “rash of pre-planned attacks” when restrictions on movement imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic are lifted, the United Nations has warned.
A report based on intelligence received from member countries over the last six months says Islamic State will seek to “end its marginalisation from the news” with a wave of violence and notes that the group recently urged supporters to spend less time on social media to free up time to launch operations against its enemies.
“Isis has enjoyed a captive audience, with so many people facing restrictions on movement and spending more time online. Threats may have accumulated during this period that remain undetected but could manifest in due course,” says the report, by specialists at the UN who monitor international sanctions against al-Qaida and Isis.
Russia to expel German, Swedish and Polish diplomats accused of taking part in Navalny protests
Russia has announced the expulsion of diplomats from Sweden, Poland and Germany for taking part in a rally in support of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
The foreign ministry said in a statement that their attendance at the 'unlawful' protests on 23 January were 'unacceptable and inappropriate'.
They have been declared 'persona non grata' and are required to leave Russia "in the nearest future," the ministry added.
COVID has a dramatic impact on children
No kindergarten or school, no play dates or sports — the corona crisis has dramatic consequences for children. Pediatricians observe deteriorating health conditions and a dramatic increase in behavioral disorders.
It was in December that Axel Gerschlauer noticed the crisis within the crisis. In the last three weeks before Christmas, the pediatrician found himself treating three minors who had slashed their lower arms. *
Three youths in three weeks — Gerschlauer says he usually sees this sort of thing about once every three to six months. "This kind of frequency,” he says, "brought the scale of the problem home to me."
And this at a time when Gerschlauer is not even getting to see all his regular patients. Some are avoiding his practice altogether for fear of infection. His phone, meanwhile, has hardly stopped ringing, as desperate parents seek his advice.
Criticism keeps swirling over Tokyo Olympic chief's sexist comments
Controversial remarks about women by the head of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee continued to draw criticism on Friday with Japanese ministers voicing concerns over the comments globally seen as sexist.
"I would like him to respond adequately so he does not repeat what he did," Olympic minister Seiko Hashimoto told a press conference, referring to Yoshiro Mori, who this week said women talk too much during meetings and later apologized for the comments.
Hashimoto said she spoke with International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach over the phone on Thursday night. Bach asked the Japanese government to continue working toward the success of the Tokyo Olympics, which were postponed for one year due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to Hashimoto.
Families affected by Trump ‘Muslim ban’ say process still stalled
Despite Joe Biden’s reversal of the divisive policy, families say they have little clarity on the status of applications.
Arafat al-Dailam says he spent most of January 20, Joe Biden’s first day as United States president, glued to news reports and social media.
The 30-year-old father of three had a lot at stake: he has been separated from his wife for five years due to former President Donald Trump’s so-called “Muslim ban” on citizens from several Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, where she is waiting.
But while al-Dailam, an American citizen, said he was initially relieved to see Biden sign an executive order overturning the ban, the decision so far has done little to change his family’s reality.
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