Diasporas

Member states of the World Trade Organisation will on Wednesday begin talks on a joint proposal by India and South Africa to suspend patents on coronavirus vaccines to increase production. It’s supported by more than 100 developing countries, many of whom have not yet made a meaningful start to their …

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman approved a range of initiatives aimed at assisting firms and individuals operating in support of Islamic pilgrimages, Saudi state news agency SPA said late on Monday. The initiatives are aimed at mitigating the financial and economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic across the sector that provides …

A man linked to the violent riots at the US Capitol was on Monday arraigned at a federal court in New York after being deported from Kenya over the weekend, according to media reports. Isaac Sturgeon was seized by FBI officials on arrival at John F. Kennedy International Airport in …

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced that fully vaccinated Americans can return to some sense of normalcy. Those who have received the required jabs can visit with other vaccinated people and some unvaccinated people, according to the new guidelines. People are considered protected two weeks …

Canada’s drug regulator has approved Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine, the fourth such shot to be given the green light, Ottawa said on Friday, amid frustration over the slow pace of inoculations. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said: “the last year hasn’t been easy, but we are going to get through …

The European Union is planning to extend its export authorisation scheme for COVID-19 vaccines to the end of June, two EU sources told Reuters on Thursday, in a move that could reignite tensions with countries who rely on shots made in the EU. The mechanism was set up at the …

According to authorities in South Sudan, a partial lockdown brought in to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, will remain in place for another month. Schools and universities will remain closed, while social gatherings including religious and sporting events remain banned. According to Hussein Abdelbagi Akol, the head of …

South Korean authorities said on Wednesday they are investigating the deaths of two people, both with pre-existing conditions, who died within days of receiving AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine. A 63-year-old nursing home patient with cerebrovascular disease, developed symptoms including high fever, after being given the vaccine four days ago, Korea Disease …

Texas will lift its mask requirement and allow businesses to reopen at full capacity next week, Governor Greg Abbott has announced. Texas is the largest US state to end its mask mandate. Mr Abbott has faced criticism from his party over the measure, which was imposed last July. But the …

A decision by South Korean health authorities to allow more doses to be extracted from coronavirus vaccine vials sparked controversy on Tuesday as the country ramped up its vaccinations of healthcare workers and the elderly. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) had allowed healthcare workers to use the …