A million children at risk of hunger as Afghan winter bites - BBC News

A million children at risk of hunger as Afghan winter bites – BBC News

The onset of a harsh winter in Afghanistan is deepening the economic crisis there. International sanctions have severely disrupted the economy since the Taliban takeover in August 2021 The collapse of the previous Afghan government and withdrawal of western support…

Carnage in wake of Typhoon Rai with thousands homeless in Philippines - BBC News

Carnage in wake of Typhoon Rai with thousands homeless in Philippines – BBC News

It’s nearly a week since the Philippines were struck by a typhoon, the strongest this year. At least 375 people lost their lives and hundreds of thousands have been left without shelter. The Red Cross says there is “carnage” in…

Many Omicron patients “not as seriously ill” as in previous Covid waves say doctors - BBC News

Many Omicron patients “not as seriously ill” as in previous Covid waves say doctors – BBC News

The Omicron variant of coronavirus was first identified in South Africa. Doctors there say the early indications are that while hospitalisations are rising, so far the number of deaths and people needing intensive care is lower than at the same…

3 doses of Pfizer vaccine may be needed to protect against Omicron Covid variant - BBC News

3 doses of Pfizer vaccine may be needed to protect against Omicron Covid variant – BBC News

Pfizer has said that initial lab studies suggest that a third dose of their Covid-19 vaccine may be needed to neutralise the new Omicron covid variant. The study suggested that people who had received just two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech…

Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi found guilty of inciting dissent - BBC News

Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi found guilty of inciting dissent – BBC News

The former elected leader of Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been found guilty of inciting dissent and breaking Covid rules, in a trial that’s been widely condemned as unjust. Ms Suu Kyi, whose government was topped by a military…

Barbados removes Queen as head of state to become Republic - BBC News

Barbados removes Queen as head of state to become Republic – BBC News

Barbados is holding a ceremony to mark the island’s transition to a Republic, with the Queen removed as head of state. The Barbadian government said the time had come to fully leave the Caribbean island’s colonial past behind. Barbados gained…

Jury told Jeffrey Epstein’s girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell “preyed on young girls” - BBC News

Jury told Jeffrey Epstein’s girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell “preyed on young girls” – BBC News

Prosecutors have alleged that the socialite Ghislaine Maxwell and former girlfriend of convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein were “partners in crime” and that she groomed vulnerable young girls for him to sexually abuse. Ms Maxwell appeared in court in New York…

Fears over “worst ever” Covid variant as UK bans flights from southern Africa - BBC News

Fears over “worst ever” Covid variant as UK bans flights from southern Africa – BBC News

Scientists are warning that a new Coronavirus variant is the “worst” they have seen. The B.1.1.529 variant has mutations which mean it may evade immunity built up by previous Covid infection or vaccination. Cases have been detected in southern Africa…

31 people drown crossing English Channel as inflatable dingy capsizes - BBC News

31 people drown crossing English Channel as inflatable dingy capsizes – BBC News

31 people, including five women and a little girl, died on Wednesday after their rubber boat capsized while they attempted the sea crossing from France to Britain. It’s the worst disaster on record involving migrants in the English Channel. Two…

Austria back in full Covid lockdown despite protests as cases surge - BBC News

Austria back in full Covid lockdown despite protests as cases surge – BBC News

Austria has returned to a full national lockdown because of its rising number of coronavirus infections. Austrians have been told to work from home and non-essential shops have been closed. Protests against new restrictions have been growing in several european…