Nigeria: Authorities secures release of 100 kidnapped mothers and children

The authorities in north-west Nigeria say they have freed 100 women and children – mainly mothers nursing infants – who were seized by bandits. The group were abducted on 8…

UK: Diamonds swapped for pebbles in London gem heist

A woman stole diamonds worth £4.2m from a jewellers by swapping them with pebbles using “sleight of hand”, a court has heard. Lulu Lakatos, 60, allegedly posed as a gemologist…

Australia: Anger as half of Australians in lockdown again

Anger is growing in Australia as 13 million people – about half the population – endure fresh lockdowns to quash Covid outbreaks. A third state, South Australia, joined Victoria and…

China: 12 dead and thousands evacuated in Zhengzhou Henan floods

Massive floods in central China caused by record-breaking rainfall have left 12 people dead and more than 100,000 evacuated from their homes. More than a dozen cities in Henan province,…

USA: Jeff Bezos to blast into space

Billionaire Jeff Bezos will blast into space on Tuesday, in the first crewed flight of his rocket ship, New Shepard. He will be accompanied by Mark Bezos, his brother, Wally…

Nigeria: Gunmen seize 140 schoolchildren in Kaduna state

Gunmen in Nigeria have kidnapped at least 140 schoolchildren in the north-west of the country, police say. At least eight people were also abducted from the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy…

Afghanistan: Soldiers flee to Tajikistan after Taliban clashes

More than 1,000 Afghan soldiers have fled to neighbouring Tajikistan after clashing with Taliban militants, officials have said. The troops retreated over the border to “save their own lives”, according…

UK: Boris Johnson admits it’s ludicrous he’s PM, says Cummings

Dominic Cummings has redoubled his criticism of his old boss Boris Johnson, saying the PM cannot distinguish “between truth and lies”. The former top adviser said Mr Johnson “lies so…

Cambodia: Pet lion returned to owner after PM’s intervention

A pet lion that was confiscated by Cambodian authorities last month has been returned to his owner after a surprise intervention by the prime minister. The 18-month-old male lion was…

Egypt: Deal to release Ever Given (ship that blocked Suez Canal) agreed

Egypt will release the container ship that blocked the Suez Canal in March, after it agreed a compensation deal with the vessel’s owners and insurers. The two sides said the…