Brazil: Amazon rainforest plots sold via Facebook Marketplace ads

Parts of Brazil’s Amazon rainforest are being illegally being sold on Facebook. The protected areas include national forests and land reserved for indigenous peoples. Some of the plots listed via…

South Africa: Caster Semenya takes appeal to European court over testosterone levels in female runners

Olympic 800m champion Caster Semenya will appeal to the European Court of Human Rights against the restriction of testosterone levels in female runners. Semenya is not allowed to compete in…

Greece: Arsenal win 3-2 against Benfica in Europa League

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored a dramatic late winner to help Arsenal edge past Benfica into the last 16 of the Europa League. In a ‘home’ leg played at the Karaiskakis Stadium…

China denies requiring anal swabs from US diplomats

China has denied that it required US diplomats to undergo anal swab tests for coronavirus. US media reported that diplomats had complained after being made to undergo the procedure. Some…

China: President Xi declares victory in ending extreme poverty

Chinese President Xi Jinping says his country has achieved the “miracle” of eradicating extreme poverty. His government says that over an eight-year period, nearly 100 million people have been lifted…

Armenia: PM Nikol Pashinyan accuses army of attempted coup

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has warned of an attempted military coup, after the country’s armed forces said he and his cabinet must resign. The army “must obey the people…

USA: Lady Gaga’s dog-walker shot and bulldogs stolen

Two of Lady Gaga’s French bulldogs were stolen on Wednesday night, after a gunman shot her dog-walker in Hollywood, Los Angeles. A male suspect fired a semi-automatic handgun at the…

Covid: EU urged to adopt joint ‘vaccine certificates’

Greece and Austria are urging other EU states to adopt a common Covid vaccination certificate, which could help revive Europe’s stricken tourist industry this summer. In a virtual meeting EU…

2032 Olympic Games: Brisbane preferred bidder, IOC announces

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has named Brisbane, Australia as the preferred bidder to host the 2032 Olympic Games. The IOC’s future host commission recommended the body enters “targeted dialogue”…

Singapore: Police officer’s wife admits to killing Myanmar maid

The wife of a Singaporean police officer has admitted to starving, torturing and ultimately killing her domestic worker from Myanmar. The worker reportedly weighed only 24kg (53lb) when she died…