US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits Asia-Pacific region to strengthen ties. A state of emergency is declared in Ottawa over ‘Freedom Convoy’. Iceland ends commercial whaling.
Pregnant New Zealand journalist allowed emergency quarantine. Myanmar stages ‘silent strike’ to mark coup anniversary. Gray report on Downing Street parties identifies leadership and judgement failures.
Australian aid to Tonga hampered by Covid-19 on navy ship. The military stages Burkina Faso’s eighth coup. Children of foreign nationals being used as human shields in Syrian prison, warns Save the Children.
Fiji leader Frank Bainimarama is revealed to have had heart surgery in Melbourne. The United Nations expresses concern at rising nationalism in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Jailed Yang Hengjun says China tortured him.
Damage from tropical cyclone Cody in Fiji leads to a government warning on diseases. Drone strikes targeting Tigray hit a camp for displaced Ethiopians. Ugandan students are back at school after two-year closure.
Just 3.5 per cent vote for independence from France in New Caledonia poll. Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai jailed after Tiananmen Square vigil. Boris Johnson’s popularity plummets over Downing Street Christmas parties under lockdown.
Kanak leaders call for the latest independence vote to be postponed in New Caledonia. Aung San Suu Kyi is sentenced to detention again. Ukraine appears in Vladimir Putin’s sights.
China pledges to supply an extra one billion vaccine doses to Africa as Omicron takes hold. India repeals farming laws that led to year-long protests. Barbados removes Queen as head of state and becomes a republic.
