Covid-19 outbreak in French Polynesia. France grants citizenship to migrant frontline workers. Surging consumer demand causes global shipping bottlenecks.
The Taliban begin second Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Papua New Guinea struggles with vaccine rollout due to misinformation. El Salvador adopts bitcoin as legal tender.
Alleged mastermind of Bali bombings on trial in Cuba. China limits online gaming for under 18s. United Nations marks success of global ban on leaded petrol as Algeria runs out.
Mayor pledges to continue to fight for Afghan women from exile. An isolated Fijian island records two cases of Covid-19. China says it has suppressed latest Delta outbreak.
Jacinda Ardern opts to go hard and early in New Zealand against the Delta variant. Malaysia’s prime minister resigns as country struggles with Covid-19. Woman tells of her imprisonment by Chinese officials in Dubai.
Fiji seeks to vaccinate 12 to to 17 year olds to quell Covid-19 outbreak. The Taliban capture more regions of Afghanistan as US troops leave. Lebanon’s economic collapse leads to fuel shortages, power cuts and soaring food costs.
Japanese defence white paper links the country’s security to Taiwan for the first time. Jacinda Ardern apologises for dawn raids on Pacific migrants in the 1970s. France to press ahead with vaccination passes despite protests.
Fiji’s health system is overwhelmed by latest Covid-19 outbreak. The arrest of former president Jacob Zuma leads to growing violence in South Africa. The mystery of Haitian leader Jovenel Moïse’s assassination.
