Is Macron's lockdown too far or not far enough as France fights a 'pandemic within a pandemic'?

Above the Elysee Palace, the sky was big and blue. It could have been a perfect Paris day, except that the topic for debate was pressing, and grim.  https://ift.tt/31Bp1b3

Strict national lockdown imposed on France as Macron warns 'the numbers are charging away from us'

France will widen strict lockdown restrictions - which have already been in place in several areas including Paris - to the whole country to combat a third wave of coronavirus sweeping Europe. https://ift.tt/3wgx62X

Tough COVID lockdown measures widened to whole of France

France will widen strict lockdown restrictions - which have already been in place in several regions - to the whole country to combat a third wave of coronavirus sweeping Europe. https://ift.tt/3ubPKY8

Jailed Kremlin critic Navalny on hunger strike in protest over lack of proper medical treatment

Jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has gone on hunger strike as he protests against a lack of proper medical treatment for his back and leg pains. https://ift.tt/3cFf9mM

Russia registers 'world's first COVID vaccine for animals'

Russia says it has registered the world's first coronavirus vaccine for animals. https://ift.tt/39uUKiu

Italian navy captain 'caught selling top-secret papers to Russian official'

An Italian navy officer has been arrested on suspicion of spying after he was allegedly caught giving classified documents to a Russian military official, authorities say. https://ift.tt/2PlB5uy

'The one who causes fear' - Scientists discover new dinosaur in Argentina

A dinosaur similar to the T-Rex has been discovered in Argentina and given the menacing name "the one who causes fear". https://ift.tt/3m5JLB2

Indonesian navy divers recover Sriwijaya Air jet's cockpit voice recorder

Navy divers in Indonesia have recovered the voice recorder from the cockpit of the Sriwijaya Air jet that crashed into the Java Sea in January. https://ift.tt/3fuiozt

'Wealthy' minority responsible for majority of global air travel, says study

A small number of frequent flyers are taking the majority of flights across the world, a study suggests. https://ift.tt/39uZFjm

WHO report into COVID origin criticised over 'lack of access' amid calls for more studies

The international community has criticised a World Health Organisation (WHO) report into the origin of the coronavirus, claiming it is "lacking crucial information, access and transparency" and should be "free of surveillance". https://ift.tt/39syBkI

Will we ever find COVID origin? The unanswered questions in WHO investigation

The World Health Organisation has recommended further investigation into the source of the coronavirus outbreak, leaving the big question unanswered - where did COVID come from? https://ift.tt/3rEsrnQ

Digital vaccine certificates ready in June at the latest, says Spain

Spain expects digital vaccine certificates will be ready in June at the latest, the country's foreign minister has said. https://ift.tt/31xz6FM

Brazil's three military chiefs all quit after Bolsonaro cabinet reshuffle

The heads of all three branches of Brazil's armed forces have resigned in another blow to President Jair Bolsonaro's leadership. https://ift.tt/3sFN1FP

Witness describes 'cold, heartless' stare from Derek Chauvin as he knelt on George Floyd's neck

Police officer Derek Chauvin gave onlookers a "cold" and "heartless" stare as they pleaded with him to take his knee off George Floyd's neck, a witness has said. https://ift.tt/3u7w3R1

Germany to suspend Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine for under-60s

Germany will suspend using the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in the under-60s over concerns about rare blood clots. https://ift.tt/3ftTe46

Irish lockdown to be eased with two fully vaccinated people allowed to meet indoors

The Irish government has announced some easing to strict lockdown restrictions from mid-April, including allowing two fully vaccinated people to meet indoors. https://ift.tt/3rBgsHR

'As I ran, the bomb dropped': Wounded take refuge in Thai hospital after Myanmar airstrikes

Bea Tu's pain is visible; her face is covered with burns and cuts, and her eyes are swollen. https://ift.tt/3sDUmpg

'All hypotheses remain on the table' in search for source of COVID-19, says WHO

The head of the World Health Organisation says "all hypotheses remain on the table" in the search for the origin of COVID-19. https://ift.tt/3u7ZF0A

Science teacher and data engineer win multimillion dollar tickets on space flight

The last two multimillion dollar spots on the three-day SpaceX flight into orbit have been filled by a science teacher and a data engineer. https://ift.tt/3weCFz5

Japan sees earliest cherry blossom since 1400s - and scientists say it's down to climate change

Climate change has led to the earliest cherry blossom season in Japan in 1,200 years, experts say. https://ift.tt/2PI7gnT

Schoolboys made to apologise for 'stuff we didn't do' during assembly about sexual assault

A boy who was made to apologise to female classmates for the "behaviours of (his) gender" says he was forced to "apologise for stuff we didn't actually do". https://ift.tt/3rzYA06

BTS condemn anti-Asian violence as group say they have been victims of racism

K-pop group BTS has condemned anti-Asian violence across the US, after a number of attacks across the country. https://ift.tt/31yooyQ

COVID 'likely' transmitted from bats to humans via unknown animal, WHO report says

The most likely origin for coronavirus was transmission from a bat to humans via an unidentified intermediate animal species, according to a long-awaited World Health Organisation (WHO) report due to be published today. https://ift.tt/3weBorx

Myanmar protesters launch 'garbage strike' as deaths surpass 500

Myanmar activists have launched a "garbage strike" to oppose military rule as the number of pro-democracy protesters killed by security forces rose to 500. https://ift.tt/3m2pI6w

Hong Kong to vet all political candidates to ensure they are pro-China 'patriots' under new law

Hong Kong will vet all political candidates to ensure they are "patriots" under new laws that seek to remove any opposition and tighten China's control. https://ift.tt/3u9pOvU

Climber's body found on NZ mountain after 40 years - report

The body of a climber has been found on New Zealand's Mount Aspiring more than 40 years after he went missing, according to a report. https://ift.tt/3frNo3c

PM joins world leaders to call for global treaty to prepare for next pandemic

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called for a "new international treaty for pandemic preparedness and response". https://ift.tt/3u9j01l

Italian mobster arrested at COVID clinic after two years on the run

An Italian mobster has been arrested at a Portuguese COVID clinic after two years on the run. https://ift.tt/3dfWux6

Scientists discover new black hole, 'Goldilocks', believed to have formed before the first stars and galaxies

A newly discovered black hole could be an ancient relic created before the first stars and galaxies formed, scientists say. https://ift.tt/3rt8ksQ

Briton missing after Mozambique hotel terror attack

A British man is missing after leaving a Mozambique hotel that came under fierce attack by militants. https://ift.tt/2P9vdVj

Airport workers find 185 baby Galapagos tortoises hidden in suitcase

A suitcase containing 185 live baby tortoises has been uncovered by stunned airport workers. https://ift.tt/3swZeMY

'The world is watching': Former policeman on trial accused of murdering George Floyd

The trial of a former Minneapolis police officer accused of the murder of George Floyd has begun in the US. https://ift.tt/3m1jHqG

Suez Canal traffic finally moving again after stranded ship refloated

The stranded container ship blocking the Suez Canal has been freed, allowing traffic in the channel to finally resume. https://ift.tt/3w2adjE

Hindus gather for Holi celebrations despite warnings as COVID cases soar

Hindus have been holding outdoor Holi celebrations despite Indian states restricting large gatherings in an attempt to contain a resurgence of the coronavirus. https://ift.tt/3rxxtme

Thousands flock to edge of spectacular volcanic eruption in Iceland

Record-breaking numbers of visitors have travelled to see a spectacular volcano eruption in Iceland - which has been captured on camera. https://ift.tt/39mKBnU

Newlyweds identified as Indonesian church suicide bomb attackers

A newly married couple with suspected militant links have been identified as the attackers who carried out a suicide bombing outside a Roman Catholic cathedral in Indonesia. https://ift.tt/39k4lbV

Barack Obama's 'granny' and family matriarch dies in Kenyan hospital

The matriarch of former US president Barack Obama's Kenyan family has died, relatives have confirmed. https://ift.tt/3cwJV1p

Facebook plans undersea cables to connect southeast Asia and America

Facebook is planning two undersea cables to connect Singapore, Indonesia and North America in a bid to boost internet connection capacity between the regions. https://ift.tt/3way4h6

Billionaire and Czech Republic's richest man killed in helicopter crash during Alaska ski trip

Petr Kellner, the Czech Republic's richest man, has been killed in a helicopter crash in Alaska. https://ift.tt/3u3pWxb

Thailand braced for more refugees as thousands flee to escape Myanmar airstrikes

Thailand is bracing itself for an influx of refugees after Myanmar's military launched further airstrikes in the border region of Karen state. https://ift.tt/3dekWij

Shouts of celebration as gigantic Suez Canal ship 'partially refloated'

The enormous container ship wedged across the Suez Canal has been "partially refloated" - apparently opening up space for other vessels to pass. https://ift.tt/3lZZOAi

George Floyd killing: Trial starts today with verdict likely to be a tipping point in US race relations

The trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin starts today - 10 months after the death of George Floyd - and the stakes are high for race relations in America. https://ift.tt/39mpMsX

Mexico underreported COVID deaths by 60% - toll now stands at 321,000

Mexico's death toll from COVID-19 has surged to more than 321,000 after the government acknowledged underreporting its total by around 60%. https://ift.tt/39lzKuD

Putin 'felt slight pain' after getting COVID jab

Vladimir Putin says he experienced minor side effects after receiving his first dose of a Russian coronavirus vaccine. https://ift.tt/2QLYLsp

Ireland 'not aware' of any vaccine jabs offer from UK

Dublin has said it is unaware of any offer of spare COVID jabs from the UK following reports Britain planned to share millions of doses, partly to help Northern Ireland exit lockdown. https://ift.tt/3m0eOOX

Australia cyber attacks hit television channel and parliament

A cyber attack has disrupted Channel Nine's live broadcasts from Sydney, the TV company has confirmed, at the same time as an attack led to Parliament House's email system being taken offline. https://ift.tt/3fnwwuq

'They leave nobody unharmed': Mother's anguish after son shot dead by Islamist insurgents

The mother of a man killed by suspected Islamist insurgents in Mozambique has told of the moment he was shot as he tried to flee a hotel. https://ift.tt/3w9sfQW

Suez Canal: Round-the-clock dredging and tugging as president mulls removing ship containers

Suez Canal salvage teams are alternating between dredging and tugging as they continue to try to dislodge a massive container ship blocking the busy waterway. https://ift.tt/2PF6W99

Airstrikes send Myanmar villagers fleeing into jungle as military leaders 'party' on deadliest day of violence

Airstrikes that sent villagers fleeing into the jungle show the situation in Myanmar is "much worse", a humanitarian worker has told Sky News, as military leaders reportedly partied on the deadliest day of violence since last month's coup. https://ift.tt/3w8at0I

Louvre gives art lovers plenty to smile about as it puts entire collection online - for free

Art lovers will now be able to get their fix despite lockdowns and travel restrictions after the Louvre launched an online platform featuring its entire collection. https://ift.tt/2PDQo1f