1977

The WHO says preliminary evidence suggests that the new covid variant, first reported in South Africa, carries a higher risk of infection than  other variants. The US has joined a growing number of governments in announcing travel restrictions on several southern African countries to try to slow the spread of the new variant named ?. President Biden said Washington would impose precautionary measures from Monday. South Africa has criticized the restrictions as a knee-jerk reaction. The Dutch prime minster has announced that bars, restaurants and most shops must close from 5 pm to 5 am from Sunday. He said the tougher restrictions were needed to prevent hospitals becoming overwhelmed.
A Curdish woman from northern Iraq is the first victim of Wednesday's migrant boat disaster off the coast of France to be identified. ? was among twenty-seven people who died while attempting to reach Britain.
President Biden has expressed concern about the Russia's troop buildup near the Ukraine border. He said it was likely to discuss the situation with both country's leaders. Earlier the US national security advisor and senior Ukrainian officials called on all sides to pursue diplomatic efforts to deescalate tensions.
A bus has crashed into a house in central Mexico, killing at least nineteen people. The passengers were pilgrims travelling from the state of ? to ?. Initial reports say the driver seemed to have lost control of the vehicle after the brakes failed.
One of the musical theatre's most revered composers and lyricists has died at the age of 91. In a career that spanned more than six decades he wrote scores of Broadway's best known shows including company. follies and a little light music