British Prime Minister Boris Johnson named his child after his father and two of the doctors who helped him in hospital. AFP
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson named his child after his father and two of the doctors who helped him in hospital. AFP
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson named his child after his father and two of the doctors who helped him in hospital. AFP
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson named his child after his father and two of the doctors who helped him in hospital. AFP

From Korean border spat to Boris' baby name: non-coronavirus news you may have missed


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Israel catch 5 Sudanese men on Lebanon border

A picture taken on April 18, 2020, in the northern Israeli town of Malkiya, on the border with Lebanon. AFP
A picture taken on April 18, 2020, in the northern Israeli town of Malkiya, on the border with Lebanon. AFP

Israeli forces caught five Sudanese men who tried to illegally enter the country across the Lebanese border overnight and sent them back, the army said in a statement.

A military spokeswoman said it was believed the men had intended to seek work in Israel, which was home to more than 6,000 Sudanese asylum seekers as of January.

The Lebanese army said it had detained "five Sudanese people" near the Israel border for their illegal presence there and was investigating them.

Iran accused of torturing Afghan migrants and throwing them into a river

Afghan officials on Sunday launched a hunt to retrieve bodies of Afghan migrants from a river in a western province after reports that Iranian border guards tortured and threw Afghans into the river to prevent their entry into Iran.

Afghanistan's foreign ministry in a statement on Saturday said an inquiry had been launched and a senior official in the presidential palace in Kabul said initial assessments suggested at least 70 Afghans who were trying to enter Iran from bordering Herat province were beaten and pushed into the Harirud river.

The Harirud river basin is shared by Afghanistan, Iran and Turkmenistan.

Saad Hariri's Future to boycott president’s Baabda economic talks

  • A demonstrator is seen next to a burning fire in front of a bank during a protest against growing economic hardship in Sidon, Lebanon. Reuters
    A demonstrator is seen next to a burning fire in front of a bank during a protest against growing economic hardship in Sidon, Lebanon. Reuters
  • A detained demonstrator stands near Lebanese army soldiers during a protest against growing economic hardship in Sidon, Lebanon. Reuters
    A detained demonstrator stands near Lebanese army soldiers during a protest against growing economic hardship in Sidon, Lebanon. Reuters
  • Interior view of a damaged bank that was set ablaze by protesters in Tripoli, northern Lebanon. EPA
    Interior view of a damaged bank that was set ablaze by protesters in Tripoli, northern Lebanon. EPA
  • Lebanese people inspect a burnt out car of the Lebanese Internal Security Forces which was set ablaze by protesters in Tripoli, northern Lebanon. EPA
    Lebanese people inspect a burnt out car of the Lebanese Internal Security Forces which was set ablaze by protesters in Tripoli, northern Lebanon. EPA
  • Anti-government protesters shout slogans during a protest against the collapsing Lebanese currency and the price hikes of goods, in front the central bank in Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
    Anti-government protesters shout slogans during a protest against the collapsing Lebanese currency and the price hikes of goods, in front the central bank in Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
  • Anti-government protesters ride their motorcycles during a protest against the collapsing Lebanese currency and the price hikes of goods, in front the central bank in Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
    Anti-government protesters ride their motorcycles during a protest against the collapsing Lebanese currency and the price hikes of goods, in front the central bank in Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
  • Lebanese men inspect a burnt out car of the Lebanese Internal Security Forces which was set ablaze by protesters in Tripoli, northern Lebanon. EPA
    Lebanese men inspect a burnt out car of the Lebanese Internal Security Forces which was set ablaze by protesters in Tripoli, northern Lebanon. EPA
  • Workers install metallic barriers on the facade of a bank as a protective measure against vandalism in Tripoli, northern Lebanon. EPA
    Workers install metallic barriers on the facade of a bank as a protective measure against vandalism in Tripoli, northern Lebanon. EPA
  • Exterior view of a damaged bank that was set ablaze by protesters in Tripoli, northern Lebanon. EPA
    Exterior view of a damaged bank that was set ablaze by protesters in Tripoli, northern Lebanon. EPA
  • Workers install metallic barriers along the facade of a bank as a protective measure against vandalism in the Lebanese capital Beirut. AFP
    Workers install metallic barriers along the facade of a bank as a protective measure against vandalism in the Lebanese capital Beirut. AFP
  • Anti-government protesters shout slogans during a protest against the collapsing Lebanese currency and the price hikes of goods, in front the central bank in Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
    Anti-government protesters shout slogans during a protest against the collapsing Lebanese currency and the price hikes of goods, in front the central bank in Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
  • Lebanese riot control police watch as annti-government protesters gather during a demonstration against the collapsing Lebanese currency and the price hikes of goods, in Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
    Lebanese riot control police watch as annti-government protesters gather during a demonstration against the collapsing Lebanese currency and the price hikes of goods, in Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
  • Anti-government protesters ride their motorcycles during a protest against the collapsing Lebanese currency and the price hikes of goods, in front the central bank in Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
    Anti-government protesters ride their motorcycles during a protest against the collapsing Lebanese currency and the price hikes of goods, in front the central bank in Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
  • A demonstrator smashes a window of a bank during a protest against growing economic hardship in Sidon, Lebanon. Reuters
    A demonstrator smashes a window of a bank during a protest against growing economic hardship in Sidon, Lebanon. Reuters

Lebanon’s Future Movement said on Sunday it will not attend meetings with the president to discuss the government’s recently agreed economic rescue plan.

The party of former prime minister Saad Hariri refused to attend the Baabda Palace meeting with President Michel Aoun saying that the proper location for parties to be informed of the government's work was in Parliament.

Last Thursday, Cabinet agreed on a major economic rescue plan aimed at stabilising the collapsing currency, reducing the country's debt and protecting the most vulnerable.

North and South Korea trade fire across border

The rare exchange comes a day after Kim Jong-un made his first public appearance in weeks

North Korea and South Korea technically remain at war, with military guard posts at the border in Paju. AP

North Korean troops have opened fire across the demilitarised zone dividing the peninsula, prompting South Korean forces to fire back.

The rare exchange of gunfire took place on Sunday, a day after North Korean state media reported the country's leader Kim Jong-un made his first public appearance in about three weeks.

Mr Kim's absence caused intense speculation about his health and fears about the stability of North Korea.

A South Korean guard post was hit by several shots fired from the North Korea, the joint chiefs of staff in Seoul said.

Boris Johnson and his fiancée name son 

A visitor delivers flowers to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds following the birth of their son at 10 Downing Street. EPA
A visitor delivers flowers to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds following the birth of their son at 10 Downing Street. EPA

Britain’s Boris Johnson and his fiancée Carrie Symonds have named their new born child  - Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson - after the two nurses who treated the prime minister when he had Covid-19 last month. Courtesy: Carrie Symonds's Instagram account

Britain’s Boris Johnson and his fiancée Carrie Symonds have named their new born child - Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson - after the two doctors who treated the prime minister when he had Covid-19 last month.

Ms Symonds made the announcement via her Instagram account.

Ms Symonds said the child was named after Mr Johnson’s grandfather Wilfred and her grandfather Lawrie. The middle name Nicholas is a tribute to Dr Nick Price and Nick Hart, who saved the prime minister’s life when he was intensive care last month after contracting the coronavirus.

In her post, Ms Symonds praised the maternity team at University College Hospital in London, saying: "Thank you so, so much to the incredible NHS maternity team at UCLH that looked after us so well.