UNITED STATES: President Joe Biden has formally announced that he is running for re-election in 2024, asking voters to give him more time to “finish the job” and to set aside their concerns about extending the run of the US’s oldest president for another four years.

He appears to be facing a smooth path to winning his party’s nomination, with no serious Democrat rivals yet emerging. 

ITALY: Some 35 boats launched from Tunisia at the weekend with about 1,200 people on board ended up on the tiny Italian island of Lampedusa, the Italian coastguard said on Monday, while several were reported missing at sea.

Three refugees were reported missing after one boat foundered while survivors said about 20 were missing from another.

MAYOTTE: A French court has halted the much criticised clearance of a slum aimed at expelling migrants, mainly Comoran, from its Indian Ocean island territory of Mayotte.

The plan, which sparked tensions with neighbouring Comoros and clashes between locals and security forces, saw about 1,800 troops deployed to carry out the operation.

WHO: The World Health Organisation said today that it has fired one of its doctors, Temo Waqanivalu, who was found to have repeatedly engaged in sexual misconduct.

The health agency had come under pressure from UN members to do more in the fight against sexual misconduct in the wake of the claims against the Fijian medic.