A mother in Sweden has been arrested on suspicion of locking her son inside their apartment for 28 years, leaving him undernourished and with almost no teeth, police and media reports said Tuesday.
-The mother is suspected of illegal deprivation of liberty and causing bodily harm- Stockholm police spokesman Ola Osterling told AFP.
He said the man had been "locked up for a very long time" in the apartment in a southern Stockholm suburb, but would not comment on reports in dailies Expressen and Aftonbladet that he had been held for 28 years.
The reports said the mother had pulled her son out of school when he was 12 and kept him locked inside the apartment since then.
An unnamed relative found the now 41-year-old man on Sunday after the mother, in her 70s, had been taken to hospital, Expressen reported.
The man had infected sores on his legs, could barely walk, had almost no teeth and limited speech ability, the reports said.
Osterling would not comment on those details, saying only: "The man is in hospital. His injuries are not life-threatening."
The mother has denied the crimes, the Swedish Prosecution Authority said.&nbsp;

Doctors at the hospital had alerted police to the case.
Police tape was stretched across the apartment's door on Tuesday, and crime scene technicians were seen leaving the scene around midday, an AFP photographer said.
The apartment is located in a non-descript grey and yellow low-rise building in the working class suburb of Handen in Haninge municipality. 
The unidentified relative who found the man said the apartment looked like it had not been cleaned in years.
-There was urine, dirt and dust. It smelled rotten- she told Expressen, adding that she had to wade through piles of junk to get through the hallways.
-No one could have cleaned that home for many years.-
-I'm in shock, brokenhearted, but at the same time relieved. I've been waiting for this day for 20 years because I figured out that she was totally controlling his life, but I never imagined the extent of it- she said.
-I knew he was there and that he must be scared because his mother was his only sense of security and now she was gone- she added.
There was no immediate explanation for the mother's alleged actions.
-She stole his life from him and manipulated the people around her in order to keep her secret- the relative said.
-I'm just thankful that he got help and is going to survive.-
One unidentified neighbour, who lived in the same building, told Aftonbladet that she ran into the man at a nearby grocery store a few months ago.
-I know who you are, you're my neighbour- the man had told her, recognising her after having seen her through the window, she said.

But most others in the neighbourhood told local media they hadn't seen the man for years.
-They almost never went outside, never even opened the windows for fresh air. It's been holed up- another woman from the building told Aftonbladet.
Many neighbours wondered why neither social services, the school nor any other authority ever checked in on the boy over the years.
-And when we've had renovations done in the building, how can no one have noticed? Workmen have been here- one woman told Aftonbladet.
Another woman said she occasionally ran into the mother.
-We talked about small stuff, like you do. Sometimes I asked about the boy, and she just said he was fine, she never really talked about him- she said.
She however added that she found it odd that their window was never open, and the same candlestick had been in the window for 30 years.
-But what can you do? How do you know what's going on behind closed doors? It's all so awful, you can't believe it's true- she said.

The reports said the mother had pulled her son out of school when he was 12 and kept him locked inside the apartment since then

Police technicians enter the apartment in a Stockholm suburb where the mother is suspected of keeping her son for 28 years

Mum in Sweden arrested for locking son up for decades

Two thirds of school-age children worldwide have no internet at home, a UN report found Tuesday, even as pandemic-induced school closures have made online access vital to getting an education.
In all, an estimated 1.3 billion children between the ages of three and 17 do not have internet connections in their homes, said the joint report from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
The report also found that a similar lack of access among youths and young adults, with 63 percent of all 15 to 24-year-olds unconnected at home.
-That so many children and young people have no internet at home is more than a digital gap, it is a digital canyon- UNICEF chief Henrietta Fore warned in a statement.
Lacking connectivity prevents young people from "competing in the modern economy. It isolates them from the world," she said.
The report's findings are particularly worrying, she said, at a time when school closures due to the Covid-19 pandemic remain widespread, forcing hundreds of millions of students to rely on virtual learning. 
-Put bluntly: Lack of internet access is costing the next generation their futures.-
The report cautioned that even before the pandemic struck, the digital divide was deepening inequalities, allowing children from the poorest households and from rural or low-income countries to fall ever further behind their peers with little chance to catch up.

It found that fewer than one in 20 school-age children from low-income countries had access to the internet at home, compared to nine out of 10 in wealthier nations.
Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia are the regions where children are least able to get online, with a full nine out of 10 children without internet access at home. 
There are also clear differences between internet access in towns and cities and in the countryside, with 60 percent of children living in urban settings without an internet connection at home, compared to 75 percent in rural areas.
-Connecting rural populations remains a formidable challenge- ITU chief Houlin Zhao said in the statement. 
The report warned that even in homes with an internet connection, children may not actually be able to get online.
It pointed to pressure to do chores or to work, lack of sufficient devices in households and also cautioned that girls may have less access to the internet than boys.
The two UN agencies did not have specific numbers showing the difference in internet access among girls and boys, but their data showed a clear difference in how easy it is for males and females overall to get online.
Worldwide, 55 percent of males and 48 percent of females were using the internet in 2019, but the differences are far starker in low-income countries and in poorer regions.
In Africa, for instance, 37 percent of men and boys and only 20 percent of women and girls were using the internet last year, ITU data showed.&nbsp;

Lack of internet access is costing the next generation their futures

Igihozo Kevin (11) listens to his lessons on the radio every day

Two thirds of school-age kids without internet access: UN

An elephant dubbed the "world's loneliest" landed in Cambodia Monday from Pakistan, receiving a warm welcome from American superstar Cher who will accompany him to a sanctuary housing potential mates.
The case of Kaavan - an overweight, 36-year-old bull elephant - sparked global uproar from animal rights groups, who petitioned for his move from an Islamabad zoo accused of substandard care and conditions.
His cause was boosted by a spirited social media campaign by Cher, who travelled to Pakistan to see him off.
Wearing a black face mask, the singer was on hand at Siem Reap airport and waved excitedly at the plane after it landed around 2:30 pm (0730 GMT).
-I am so proud he is here- she told AFP, after greeting Kaavan through an opening at the base of the crate.
-He's going to be really happy here- said Cher, adding that she is hopeful his ordeal is now over.
Kaavan's much-anticipated journey was "uneventful", said Amir Khalil, a veterinarian from animal welfare group Four Paws, adding he behaved "like a frequent flyer".
-Kaavan was eating, was not stressed -- he was even a little bit sleeping, standing, leaning at the crate wall- he said. 
Once the sole Asian elephant in Pakistan, Kaavan will be transported from Siem Reap to neighbouring province Oddar Meanchey where a wildlife sanctuary with about 600 other elephants will be his new home.
-Cambodia is pleased to welcome Kaavan. No longer will he be 'the world's loneliest elephant-" deputy environment minister Neth Pheaktra said.
-We expect to breed Kaavan with local elephants - this is an effort to conserve the genetic fold- the minister told AFP.
Before he was transported to the sanctuary, monks offered him bananas and watermelon, chanting prayers and sprinkling holy water on his crate to bless him.

Kaavan's journey is the culmination of years of campaigning from animal rights groups, who say the animal's behaviour in captivity demonstrated "a kind of mental illness" likely due to the zoo's woeful conditions.
In May, a Pakistani judge ordered that all the animals at the zoo be moved.
Upon hearing about Kaavan's freedom, Cher had tweeted that the decision marked "one of the greatest moments" of her life. 
A team of vets and experts from Austria-based Four Paws has spent months working with Kaavan to get him ready for the trip -- a complicated process due to his size and the amount of food needed en route.
The elephant also had to be taught to enter the massive metal crate that was placed in a cargo plane for the seven-hour flight.
Four Paws, along with Islamabad authorities, also safely moved three wolves and some monkeys from the zoo. Currently only two Himalayan brown bears, one deer and one monkey remain.

Cher: I am so proud he is here

Cher was at Siem Reap airport and waved excitedly at the plane after it landed

World's loneliest elephant' lands in Cambodia

Parts of Australia, including Sydney, sweltered through the hottest November night on record with temperatures likely to stay high on Sunday, prompting authorities to issue a total fire ban.
Sydney CBD surpassed 40 degrees Celsius (104 F) on Saturday while swathes of western New South Wales, South Australia and northern Victoria baked through even higher temperatures nearing 45 degrees.&nbsp;Temperatures are expected to cross 40 degrees for a second straight day on Sunday while the Bureau of Meteorology has predicted a five or six-day heatwave for parts of northern New South Wales and southeast Queensland.
The predictions for soaring temperatures prompted the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) to say demand may exceed supply in New South Wales on Sunday afternoon.&nbsp;Australia has been experiencing hotter and longer summers with last season dubbed “Black Summer” by Prime Minister Scott Morrison due to unusually prolonged and intense bushfires that burned nearly 12 million hectares (30 million acres), killed 33 people and an estimated 1 billion animals.
The Rural Fire Service issued a total fire ban for most of eastern and northeastern NSW for Sunday, saying there was a “very high to severe fire danger forecast” as hot, gusty winds exacerbate dry conditions.

Australia has been experiencing hotter and longer summers

People gather at Bondi beach in Sydney, Australia on Saturday as temperatures soar past 40 degrees Celsius

Severe fire danger for Australia as temperatures smash records

Increased patrols and technology will be deployed along France's beaches under a new agreement between Paris and London aimed at stopping illegal migration across the Channel.
A growing number of migrants have tried to reach Britain across the perilous and busy shipping lane in recent months, with four deaths recorded in 2019 and seven so far this year.
The deal will see French patrols doubled from December 1, with drones and radar used to detect those attempting to cross, Britain's Home Secretary Priti Patel said Saturday.
Welcoming the deal, Patel said it would help the two countries with their "shared mission to make channel crossings completely unviable".
The issue has been a source of tension, with Britain accusing France of not doing enough to stop the crossings.
In September, French authorities said they had intercepted more than 1,300 people trying to reach Britain, including a handful who had attempted to swim the 30-odd kilometres (18 miles) across the Channel.
Around 6,200 attempted the crossing between January 1 and the end of August, with inflatable boats, paddleboards, kayaks or even lifejackets to keep them afloat.
Northern France has long been a magnet for people seeking to smuggle themselves to Britain in small boats or in one of the thousands of trucks and cars that cross over daily on ferries and trains.

Northern France has long been a magnet for people seeking to smuggle themselves to Britain

Migrants trying to illegally cross borders

Britain and France sign fresh deal to reduce migrant crossings

Chestnuts roasting, mulled wine steaming and music blaring from wooden chalets lined with artificial snow - the Landshut Christmas market in southern Germany has all the usual trimmings.
But this year, visitors must enjoy the sights and smells of the traditional Christmas market from inside their cars due to precautions to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Every night after dark, several dozen vehicles roll into the Christmas market drive-in, their occupants cosy and socially distanced inside.
Once through the gates, they must wait for an employee wearing a mask and a Christmas hat to knock on their window and offer them a menu of savoury treats to choose from, such as crepes, sausages and roasted chestnuts.
Orders placed, they can then drive on to the next hut offering sweets such as candy floss or gingerbread hearts.
-We take our inspiration from fast-food chains- smiles Patrick Schmidt, 31, market organiser and owner of the Zollhaus Landshut restaurant.

-We wanted to recreate a bit of the Christmas atmosphere, even if it's more complicated this year.-&nbsp;The market is a way of helping his business get through "a difficult time", he said.

As Germany battles a second wave of coronavirus infections, leisure and sporting facilities have been ordered to close while restaurants and bars can only offer takeaways.
The restrictions also include limits on social gatherings and have been a huge blow to Germany's 3,000 or so annual Christmas markets.
The markets have been an annual fixture in Germany since the 15th century, when craftsmen and bakers were given special permission to ply their wares in town squares in the run-up to Christmas.
But many German cities have cancelled their Christmas markets entirely this year, despite the huge financial losses -- the markets draw about 160 million visitors annually and bring in revenues of three to five billion euros ($3.6 billion and $5.9 billion), according to the BSM stallkeepers' industry association.
To keep the spirit - and the economic benefits - of Christmas alive, cities across the country have come up with creative initiatives.

In Berlin's Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf district, small clusters of huts have been spread across several streets, though food and drink cannot be consumed on site.
The world-famous Nuremberg Christmas market has been cancelled this year but managed to hold an online version of its traditional opening ceremony.
And in north-western Germany, the town of Kalkar is also offering a drive-in Christmas market.
The market in Landshut has been open since mid-November and is proving popular with locals, according to Schmidt. "Last Saturday we had 500 cars," he said.
And they're not just here for the mulled wine, served in thermos flasks to keep it warm - many are coming with the whole family in tow.
-I'm here to support the restaurants, because I miss them- said Markus Renneke, 55, visiting the market with his wife. -And I think it's a great idea.-
Sandra, joined by her teenage daughter Laura, is here to enjoy that special Christmas market "atmosphere".
-You have to put a bit of time aside and there are no stands selling anything but food, but that's OK- she said as a waitress arrived with two grilled sausages.
Her daughter, "starving", cannot resist starting to tuck into her sausage before the final stop: the checkout.
Once they've settled up, customers are free to return home basking in the glow of mulled wine - apart from the designated drivers, of course.

Schmidt: We take our inspiration from fast-food chains- smiles Patrick Schmidt

People visit with their cars a drive in Christmas market in Landshut, southern Germany

Drive-ins, scattered huts: German Xmas markets find ways around virus

London police said Saturday that they arrested more than 60 people as scuffles broke out when they moved to disperse thousands of people demonstrating against Britain's coronavirus restrictions.
-These were for a number of different offences, including breaching coronavirus restrictions. We expect this number to rise- Metropolitan Police said on their Twitter page.
Footage posted online showed police and protesters scuffling on main shopping throughfare Oxford Street after the march passed the centre of the capital.
Police earlier urged people gathering at Oxford Street and nearby Marble Arch to "leave the area and go home. If not, you may face arrest or enforcement action."
England is currently coming towards the end of its second national lockdown as it attempts to bring down infection rates during its second wave of the virus.
More than 57,000 people testing positive for coronavirus have died in Britain, the highest death toll in Europe

England is currently coming towards the end of its second national lockdown

Police arrest an anti-lockdown protesters near Regent Street in central London

60 arrested at London anti-lockdown protest

Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has teamed up with Marcus Rashford to tackle child food poverty.
United striker Rashford was awarded an MBE following his recent campaign which saw the government change their minds on providing free school meals for children during holidays.
Now the 23-year-old has said Ferguson is set to pledge up to £2 million ($2.6 million) towards the FareShare charity for which Rashford is an ambassador.
An appeal in the Times is aiming to raise funds and Rashford revealed Ferguson, alongside billionaire Michael Moritz, will match donations up to the aforementioned sum and described the news as "incredible".
Ferguson, 78, grew up in Glasgow in tough conditions and believes Rashford has done a great job in highlighting the plight facing families across Britain.
-You have to be shocked at the number of people who are in need of food-" he said in an interview with the Times.
-Marcus has opened the eyes of everyone in Britain. The work he's done has been fantastic and we're all so proud of him because of that.
--What Marcus has done is he's led the way - people will say, 'That boy he's only 23 years of age'. People who are in their later ages... should be saying, 'I can do something'.-
Rashford never played under Ferguson, making his United debut as an 18-year-old three years after the legendary boss retired in 2013.

Ferguson grew up in Glasgow in tough conditions

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford

Ferguson teams up with Rashford after making poverty pledge

Five patients were killed in India on Friday in a fire that broke out in a COVID-19 ward, the fourth blaze in a novel coronavirus hospital since the outbreak began, which drew angry questions from the Supreme Court.&nbsp;The early morning blaze in Rajkot city in the western state of Gujrat gutted the intensive care unit (ICU) of the private hospital, television footage showed. The most likely cause was an electrical short circuit, said government official Udit Agarwal.
-Three of the patients in the ICU died on the spot, and two others succumbed on way to hospital. The two other patients in the ICU were unhurt,- Agarwal told Reuters.&nbsp;India has recorded 9.3 million infections, the second-highest in the world after the United States, and more 135,00 deaths. On Friday, the health ministry said it reported 43,082 new cases and 492 deaths in the past 24 hours.
The latest fire angered India’s top court, which asked both the federal and state governments to submit a detailed reply on recurring fires in COVID-19 hospitals.
In August, eight COVID-19 patients were killed in a fire in the ICU ward of a hospital in Ahmedabad, the largest city of Gujarat.&nbsp;Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who hails from the state, said on Twitter that he was pained by the loss of lives on Friday.
Modi will visit three companies working on coronavirus vaccines, including one in Gujarat, on Saturday, his office said in a post on Twitter.

India has recorded 9.3 million infections, the second-highest in the world

Gujarat: 5 COVID-19 patients killed as fire breaks out at Rajkot hospital

Five COVID-19 patients killed in Indian hospital fire

French President Emmanuel Macron was “very shocked” by images purporting to show a Black music producer being beaten up and racially abused by Paris police, BFM TV reported, quoting comments given to it by the presidency.
French authorities are investigating allegations that the music producer was physically assaulted and racially abused during a police check after CCTV footage of the incident was released.&nbsp;The beating inside the entrance of a building was captured on closed circuit television and mobile phone footage which circulated online and was headline news on French TV channels.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told France 2 television on Thursday that the officers would be sanctioned if the alleged wrongdoing was confirmed.The alleged victim, who has only given his identity as Michel, told reporters he was jumped on by police at his music studio in Paris’s 17th arrondissement (district) on Nov. 21.
He said he had been walking in the street without a face mask - against French COVID-19 health protocols - and, upon seeing a police car, went into his nearby studio to avoid getting a fine. However, he said, the police followed him inside and began to assault and racially abuse him.

The beating inside the entrance of a building was captured

French president "very shocked" by alleged police beating of Black man: BFM TV

Germany, once a beacon of hope in Europe's coronavirus nightmare, logged its one millionth case on Friday, as questions emerged over just how much protection is offered by one of the leading vaccine candidates.
Like much of the continent, Germany is battling a resurgence of a pandemic that shows little sign of retreating before the release of several leading inoculations.
But the developers of one of the jabs, British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, said Thursday that further research was needed after mixed results were produced in a late-stage trial.
The complication came as millions of Americans gathered for Thanksgiving in defiance of Covid-19 guidelines, despite the US registering a six-month high of more than 2,400 deaths.
Germany had largely contained the spread of the virus in the spring but has been hit hard by a second wave of infections.
Its Robert Koch Institute for disease control recorded more than 22,000 new daily cases on Friday, pushing the country's total beyond the one million mark.
The number of Covid-19 patients in intensive care nationwide has soared from just over 360 in early October to more than 3,500 last week.
Europe's biggest economy has shuttered restaurants, bars, sporting facilities and cultural venues, though schools and shops remain open.
But the rules will be temporarily eased over Christmas and New Year to accommodate the celebrations, allowing meetings of up to 10 adults from December 23 to New Year's Day.&nbsp;

Many nations are pinning their hopes on a vaccine to end the misery, with two jabs on the cusp of approval by authorities after showing about 95 percent efficacy in trials.
But a third candidate by AstraZeneca faced uncertainty Friday after researchers accidentally discovered it performed best when a half dose is given followed by a full one, rather than two full doses.
The vaccine has nevertheless been submitted to Britain's regulator for approval.
In the meantime much of the world faces a gloomy winter dampened by lockdowns, economic anxiety and devastating human loss.
US President-elect Joe Biden however offered a message of hope on Thursday in a Thanksgiving video address that rallied Americans to pull together to defeat the outbreak.
-I know better days are coming, I know how bright our future is. I know the 21st century is going to be an American century- he said.
Biden said he normally travels to the New England coast for a big family feast but would be staying home in Delaware this year for a small get-together.
-I know this isn't the way many of us hoped we'd spend our holiday. We know that a small act of staying home is a gift to our fellow Americans- he said.
But Trump's White House urged "all Americans to gather, in homes and places of worship" despite the health risk. 
Anthony Fauci, America's top infectious disease expert, said he was expecting "a surge superimposed upon a surge" caused by the holiday festivities despite many being toned down.
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, a cherished tradition nearly a century old featuring giant balloons and colourful floats, went ahead in a truncated made-for-TV celebration across just one city block, with no crowds and much of it pre-recorded.

Globally, more than 60 million infections and 1.4 million deaths have been recorded since the new coronavirus emerged in China late last year, according to a tally compiled by AFP from official sources.
Countries that have seen strong success against the virus are now cracking down on new outbreaks.
South Korea closed bars and nightclubs this week as it braces for a third major wave, with virus cases at their highest level since March.
Britain and France meanwhile are mulling easing lockdowns soon, but authorities have said restrictions will remain.
-Basically what the prime minister is trying to do is save our lives, and I don't think people understand the seriousness of it- said David Walker, 75, a care worker in Darlington, north England.
-I think common sense has gone out of the window.-

They are hit hard by a second wave of infections

Customers stand on a balcony next to Christmas decorations in a shopping mall in Berlin.

Germany hits million virus cases as vaccine doubt emerges

Newly elected US President Joe Biden has confirmed that the Western Balkans will be among his foreign policy priorities, Avaz finds out. Namely, the office of the newly elected president of the USA announced what Biden talked about with the leaders of the European Commission, the Council of the European Union and the North Atlantic Alliance.
Newly elected president stressed the importance of US-EU co-operation on issues of common interest, including Iran, Belarus, Ukraine and the Western Balkans – among other things, it is stated in the official statement of Biden's transition team.
In this way, all previous predictions that Biden will strengthen the role of the United States in the region, and especially in B&amp;H, have been confirmed. Also, more specifically, Biden talked about the Balkans with European Council President Charles Michel.
- Newly elected president underlined his commitment to strengthening democracy, joint action and cooperation on common challenges, such as Iran, Belarus, Ukraine and the Western Balkans - it was stated.
The Western Balkans are therefore mentioned in terms of EU-US cooperation, which will be strengthened in the coming period. This indicates that Biden will act together with the leaders from Brussels, which can be crucial in the progress of our country towards membership in the EU and NATO.

Newly elected  US President Joe Biden officialy lined up priorities

Biden will strengthen the US role in the region

On Western Balkans US will act together with EU!

French winter sport resorts are free to open for the Christmas holiday season, Prime Minister Jean Castex said Thursday, but ski lifts will have to remain shut.
President Emmanuel Macron warned Tuesday that coronavirus risks made it "impossible" to allow winter sports to resume quickly, adding he hoped that restrictions could be lifted in January.
France's 350 ski resorts have been up in arms over the decision, saying the weeks around Christmas and New Year are crucial for their survival as they account for up to a quarter of their annual revenues.
Castex said mountain holidays were still on the cards but downhill skiing -- by far the most popular pastime for crowds of French and foreign skiers in Alpine and Pyrenees resorts -- was effectively ruled out.

-Naturally, everybody is free to travel to resorts to enjoy the clean air of our beautiful mountains, and the shops which will be open, although bars and restaurants won't be-Castex told a news conference.
-But all ski lifts and collective infrastructures will be closed to the public- he said.
Cross-country skiing, sledding and snowshoe hikes are among snow activities that do not usually require mechanical lifts.
France's winter sport sector says it generates some 11 billion euros ($13 billion) in revenues per year and employs 120,000 people during the season.
The Haute-Savoie region in the French Alps has reported the highest number of virus infections per 100,000 people in the entire country, followed by the neighbouring Savoie region.
Health authorities have warned that regional hospitals could be overwhelmed quickly if crowds of skiers from France and abroad were allowed to travel to those regions.
France aims to lift a nationwide lockdown on December 15, with shops authorised to reopen as early as Saturday after weeks of closure.

France's winter sport sector says it generates some 11 billion euros in revenues per year

France says ski resorts can open, but no lifts allowed

Sweden's Prince Carl Philip and his wife Princess Sofia are self-isolating after testing positive for the new coronavirus, the royal palace said Thursday.
Carl Philip, the 41-year-old son of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia, and Sofia, 35, "have light flu symptoms" and are recuperating at home in Stockholm with their two young children, the palace said in a statement.
The king and queen, as well as Crown Princess Victoria and her husband Prince Daniel, will all be tested as a precaution, it said.
According to tabloid Aftonbladet, the royal family gathered for the funeral of the queen's brother last week, but they all tested negative for the virus before attending that ceremony.
Princess Sofia made headlines early on in the pandemic when she donned scrubs and began doing shifts as a healthcare assistant at the Sophiahemmet hospital in Stockholm, which she has continued to do part-time.
Sweden is known for its softer approach to the coronavirus pandemic, never locking down to the same extent as other countries. As of Wednesday, it had recorded a total of 230,514 cases of Covid-19 and 6,555 deaths.

They have light flu symptoms

Sweden's Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia

Swedish royal couple self-isolate after Covid diagnosis

Disney said Thursday it will cut 32,000 jobs in 2021, primarily from its US theme parks division, an increase from layoffs announced in September.
The company, which previously said it would cut 28,000 jobs, has struggled with the pandemic and social restrictions.
According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the cuts -- which Variety reported are part of September's announcement -- would be made in the first half of next year.

-Due to the current climate, including COVID-19 impacts, and changing environment in which we are operating, the Company has generated efficiencies in its staffing, including limiting hiring to critical business roles, furloughs and reductions-in-force-Disney said in a filing explaining the job losses.
The majority of the terminations would be in "Parks, Experiences and Products" it added.
Additionally, around 37,000 employees were placed on furlough from October 3, Variety reported.
Disney employs around 203,000 people globally, with around 20 percent part-time workers, according to CNBC.
Drawing millions of tourists each year, Disneyland in Anaheim near Los Angeles is the world's second-most visited theme park, after the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Orlando.
But unlike the Disney theme parks in Florida, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Paris, the Anaheim resort has so far been unable to reopen due to the state's coronavirus restrictions.
The move comes on the heels of Disney's $4.7 billion loss in the most recent quarter, which reflected the hit to its theme park business and the derailment or postponement of major movie releases.&nbsp;

The company has struggled with the pandemic and social restrictions

Disneyland theme park in Anaheim, California

Disney to lay off 32,000 workers in 2021

Four teenage students have been charged in France over the killing of Samuel Paty, including three for allegedly pointing out the teacher to his murderer, a judical source said Thursday.
Three other pupils were charged with complicity earlier this month over the beheading last month of Paty, who had shown his students cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed as part of a lesson on free speech.
Three of the four students charged Thursday were suspected of identifying Paty to his killer, 18-year-old Abdullakh Anzorov, who then tracked him down and beheaded him in a street near his school.
The three, who are between 13 and 14 years old, are being charged with "complicity in a terrorist murder," the source said.
The fourth is the daughter of Brahim Chnina, who launched a virulent online campaign against Paty denouncing the teacher's use of the cartoons published by satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo.
She has been charged with "slanderous denunciation" of Paty after relating her version of events in the classroom, though she did not actually attend his civics lesson.
Paty's murder sparked a torrent of outrage that prompted President Emmanuel Macron to crack down on Islamist extremism and violence in a country reeling from a wave of jihadist attacks since 2015 that have killed more than 250 people.

Mum in Sweden arrested for locking son up for decades

Two thirds of school-age kids without internet access: UN

World's loneliest elephant' lands in Cambodia

Severe fire danger for Australia as temperatures smash records

Britain and France sign fresh deal to reduce migrant crossings

Drive-ins, scattered huts: German Xmas markets find ways around virus

60 arrested at London anti-lockdown protest

Ferguson teams up with Rashford after making poverty pledge

Five COVID-19 patients killed in Indian hospital fire

French president "very shocked" by alleged police beating of Black man: BFM TV

Germany hits million virus cases as vaccine doubt emerges

On Western Balkans US will act together with EU!

France says ski resorts can open, but no lifts allowed

Swedish royal couple self-isolate after Covid diagnosis

Disney to lay off 32,000 workers in 2021

Four more students charged in France over teacher's beheading

World

Mum in Sweden arrested for locking son up for decades

Two thirds of school-age kids without internet access: UN

World's loneliest elephant' lands in Cambodia

Severe fire danger for Australia as temperatures smash records

Britain and France sign fresh deal to reduce migrant crossings

Drive-ins, scattered huts: German Xmas markets find ways around virus

60 arrested at London anti-lockdown protest

Ferguson teams up with Rashford after making poverty pledge

Five COVID-19 patients killed in Indian hospital fire

French president "very shocked" by alleged police beating of Black man: BFM TV

Germany hits million virus cases as vaccine doubt emerges

On Western Balkans US will act together with EU!

France says ski resorts can open, but no lifts allowed

Swedish royal couple self-isolate after Covid diagnosis

Disney to lay off 32,000 workers in 2021

Four more students charged in France over teacher's beheading