Government data released shows that China's population grew at its slowest pace in decades.The average annual growth rate was 0.53% over the past 10 years, down from a rate of 0.57% between 2000 and 2010 - bringing the population to 1.41bn.The results add to pressure on Beijing to boost measures for couples to have more babies and avert a population decline.The results were announced in a once-a-decade census, which was originally expected to be released in April.The census was conducted in late 2020 where some seven million census takers had gone door-to-door to collect information from Chinese households.

An emergency legal challenge to Australia’s contentious ban on citizens returning from Covid-struck India failed dashing stranded travellers’ hopes of an immediate return.Federal Justice Thomas Thawley ruled the government had not overstepped its biosecurity powers in banning Australians from returning home temporarily.Thawley ruled that Morrison acted within the law, dashing the hopes of a 73-year-old Australian man who brought the case as he tries to return from Bangalore.The judge did not rule on the more complex question of whether the decision was unconstitutional, an issue that is set to be taken up at a later date.After widespread public outcry, Morrison indicated that the ban will not be extended beyond May 15.

The World Health Organization says a Covid-19 variant spreading in India, which is facing an explosive outbreak, appears to be more contagious and has been classified as being of concern.The UN health agency says the B.1.617 variant of Covid-19 first found in India last October seemed to be transmitting more easily.The WHO’s lead on Covid-19, Maria Van Kerkhove also pointed to early studies suggesting that there is some reduced neutralization meaning that antibodies appeared to have less impact on the variant in small-sample lab studies.The WHO insisted though that it was far too early to interpret this to mean that the variant might have more resistance to vaccine protections.

French Prime Minister Jean Castex says that France was emerging on a long-term basis from the Covid-19 crisis as he gave new details about shop and restaurant openings.Castex told Le Parisien newspaper that restaurant and bar terraces would open nationwide on May 19, but would be limited to half their normal capacity, while eating inside would be possible from June 9, also with half capacity.Shops will reopen on May 19, but with restrictions on the number of people they can admit based on their size, with limits set to be lifted on June 30.France is currently in a third lockdown, which is more limited than previous episodes from March-April and October-November last year.

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has reconstituted the national parliament after dissolving it on Saturday, to pave way for the appointment of new MPs.The names of the appointed MPs were announced on the national broadcaster, South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation.The expanded parliament now includes legislators from the former rebel group, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) which is led by First Vice-President Riek Machar and other political parties.The Transitional National Legislative Assembly which was expanded on Monday from 400 to 550 MPs, consists of 332 lawmakers from President Kiir’s Sudan People’s Liberation Movement and 128 from Mr Machar's SPLM-IO.

A new bridge over the Zambezi River linking Botswana and Zambia has been officially opened and should boost trade in the region.The Kazungula road and rail bridge built at a cost of more than $250m were paid for by the African Development Bank and a loan from the Japanese government.Truck drivers can also now avoid long waits at Zimbabwe's border.The Botswana government tweeted this shot of the 1km-long bridge.Other countries in the region should get an economic boost as it'll speed up trade between South Africa's ports and countries to the north, including the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Federal Government has declared Wednesday and Thursday as public holidays to mark this year’s Eid-el-Fitr celebration.Minister of Interior, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, believes that development cannot thrive in a rancorous atmosphere and urged all Nigerians to be law-abiding and embrace the spirit of love, self-discipline, kindness, and tolerance, as taught by the Holy Prophet Mohammed.He called on all security agencies in the country to be more courageous and patriotic to surmount the ongoing battle against resurging insecurity and activities of criminal elements in the country.

The Lagos State Government has announced that it would launch buses to replace motorcycles popularly known as Okada and tricycles known as Keke to ply inner roads in the state.Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu added that over 500 minibuses would be deployed next week.He said the move is to alleviate the pain residents of the state go through following the restriction of motorcycle and tricycle operations.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, stated that returning foreign passengers who fled the quarantine facilities and violated the compulsory requirement will not go unpunished.Mustapha condemned the violation of the nation’s laws and hospitality, noting that the committee was awaiting the report of ongoing investigations and would impose appropriate sanctions on the violators.He revealed that the PSC has considered several pre-emptive measures to be taken to mitigate the likely impact of the variants of COVID-19, should they get imported into Nigeria.

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has announced the review of the existing night-time curfew in the state.He noted that the initial starting time of 10 pm has been adjusted to 7 pm until further notice.The governor explained that the time was adjusted by the State Security Council after an appraisal of the recent security situation in which seven police officers were killed in another overnight attack on two police stations and a checkpoint.He described the killing of innocent policemen as sad and unfortunate, stressing that the security officials did no wrong but were killed doing their job of protecting the people.