Former South African President Jacob Zuma who is serving 15 months behind bars for being in contempt of court over his refusal to cooperate with the state capture inquiry has been granted compassionate leave from prison in order to attend his brother's funeral. The Correctional Services Department released a statement on Thursday morning confirming the decision but it said that a sentenced offender remained a sentenced offender even when temporarily outside.

Zimbabwe's government on Tuesday ordered that all its workers should receive a COVID-19 vaccine and only 10% of civil servants report for duty, with the rest working from home in a bid to curb the spread of the pandemic. The head of the public commission, Jonathan Wutawunashe, said in a circular to government departments that all civil servants - about 250,000 - were considered frontline workers who should get COVID-19 shots.

South African government has deployed soldiers to tackle deadly ongoing unrest triggered by the jailing of former President Jacob Zuma. Businesses were destroyed and looted, buildings set on fire on Monday as Zuma challenged his sentence at a hearing in the top court. At least six people have lost their lives and 200 others arrested since the unrest started last week, after Zuma handed himself in and began his 15-month sentence. Zuma was convicted of contempt of court after failing to attend an inquiry into corruption during his presidency. The 79-year-old, who denies corruption, is optimistic to get the sentence rescinded or reduced at the Constitutional Court hearing. However, legal experts say his chances of success are slim. Supporters of the ex-president on Saturday launched a massive protest over his imprisonment, burning trucks, commercial property, and blocking major roads in KwaZulu-Natal province.

The Taliban who recently claimed their fighters had retaken 85% of the territory in Afghanistan has presented a three-month ceasefire to the Afghan government in exchange for 7,000 captured fighters. According to a government negotiator, Nader Nadery, the proposal is a "big demand". He added that Taliban leaders had also requested that their names be removed from a United Nations blacklist. From several soiurces, it was discouvered most of the 5,000 Taliban prisoners who were released has returned to the battlefield.

Taliban fighters have been reported to have seized control of key districts in western Afghanistan which includes border crossing with Iran, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, China and Pakistan as foreign forces end their 20-year intervention.

Chinese astronauts have successfully carried out the country's first spacewalk outside the new Tiangong space station in what is seen as a significant milestone in its rapidly expanding space program. Before the spacewalk, China has previously landed a rover on Mars and sent probes to the moon. China sent the first crew of Tiangong space station last month. The crew includes Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming, and Tang Hongbo who will remain for three months in China’s longest crewed mission to date.

A former bodyguard at the Canadian Embassy in Port au Prince, James Solages, another Haitian American, Joseph Vincent and 26 Colombians have been arrested in connection with the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise. Moise, 53, was fatally shot early on Wednesday at his home by what officials said was a group of foreign, trained killers, pitching the poorest country in the Americas deeper into turmoil amid political divisions, hunger and widespread gang violence.

The President of Haiti Jovenel Moise has been assassinated in his hometown at Pelerin 5 district of Pentionvilee on Tuesday night as revealed by the country's interim prime minister. The 53-year-old president's wife, Martine Moise, was also shot in the attack that took place around 1 a.m. local time (0500 GMT) and was receiving medical treatment, Interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph said in a statement.

Former Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin have been sentenced to 22 1/2 years in prison after been convicted of murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd. The sentencing follows the emotional testimony from Floyd’s family and Chauvin’s mother, along with brief condolences from Chauvin himself, Judge Peter Cahill said the sentence was not based on emotion, sympathy or public opinion.

Torrential downpours in parts of Western and Central Germany has killed at least 42 people while many are missing following severe floods, which caused immense damage to property and transport disruption. It follows record rainfall that has caused major rivers to burst their banks. The worst of the flooding has been in the states of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia, where buildings and cars have been washed away. At least six others have died in neighbouring Belgium, and the city of Liège has urged all residents to leave. The Netherlands has also been badly hit, with flooding rivers destroying many houses in the southern province of Limburg. A number of care homes have also been evacuated. Authorities used inflatable boats and helicopters, and the German army deployed 200 soldiers to assist in the rescue operation.

Pope Francis who recently had half of his colon removed for a severe narrowing of his large intestine has left the hospital in Rome after 10 days on Wednesday. The 84 years old, was released at 10:30 a.m. local time (4:30 a.m. ET) from Gemelli Polytechnic hospital. On his way home to Casa Santa Maria in Vatican City, he stopped to pray at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major.

The announcement by President Emmanuel Macron restricting unvaccinated persons from accessing public places, mandatory tests on entry to restaurants, as well as ordering all French health care workers to get virus vaccine shots by Sept. 15 has sparked fierce criticism by some on social media, with the French word for dictatorship — #Dictature — trending on Twitter amid accusations the government has introduced mandatory vaccination by stealth. Macron announced in a televised address that from August anyone wanting to go out to eat or drink, take a long-distance train, or visit a shopping centre would need to show a “health pass”, which means either proof of vaccination or a negative test. Macron also mandated special COVID-19 passes for people going to a restaurant, shopping mall, or hospital or get on a train or plane. To get a pass, people must have proof they’re fully vaccinated, or recently recovered from the virus, or have taken a fresh negative virus test. “Get vaccinated!” was the president’s overall message. He also tweeted a GIF of himself repeating the same phrase.