Lewis Walker

The UK socialite denies grooming girls for convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein to sexually abuse.
BBC News – US & Canada

Joe Phaahla says South Africa is experienced in dealing with Covid variants, despite a surge in cases.
BBC News – Africa

Airlines and oil firms slide as FTSE 100 index of leading shares suffers biggest drop in more than a year.
BBC News – Business

Travellers from all countries will be banned from entering Israel for 14 days, local media report.
BBC News – Middle East

Palmeiras beat fellow Brazilians Flamengo in extra time to successfully retain their Copa Libertadores title.
BBC News – Latin America & Caribbean

Activists in Calais demand change after decades of people coming to the city looking to reach the UK.
BBC News – Europe

Health Secretary Sajid Javid says he expects a “great Christmas” despite two UK Omicron cases.
BBC News – UK

The US composer and lyricist reshaped America’s musical theatre in a career spanning over 60 years.
BBC News – US & Canada

South Africa should be praised for discovering Omicron, not hit with travel bans, its officials say.
BBC News – Africa

Critics claim publicly available data shows worrying failures on the 737 Max since its return to service.
BBC News – Business

The ancient walkway, connecting two of the Egyptian city’s greatest temples, took decades to excavate.
BBC News – Middle East

Parents who won almost $ 1m are being threatened by a gang demanding they use the money to buy guns.
BBC News – Latin America & Caribbean

Sunday’s referendum is held in a country with one of the lowest vaccination rates in Western Europe.
BBC News – Europe

England’s chief medical officer wonders if “we could take people with us” if new restrictions are imposed.
BBC News – UK

Flights from eight African nations to be blocked as new variant is classified as being “of concern”.
BBC News – US & Canada

South Africans feel they are paying the price for their ability to monitor new Covid variants.
BBC News – Africa

The UK energy market has seen 23 companies collapse since September after wholesale gas prices rose.
BBC News – Business

Ahmed al-Raisi was chosen despite facing claims of complicity in torture by UAE security forces.
BBC News – Middle East

Prosecutors found $ 20,000 in the chief of staff’s bathroom inside the presidential palace.
BBC News – Latin America & Caribbean

BBC correspondent Abdujalil Abdurasulov visits eastern Ukraine as soldiers watch Russia’s nearby movements.
BBC News – Europe