WORLD HIGHLIGHTS

►Chile SANTIAGO

A journalist who was shot near May Day protests in the Chilean capital Santiago died on Thursday, a hospital official said, as the country's president promised there would be no "impunity" in the case.

►UK LONDON

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has ordered ministers to slash 91,000 civil service jobs to free up billions for tax cuts, the Daily Mail reported on Thursday.

►Nigeria KANO

Muslim students in northwest Nigerian city of Sokoto on Thursday stoned a Christian student to death and burnt her corpse after accusing her of blasphemy against the Prophet Muhammad, police said.

►Spain MADRID

Spanish prosecutors have dropped a probe into suspicions Spanish firms paid kickbacks to secure a contract to build a high-speed rail link in Saudi Arabia, a ruling made public Thursday showed.

►Tunisia TUNIS

Tunisian President Kais Saied on Thursday said he opposes the presence of foreign election observers, as the country gears up for a referendum and legislative polls later this year.

►US MIAMI

At least 11 people died after their boat, which was carrying an unknown number of passengers, overturned off the coast of Puerto Rico, the US Coast Guard said Thursday.

LOS ANGELES

A sudden and violent wildfire that tore through a luxury enclave in California destroying multi-million dollar homes in minutes was worsened by wind and the size of the properties, officials said.

South Africa JOHANNESBURG

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa Thursday urged international organisations backing vaccination against coronavirus to start buying jabs from African pharmas as one such manufacturer risked halting production for lack of orders.

►Guinea-bissau

BISSAU Guinea-bissau's President Umaro Sissoco Embalo on Thursday sacked his economy minister and temporarily handed over his portfolio to the prime minister, a presidential decree said.

►Argentina BUENOS AIRES

Thousands of Argentines brought central Buenos Aires to a standstill on Thursday in another massive protest against the South American country's soaring inflation. AGENCIES