Briefly

FRANCE

12 Algerian officials expelled amid tensions

France on Tuesday ordered the expulsion of 12 Algerian diplomats and consular officials and recalled its ambassador in the latest escalation between the two countries. The measure, announced by President Emmanuel Macron's office, came after Algeria on Sunday ordered 12 French officials to leave within 48 hours in response to the arrest of an Algerian functionary in France. The Algerian officials in France have also been given 48 hours to leave. Macron's office called Algeria's actions "incomprehensible and unjustified" and said Algiers should "resume dialogue" and "take responsibility for the degradation in bilateral relations".

SWITZERLAND

WHO states reach deal on future pandemics

Members of the World Health Organization reached a landmark agreement on Wednesday on how to draw lessons from COVID-19 and prepare the world for future pandemics. Sticking points on the road to the deal included how to share drugs and vaccines fairly between wealthy countries and poorer ones. The legally binding pact is widely seen as a victory for the global health agency at a time when multilateral organizations like the WHO have been battered by sharp cuts in US foreign funding. US negotiators left the discussions after President Donald Trump began the 12-month process of withdrawing the US from the agency in January.

SOUTH KOREA

Police raid Yoon's office and security compound

South Korean police on Wednesday raided the office of former president Yoon Suk-yeol and his security detail, as part of a spiraling criminal probe into the impeached leader. Police said they had "initiated the execution of a search and seizure warrant at the presidential office and the presidential residence complex". They seized encrypted phone servers and raided the office of Yoon's presidential security detail, and also his chief of security's house — in what they said was part of a probe into "alleged obstruction of an arrest warrant execution".

Agencies Via Xinhua