The new Omicron variant has already begun to surge among South Africa’s young and unvaccinated, and experts are concerned about the effect it might have on the elderly.

The best photos from the international wire agencies as chosen by our picture editors

The pubgoers knew the weather forecast was dire, but not so much that piles of snow nearly a metre high would block the pub’s exits.

The details of an Israeli broadcaster’s sex life are hacked and leaked. Iran’s nationwide fuel distribution system to 4300 petrol stations was paralysed.

It’s a small triumph for the Duke of Sussex as a new documentary prepares to air claims a palace source helped newspaper in court.

Investors are fearing the worst after sinking their money into a developer’s vision of a “second Gold Coast of Australia”.

Andy Slavitt, who served as a COVID-19 adviser to Biden for several months this year, is among the critics and said energy should instead be focused on inoculations in Africa.

Over the past year, the frequency of Chinese incursions has increased, with about 150 aircraft over a period of four days.

French dictionary publisher Le Petit Robert chose to add “iel” to its latest online edition.

The country has been setting repeated records in new daily infections, hitting a record high of almost 28,000 cases on Thursday.

The variant was identified by scientists in South Africa, where early data suggest it is spreading more quickly than the now-dominant variant known as Delta.

Experts are urging caution but not panic, while admitting not enough is known about the new variant of concern that is shutting down flights around the world.

China has been one of the last nations to maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards COVID-19, saying the importance of containing local cases outweighs the disruptions.

The best photos from the international wire agencies as chosen by our picture editors

Many have noted that the World Health Organisation skipped a Greek letter that is also the name of the Chinese President in naming the new variant of concern.

The film has been such a runaway hit that fans have even been inspired to eat frozen potatoes in homage to the Chinese soldiers.

A top South African scientist warns that until we vaccinate enough people around the globe new variants will develop over and over again.

Dr Angelique Coetzee noticed otherwise healthy patients demonstrating unusual symptoms and worries how the new variant might hurt the elderly.

From a fourth COVID-19 wave continuing to wreak havoc across Europe to demonstrations around the world to prevent violence against women, these are the best photos from around the world in the past week, as chosen by The Age's photo editors.

The city has more than 3000 mosques causing the adzan from ‘mosque A’ to ring in “our left ear and the call of prayer from ‘mosque B’ goes in our right ear”.

Boris Johnson said his government was planning new restrictions to combat Omicron, as the COVID-19 variant was found in Germany, Italy, Belgium, Israel and Hong Kong.

They are the first reported deaths after days of violent protests in the Solomon Islands. Australian troops have arrived to help restore calm, with riot police from NSW set to arrive early next week.

In his latest attempt to rally all able Ethiopians to fight what he now calls an “existential war” against Tigrayan forces.

And, yes, there is a documented rate of divorce for the normally monogamous birds.

The French President accused the British PM of not being “serious” after Johnson released a letter outlining measures for dealing with the crisis.

The West Side Story lyricist won eight lifetime Tony Awards, more than any other composer.

The WHO said there were indications that Omicron could pose a higher risk of reinfection.

There is a trope that Pacific nations are merely pawns in a global contest, but the Premier of Malaita has played a strong geopolitical game.

The best photos from the international wire agencies as chosen by our picture editors

Carlos Nuzman has been found guilty of corruption and other crimes. A former Rio governor and two other officials have also been sentenced.

Honiara is on fire, the local high school has been looted, rioters have torched a timber company and protesters have vandalised Chinese-owned businesses. Why?

France and Italy are signing a new treaty, keen to navigate together the economic uncertainty, a more assertive Russia, a rising China and a more disengaged US.

A fire at a coal mine in Russia’s Siberia has killed at least 14 people and injured more than 40, with dozens of others remaining trapped, authorities said.

Gratitude is in short supply this Thanksgiving. Instead, the overwhelming sentiments are grumpiness and pessimism.

PM Manasseh Sogavare rejected criticism of the Pacific nation’s 2019 decision to end diplomatic relations with Taiwan in favour of Beijing.

Moon Jae-in, the president and a known animal-lover, has suggested it was time to ban the sale and consumption of dog meat.

B.1.1529 is likely to have evolved during a chronic infection of an immunocompromised person, possibly in an untreated HIV/AIDS patient, said one researcher.

National Geographic magazine’s famed green-eyed “Afghan Girl” has arrived in Italy as part of the West’s evacuation of Afghans following the Taliban takeover of the country.

Human rights groups have condemned the election of an Emirati general accused of torture and a senior Chinese official to key posts on Interpol.

Honiara was put into lockdown after protesters demanding the Prime Minister’s resignation set fire to parts of Parliament and several other buildings on Wednesday. 

Shingo Yamagami emphasised Taiwan’s importance to the “peace and stability” across the East China Sea, the Pacific and the world.

Forty year later, Anthony Broadwater has been exonerated after a producer working on a new film adaptation of Sebold’s memoir raised doubts about the prosecution.

The best photos from the international wire agencies as chosen by our picture editors

The advice is timely for Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is expecting his seventh child in coming weeks and has attracted questions about his wellbeing after he gave a rambling speech to business leaders.  

Three white men were convicted of murdering an unarmed black man in Georgia that became part of the larger American reckoning on racial injustice.

Member states are meeting next week to begin discussions on a new pandemic treaty that former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark says could be agreed in as soon as six months.

The shake-up plunged the country into political uncertainty - and showed the difficulty of forming coalitions that exclude the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats from power. 

Almost 30 people died after their dinghy capsized while crossing the Channel from France to Britain, in the worst disaster on record involving migrants in the waters separating the countries.

Social Democrat leader Olaf Scholz said he had reached a coalition deal to form a new government that would modernise Europe’s largest economy and accelerate the green transition.

France is courting Indonesia and has pointedly omitted Australia from its strategy as anger continues to simmer over the cancelled $90b submarines contract.