Zambia took a crucial step closer on Wednesday to restructuring its debts and rebuilding its ravaged economy. The International Monetary Fund said in a statement that it had approved a $1.3 billion, 38-month loan program with the southern African country.

The Nigerian government had previously planned to phase out the gasoline subsidy program, calling it "unsustainable." Despite being Africa's main oil exporter, the country relies on importing petroleum products.

It's toxic for the environment and also a huge waste of energy. According to recent studies, the oil industry of Nigeria alone flares off 8 billion cubic metres of gas each year.The gas is a by-product of oil production and could be used as energy. But so far, oil companies have avoided making the necessary investments to do that.

Conservative chancellor candidate Armin Laschet has made one his last rolls of the dice: A program for his first 100 days in office if he should win. Laschet trails the center-left candidate Olaf Scholz in the polls.

112 youths to benefit from $250,000 startup program

A senior White House official said the US has a "role in beating the pandemic globally." The program has gotten off to a slow start in distributing vaccinations to poor nations.

Japan has administered the first shots of its vaccination program, starting with healthcare workers. So far, only the BioNTech-Pfizer jab has been authorized.

Irving Calderon, an information-technology analyst at General Motors Co. and a participant in the Deferred Action for Childhood arrivals program, talks about what it means to him.