KABUL -- Acting Prime Minister of Afghanistan's caretaker government Mullah Hassan Akhund has said that Afghanistan wants to have good relations with the international community, including the neighbors and regional countries.

"The Islamic Emirate wants to have good relations, economic ties and co-exist with all countries. Afghanistan will not interfere in internal affairs of any country, it is not our policy," Hassan Akhund said in his address broadcast in the state-run Radio Television of Afghanistan on Saturday night. (Afghanistan-International Community-Diplomacy)

- - - -

RAMALLAH -- Palestine on Saturday expressed deep concerns over the spread of the new COVID-19 variant, known as B.1.1.529 or Omicron, after Israel announced it had detected its first such case.

The Palestinian Health Ministry will recommend that the government authorities tighten procedures at crossing points and borders as a precautionary measure, Kamal al-Shakhra, a spokesman of the ministry, said in a press statement. (Palestine-Coronavirus-Omicron)

- - - -

MEXICO CITY -- Jamaica received 200,000 doses of China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine recently, half of which were donated by China with the remainder purchased by the Jamaican government, the Jamaica Information Service said Thursday.

"These greatly appreciated Sinopharm vaccines demonstrate the value of the evolving relationship which Jamaica shares with China and is in keeping with the collective efforts to respond to an ever-changing environment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic," Prime Minister Andrew Holness said at an official handover ceremony in Kingston. (Jamaica-China-Vaccine)

- - - -

LONDON -- Two cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant have been detected in Britain, British Health Secretary Sajid Javid said Saturday.

He said the cases, detected in Chelmsford and in Nottingham, are "linked" and the two individuals are now self-isolating along with their households while further tests and contact tracing take place. (Britain-Coronavirus-Omicron)