Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday hailed the high-level development of ties and mutual trust with Burundi, noting that the close coordination between the two countries in international affairs has set a model for South-South cooperation.

Xi made the remarks during a phone call with Burundi's President Evariste Ndayishimiye.

Noting that the two countries firmly support each other during the COVID-19 outbreak, Xi called on the two sides to enhance cooperation and continue supporting each other on issues related to their core interests while remaining committed to independence and non-interference in each other's internal affairs.

Stressing that China is ready to deepen political exchanges with Burundi, the Chinese president also called for exchanges between legal institutions, local governments and think tanks to better facilitate the two countries' strategic integration and win-win cooperation.

In support of Burundi's social and economic development, Xi pledged that China will help the country realize food security and poverty alleviation as a way to achieve more results in the agricultural cooperation between the two countries.

He said he hopes Burundi would fully utilize the agricultural demonstration centers China built and the agricultural experts China sent.

Ndayishimiye spoke highly of China's achievement in eradicating absolute poverty. 

Thanking China for supporting the country's national sovereignty, territorial integrity and national independence, Ndayishimiye said the bilateral ties have brought tangible benefits to the Burundian people.

Viewing China as a good friend and good brother of Burundi, Ndayishimiye reiterated the country's support of China on issues of its core interests, such as Taiwan, Xinjiang and the South China Sea.

Burundi stands behind China's decision to improve the electoral system in China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and hopes to enhance bilateral cooperation in agriculture, infrastructure and pandemic control, the president said. - CGTN

At least 13 protesters were arrested after clashing with police as they tried to storm a coronavirus vaccine centre.

A group of around 400 anti-lockdown demonstrators, anti-vaccination groups and anti-government protesters took to the streets of Bradford on Saturday afternoon.

The crowd gathered to march from City Hall and Bradford Magistrates’ Court to Centenary Square.

West Yorkshire Police said the majority of demonstrators were “peaceful” but some “attempted to cause disruption” as they headed towards a vaccine clinic.

Read: School facing Mohammad cartoon anger turns pupils away as protesters return

The force added that many people who attended were not believed to have been from the Bradford area.

“Whilst the majority of protesters were peaceful, some protesters attempted to cause disruption by making their way to a vaccination centre in the city,” West Yorkshire Police said.

“Officers intervened to stop this from happening. At no time were any vaccination centres or testing centres affected.”

Nine police officers were injured during the clashes, the force said.

Police said 13 people have now been arrested on suspicion of several offences including public order.

Another 19 people were issued fixed penalty notices for breaching COVID-19 regulations and several dispersal orders were issued. 

Oz Khan, of West Yorkshire Police, said: “We are grateful to the communities of Bradford, who have attended the protest in a peaceful way.

“However, there was a group of people who had travelled from outside the Bradford district to cause trouble.

“Protest policing is challenging and complex – and even more so during these unprecedented times and public safety is, and always will be the police’s top priority.

“The majority of people were peaceful, and I am pleased to say there was no significant disorder,” he added.

‘West Yorkshire Police is continuing to work hard to keep the public safe during the ongoing threat from Coronavirus.’

It came as demonstrators descended on cities like Manchester, Brighton, Bath and Sheffield, for further Kill The Bill and anti-lockdown protests.

Tensions have been high since MPs passed the controversial Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill earlier this month, which gives extra powers to police forces to clampdown on protests.

On Saturday, 18 people were arrested after protesters blocked tram lines in Manchester. On Friday night, violence erupted as a crowd of more than 1,000 people marched through Bristol city centre. By Rebecca Speare-Cole, Yahoo News

Social services have launched a review after a toddler died when she was left alone for almost a week as her mother celebrated her 18th birthday.

Verphy Kudi walked out on her 20-month-old daughter, Asiah, on the day she turned 18, partying across the country for six days while the child starved to death. On Friday, Kudi, now 19, admitted manslaughter.

Brighton and Hove Council has announced a review into Asiah's death.

CCTV showed that Kudi left her flat in Brighton on Dec 5, 2019, and did not return until Dec 11, when she dialled 999 and told the call handler her baby would not wake up.

Data gathered by Sussex Police showed she had been at parties in London, Coventry and Solihull before returning to Brighton. She admitted the manslaughter of her daughter between Dec 4 and 12.

In the six days for which Asiah was left alone, she starved, dehydrated and contracted influenza. She was pronounced dead on arrival at the Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital in Brighton on Dec 11. A post-mortem concluded that she died from neglect.

A few days later, staff at the Brighton mother and baby unit for teenage mothers, where Kudi and her daughter had been living, contacted police after reviewing CCTV footage.

Speaking only to enter her guilty plea and give her name, Kudi appeared at Lewes Crown Court and held her hands to her face after the charge of manslaughter was read to her. She was later seen wiping away tears.

Judge Christine Laing QC told Kudi she will be sentenced in May and ordered that all social services records relating to the case be disclosed to the defence ahead of sentencing. She said the defence would commission a report on Kudi's behalf prior to sentencing, adding: "A doctor will no doubt make arrangements to see you and interview you over the next few weeks."

Asiah had previously been under a child protection plan but was not at the time of her death. Brighton and Hove City Council confirmed that social services were not involved with Kudi when she left her baby alone to die.

A spokesman said: "We have been deeply saddened by this tragedy. The case is currently the subject of criminal proceedings, and the city's Safeguarding Children Partnership is also conducting a review of the circumstances into the tragic death of this young child.

"We are undertaking an internal review, which will feed into the partnership review. We have fully supported the police investigation and are committed to working with the partnership in its review and learning from this.

"Asiah was not on a child protection plan and was not involved with social work services when she died. It would not be appropriate for us to comment further while the criminal proceedings and reviews are ongoing."

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Wolstenholme, senior investigating officer at Sussex Police, said: "This was a particularly distressing case for my team and me to investigate, and has caused great sorrow amongst Verphy's family and the many agencies that have supported Verphy and Asiah.

"We note the guilty plea entered in this case, and continue to prepare for Verphy's sentencing." By Gabriella Swerling, Telegraph/Yahoo News