The unused AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine in South Africa might be sold or swapped with other countries.

The Health minister, Zweli Mkhize, has suggested a South African interest in swapping or selling the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine after studies have revealed its ineffectiveness against the South African variant in young people.

South Africa is currently in possession of one and half million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

However, they are now planning on using the Johnson & Johnson vaccine as a replacement if it is approved for use.

The study in question was run by the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa where it found that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, when used against the South African variant, only offered “minimal protection”, ultimately compromising and failing to prevent spread between individuals.

Senate votes to continue Trump’s Impeachment proceedings

The US Senate voted that the impeachment against Trump is constitutional and will proceed.

With a small number of Republicans siding with the Democrats in the vote, a 56-44 majority voted to continue impeachment proceedings.

The basis for the impeachment trial is the claim that Donald Trump “incited insurrection” in January when protestors stormed the Capitol where 5 people were killed.

Despite the majority voting to move forward with the proceedings, it is unlikely Trump will be charged, as 17 Republicans would need to vote in favour of the charge, which is unlikely.

However if Trump is convicted, he will be barred from holding office again.

Maori MP wins tie dispute against New Zealand parliament

Today New Zealand’s parliament has announced that ties will no longer be enforced as “appropriate business attire” after Maori MP Rawiri Waititi refused to wear the “colonial noose”.

Mr Waititi is the co-leader of the Maori Party (Te Paati Māori) and chose on Tuesday to go to parliament wearing the traditional pendant, a hei-tiki-, instead of a tie.

The speaker of the House, Trevor Mallard, prevented Mr Waititi from asking a question in the debating chamber as he wasn’t wearing a tie leading to Mr Waititi being removed whilst saying “It’s not about ties – it’s about cultural identity, mate”.

Following the rule change, Mr Waititi said it was a “win for the many generations to come”.

Britney Spears breaks silence on documentary

The singer appears to have responded for the first time to the furore around a new documentary about her.

Whilst sharing footage of a three year old performance of her hit ‘Toxic’, Spears wrote that she is “taking the time to learn and be a normal person” and that “each person has their story and their take on other people’s stories !!!!”

The documentary, Framing Britney Spears, produced by The New York Times and released on Hulu, follows the pop star’s drastic rise in fame, the pitfalls, her conservatorship battle against her father Jamie Spears and the fan created #FreeBritney movement.

Despite producers being unable to reach the pop star for an interview, the documentary highlights how a recent court document filed by Ms Spear’s attorney states that Britney is “vehemently opposed” to keeping the legal battle private providing the #FreeBritney movement it’s first direct acknowledgement by the star.

Celebrity gossip site PageSix.com has reported that Spears is working on a documentary of her own with a top female filmmaker.