Covid-19: Germany extends curbs as infections threaten infrastructure

BERLIN, Jan 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Germany extended its current pandemic measures as the experts panel appointed by the government has warned the fast spreading Omicron coronavirus variant could bring critical infrastructure in Europe’s biggest economy to a breaking point. Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he had agreed with the heads of…

Canada’s foreign ministry hacked, services hit

OTTAWA, Jan 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Hackers launched a cyber attack on Canada’s foreign ministry last week and some services are still down, officials said without disclosing who Ottawa thought was responsible. The incident was detected last Wednesday, a day before Canada’s signals intelligence agency said network operators of critical infrastructure…

Covid-19: Norway scraps quarantines

OSLO, Jan 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Norway will end its system of mandatory COVID-19 quarantines for non-vaccinated travellers and close contacts of infected persons, replacing it instead with a daily test regime, the government announced. Under the current rules, anyone arriving in Norway from an area with a quarantine obligation and…

US puts 8,500 troops on alert to deploy amid Ukraine tensions

WASHINGTON, Jan 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US military put about 8,500 troops on alert to be ready to deploy to Europe if needed, potentially on very short notice, in the latest effort to reassure jittery NATO allies in the face of a Russian military buildup near Ukraine. Although the decision did…

US Navy pilot ejects, 7 hurt in F-35 South China Sea ‘landing mishap’

uth China Sea WASHINGTON, Jan 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Seven US Navy sailors were hurt on Monday when an F-35C warplane had a “landing mishap” on the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson in the South China Sea and the pilot ejected, the US Navy said. A navy statement…

At least six killed in Cameroon stadium stampede, says state broadcaster

Cameroon fans watch the African Cup of Nations game against Comoros at the Yaounde Olembe stadium YAOUNDE, Jan 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least six fans died in a stampede at the Yaounde Olembe Stadium in Cameroon on Monday before the host nation’s round-of-16 game in the African Cup of Nations…

Covid-19: Pandemic causing ‘nearly insurmountable’ education losses globally – UNICEF

GENEVA, Jan 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) –School closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic have caused “nearly insurmountable” losses in education among children around the world, UNICEF said. More than 616 million students are still being affected by full or partial school closures, the United Nations children’s agency said. In many countries, in…

Netherlands: Bird flu discovered at farm; 216,000 chickens to be culled

AMSTERDAM, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Authorities discovered an outbreak of a highly-contagious strain of bird flu at a farm in the Netherlands and said they would cull about 170,000 chickens, the Agriculture Ministry said in a statement on Monday. Nearby farms in the province of Noord Holland will be sealed…

US lauds Barbados on successful elections since becoming republic

BRIDGETOWN, Jan 24 (NNN-CARIBBEAN NEWS NOW) — The United States of America congratulated Barbados for holding its first general elections on Jan 19 since becoming a republic last year. In an official statement, the U.S. Embassy in Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean, and the OECS recognized the people of Barbados for “upholding the democratic…

Haitian Ex-Senator allegedly involved in Moïse killing set to face court in February

KINGSTON (Jamaica), Jan 24 (NNN-CARIBBEAN NEWS NOW) — Former Haitian senator John Joel Joseph, together with his wife and two children, are set to attend court proceedings next month after their arrest last weekend in Jamaica over allegations of being involved with the Haitian president’s killing. The Kingston and St…