The world’s longest-reigning monarchs

LONDON, Feb 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At the grand old age of 95, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II is the world’s longest-reigning living monarch.   She will celebrate 70 years on the throne on Sunday.   Her reign has been surpassed by just two other major monarchs in recorded history — France’s…

Covid-19: France eases curbs, including outdoor mask-wearing

PARIS, Feb 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France began lifting coronavirus restrictions including mandatory outdoor mask-wearing Wednesday in a bid to ease citizens’ daily lives, dividing opinion as the country only last month reported record Covid-19 infections.   Audience capacity limits for concert halls, sporting matches and other events were also removed,…

Covid-19: Omicron sub-variant found in 57 countries – WHO

GENEVA, Feb 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A sub-variant of the highly contagious Omicron coronavirus strain, which some studies indicate could be even more infectious than the original version, has been detected in 57 countries, theWHO said.    The fast-spreading and heavily mutated Omicron variant has rapidly become the dominant variant worldwide…

US calls for emergency UN Security Council meeting on North Korea: diplomats

UNITED NATIONS, Feb 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States has requested an emergency meeting on Thursday of the UN Security Council on North Korea, which launched its most powerful missile since 2017 last weekend, diplomatic sources said.    The meeting is expected to be held behind closed doors. It is…

Haiti floods kill at least four

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Feb 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Flooding triggered by torrential rain in Haiti left four people dead and one missing, authorities said.    Violent weather affected at least 20 districts across Haiti in recent days, flooding more than 2,500 homes and completely destroying three.    Three of the deaths and the…

Update Ecuador floods: 24 dead, dozens injured as flooding hits Ecuador capital

QUITO, Feb 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The heaviest flooding to hit Ecuador in two decades has killed at least 24 people in Quito, inundating homes, swamping cars and sweeping away athletes and spectators on a sports field, officials said Tuesday.    A dozen people are missing and 48 injured, Ecuador’s SNGRE…

Top oil producers eye modest output boost as prices surge

LONDON, Feb 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The 23 members of the OPEC+ oil cartel, who meet on Wednesday, are expected to stick to their guns and increase output modestly as the price of crude surges.   As in January, analysts expect the taps to be opened slightly, to the tune of…

Covid-19: Portuguese, Moldova PMs tests positive

Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa LISBON, Feb 2 (NNN-Xinhua) — Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa has tested positive for COVID-19, his cabinet said Tuesday. “The Prime Minister carried out a routine COVID-19 self-test today, having a positive result. This result has already been confirmed by an antigen test,” the cabinet…

Ecuador floods: Death toll rises to 22 in capital after flooding; 50 injured, 5 missing

People carry an injured man during the search for victims after a landslide caused by heavy rains in Quito QUITO, Feb 2 (NNN-Xinhua) — The death toll rose to 22 from floods in Ecuador’s capital, with about 50 others injured and at least five missing, the Emergency Operations Committee of…

US gun violence: 2 Virginia college officers killed; suspect in custody

Police form a perimeter on Airport Road south of the North River in Bridgewater, Va., during a manhunt following a shooting at Bridgewater College BRIDGEWATER (Virginia, US), Feb 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A gunman shot and killed two campus officers at a private college Tuesday, prompting a protracted campus lockdown and…