Covid-19: Germany considers more contact limits as infections jump

People wait to receive the booster vaccine BERLIN, Jan 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Germany needs to consider further restrictions on social contact and must ramp up the number of people who have had booster vaccinations as the Omicron variant takes hold, the health minister said. Chancellor Olaf Scholz is due to…

Former Libyan deputy PM detained on corruption charges

TRIPOLI, Jan 5 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Libyan Attorney General’s office announced the detention of former Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Al-Saddiq Abdulkareem Kareem, pending an investigation into charges of financial corruption. The office said in a statement that Kareem, who is also a presidential candidate, “signed contracts to provide…

France opens terror probe over Dakar rally blast in Saudi

PARIS, Jan 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — French prosecutors said they have opened a terror probe over a Dec 30 blast in Saudi Arabia targeting a car participating in the Dakar rally that badly wounded its French driver. “A preliminary investigation has been opened into multiple attempted killings in connection with a…

Covid-18: New records in US, UK, France, Australia as Omicron runs rampant

 PARIS, Jan 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US, Britain, France and Australia have all announced record numbers of daily Covid-19 cases as the WHO warned that Omicron’s dizzying spread increased the risk of newer, more dangerous variants emerging.   Britain breached 200,000 cases for the first time on Tuesday, Australia posted almost…

NATO foreign ministers to hold emergency talks on Ukraine

 BRUSSELS, Jan 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — NATO foreign ministers will hold an emergency videoconference on Friday to discuss Russia’s military build-up around Ukraine, after a raft of demands from Moscow, the alliance said.    Tensions have soared in recent months as the West has warned that the Kremlin could be planning a…

Sudan crisis: Tear gas fired as thousands rally against army

KHARTOUM, Jan 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Sudanese security forces fired tear gas at anti-coup protesters in Khartoum chanting slogans against the military days after the resignation of the country’s civilian premier, witnesses said. Protesters on Tuesday shouted “No, no to military rule” and called for the disbandment of Sudan’s ruling council…

Canada unveils agreements to compensate Indigenous children

According to census data, more than 52 percent of children in foster care in 2016 were Indigenous, while Indigenous children made up only 7.7 percent of the country’s total population OTTAWA, Jan 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Canada has reached agreements-in-principle to compensate Indigenous children who were discriminated against and placed in…

Argentine Navy warplanes still grounded due to lack of British-made spare parts

BUENOS AIRES, Jan 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Five French-built warplanes Argentina bought under President Mauricio Macri for US $ 14 million have never taken to the air, due to which Juntos por el Cambio (JxC) and Fente de Todos (FdT) politicians are now trading pointing fingers.  The Argentine Navy maintains the…

Facebook too suspends Republican Congresswoman’s account

WASHINGTON, Jan 5 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Just hours after Twitter banned Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene permanently, Facebook gave her a 24-hour suspension for remarks she made on the alleged negative side of covid-19 vaccines. The lawmaker from Georgia accused Facebook on gab.com of censorship for striking a commentary on the…

Cannabis developers eye Paraguay to further expand their business

ASUNCION, Jan 5 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — As cannabis gradually transitions from a cultural drug to just an agricultural product like any other, Paraguay’s unique conditions make it a destination of choice for those trying to develop the newly-legalized business, according to a report carried by the Buenos Aires daily Perfil.  Paraguay’s…