Covid-19 picks up pace in Americas as Omicron spreads, regional health agency says

BRASILIA, Jan 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The spread of COVID-19 in the Americas driven by the Omicron variant of the virus has reached levels of transmission never before seen during the pandemic, with cases doubling to 6.1 million over the past week, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) said. Omicron has…

Britain and India to formally launch trade talks

LONDON, Jan 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain and India will on Thursday formally launch free trade agreement talks in New Delhi, seeking freer movement of goods and people with a deal projected to increase bilateral trade by billions of pounds. Britain has made a deal with India one of its post-Brexit…

Covid-19: Unvaccinated father in Quebec temporarily loses rights to visit son

MONTREAL, Jan 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Canadian father, unvaccinated against COVID-19 and “opposed to health measures”, lost the right to visit his 12-year-old after a Quebec judge ruled his visits would not be in the child’s “best interest.” The decision, initially reported by Quebec newspaper Le Devoir, was rendered Dec…

Covid-19: French teachers to strike over ‘chaotic’ pandemic strategy for schools

PARIS, Jan 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — French teachers will walk off the job en masse on Thursday over what they say is the government’s failure to adopt a coherent policy for schools to manage the COVID-19 pandemic, or properly protect pupils and staff against infection. Teachers, parents and school administrators have…

US lays out case against ‘unlawful’ China maritime claims

WASHINGTON, Jan 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States on Wednesday laid out its most detailed case yet against Beijing’s “unlawful” claims in the South China Sea, rejecting both the geographic and historic bases for its vast, divisive map. In a 47-page research paper, the State Department’s Bureau of Oceans and…

8 member states lose right to vote at UN due to unpaid dues

UNITED NATIONS, Jan 13 (NNN-Xinhua) — Iran and Venezuela are among the eight countries whose rights to vote at the United Nations have been revoked due to unpaid dues, a UN spokesperson said. In his letter to the General Assembly on Tuesday, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said a total of 11…

NATO-Russia Council meeting ends without clear result

BRUSSELS, Jan 13 (NNN-Xinhua) — Wednesday’s talks between representatives of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Russia concluded without a clear outcome, with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg describing the differences between the two sides as “significant” and “will not be easy to bridge.” “This was not an easy…

Covid-19: UK PM apologizes for attending Downing Street garden party during lockdown

LONDON, Jan 13 (NNN-Xinhua) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson apologized on Wednesday for attending a Downing Street garden party during the country’s first lockdown in 2020. During the weekly session of Prime Minister’s Questions at the House of Commons (lower house of the British Parliament), Johnson admitted that he…

Greece strengthens protection, integration of unaccompanied refugee minors

ATHENS, Jan 13 (NNN-Xinhua) — Greek officials presented on Wednesday a series of action plans aimed to enhance the protection and integration of thousands of unaccompanied minors during the refugee and migrant influx. The number of unaccompanied minors in Greece has dropped from 5,424 in February 2020 to 2,576 in…

Covid-19: Botswana president back to work after coronavirus illness

Mokgweetsi Masisi, Botswana President GABORONE, Jan 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi has returned to work after going into self-isolation since Jan 2 after testing positive for Covid-19 in the last week of 2021 but didn’t show any symptoms. In his absence, his deputy, Slumber Tsogwane assumed presidential duties.On…