Covid-19: UK PM Johnson imposes ‘Plan B’ in England to contain Omicron

Britain has discovered 568 confirmed cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant so far LONDON, Dec 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson imposed tougher COVID-19 restrictions in England on Wednesday, ordering people to work from home, wear masks in public places and use vaccine passes to slow the spread…

US House passes measure clamping down on products from China’s Xinjiang region

Workers on the production line at a cotton textile factory in Korla, Xinjiang WASHINGTON, Dec 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US House of Representatives passed legislation on Wednesday to ban imports from China’s Xinjiang region over concerns about forced labor, one of three measures backed overwhelmingly as Washington continues its pushback…

UNICEF warns of malnutrition and disease risk for migrant children in Mexican camp

MEXICO CITY, Dec 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Thousands of migrant children and adolescents living in a makeshift camp in southern Mexico are at risk of malnutrition, disease and potentially being separated from their families, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said. Camping outside a soccer stadium in the southern city of…

Pres Putin says Russia has ‘right to defend its security’ amid NATO tensions

Putin stressed that NATO expanding eastwards is a “very sensitive” issue for Russia MOSCOW, Dec 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking publicly for the first time since his high-profile talks with US leader Joe Biden, said Wednesday that Moscow reserves the right to “defend its security.” During their summit…

Angela Merkel leaves German Chancellery after 16 years

   BERLIN, Dec 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel formally handed over power to her successor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday, leaving her office in central Berlin by motorcade.   Merkel, wearing a corona mask, sat in the back of a Mercedes car as chancellery employees applauded her after four…

Covid-19: Germany records highest daily number of deaths since February

BERLIN, Dec 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Germany recorded the highest number of deaths from COVID-19 since February on Wednesday as it battles to stop a fourth wave of the pandemic. A total of 69,601 new infections were reported, 2,415 more than the same time a week ago. Another 527 people died –…

Covid-19: Nearly 70 Spanish medics positive after Christmas party

MADRID, Dec 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Almost 70 medics who attended a large Christmas party in southern Spain have since tested positive for Covid-19, authorities say. Most of the 68 infected are doctors and nurses working in the intensive care unit at Málaga’s regional hospital. Health authorities said they were all…

Kenyan policeman shoots dead six people including wife

NAIROBI, Dec 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A police officer in Kenya shot dead his wife and five other people with an AK-47 in the early hours of Tuesday morning, officials have said. A neighbour heard “a loud bang” from the officer’s home at 01:00 local time, according to a police report.…

Covid-19: Top WHO, US scientists say Omicron no worse than other virus variants

  GENEVA, Dec 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Omicron variant appears to be no worse than other coronavirus strains, top scientists from the WHO and the United States said, while cautioning that more research is needed to judge itsseverity.   The hopeful assessments came as global concern grew over the heavilymutated…

Scholz takes reins from Merkel for new German era

   BERLIN, Dec 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Olaf Scholz will become chancellor of Germany on Wednesday, turning the page on 16 years with Angela Merkel at the helm as a new centre-left-led coalition takes the wheel of Europe’s top economy.   Scholz, who will be formally elected by the Bundestag lower…