Zimbabwe to ban unvaccinated from public transport as omicron wrecks havoc

HARARE, Dec 8 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Zimbabwean government on Tuesday expressed deep concern at the growing number of COVID-19 cases in the country driven by the omicron variant and plans to bar the unvaccinated from boarding public transport. “Cabinet notes with concern that there has been a sharp increase in…

Tunisian president meets visiting Palestinian counterpart

Tunisian president Kais Saied (R) meets with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Tunis TUNIS, Dec 8 (NNN-Xinhua) — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Tunisia Tuesday on an official visit at the invitation of his Tunisian counterpart Kais Saied, the Tunisian presidency announced in a statement. Abbas was greeted at…

Lithuania extends state of emergency at Belarus border

Razor wire is seen in front of a Belarusian border marking pole in Druskininkai, Lithuania VILNIUS, Dec 8 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Lithuanian Parliament voted on Tuesday to extend the state of emergency at its border with Belarus for another month. The extension, until Jan 15, 2022, was supported by 102…

Covid-19: Colombia to require travelers to present negative PCR test or vaccination certificate

BOGOTA, Dec 8 (NNN-Xinhua) — Travelers wishing to enter Colombia must present a negative COVID-19 PCR test or a vaccination certificate starting on Dec. 14, Health Minister Fernando Ruiz announced on Tuesday. The PCR test must be performed 72 hours in advance, while the last COVID-19 vaccine dose must have…

Idriss Deby’s son succeeds him as Chad’s only five-star army general

Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno N’DJAMENA, Dec 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Former Chadian leader Idriss Deby Itno was the only five-star general the country had till his death in April 2021.He died on the frontlines when he joined a campaign to halt the advance of rebels who were threatening to depose him.Eight…

COvid-19: UN chief Guterres isolating after exposure

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was exposed to the coronavirus Tuesday by a UN official who already had COVID-19 and is isolating for the next few days, diplomatic sources said. Guterres, 72, has canceled his upcoming in-person engagements. The UN chief was due to…

Covid-19: Pres Bolsonaro dismisses vaccination requirement for entry into Brazil

BRASILIA, Dec 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Jair Bolsonaro criticised Brazil’s health regulator Anvisa for proposing a vaccination requirement for travelers arriving in the country to help prevent the spread of new coronavirus variants. “Anvisa wants to close the country’s airspace now. Not again, damn it,” Bolsonaro said at a business…

Chile congress approves same-sex marriage bill

SANTIAGO, Dec 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Chile’s congress approved a long-awaited bill to legalize same-sex marriage, joining just a handful of countries in majority Catholic Latin America with similar laws. The measure has the support of President Sebastian Pinera, who must sign it into law, and will also enable married same-sex…

Covid-19: France registers surge in hospitalisations

PARIS, Dec 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France on Tuesday registered a surge in COVID-19 hospitalisations as a rise in new infections in mid-November led to an increase in patient numbers. The health ministry reported that the number of COVID-19 patients in French hospitals rose by 618 to 12,714, the second-highest net…

Covid-19: Canada to expand mandates, targets banking, telecoms sectors

OTTAWA, Dec 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Canada will soon crack down on COVID-19 mandates, forcing banks, telecommunications companies and all other federally regulated workspaces to ensure their employees are inoculated, Labour Minister Seamus said. O’Regan made the announcement two months after the government said it would oblige the public sector and…