Libya elections: Delay called for in Dec 24 presidential poll

Libyans have been registering to vote in a poll that has long been marred by uncertainty  TRIPOLI, Dec 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Libya’s election commission has called for the country’s first presidential poll, due to take place on Friday, to be postponed for a month. It proposed the new date of…

Covid-19: US Pres Biden denies failure in Omicron testing response

 WASHINGTON, Dec 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Joe Biden has denied his administration bungled its response to the emergence of the Omicron variant. He told a TV network that “nobody” could have predicted it. His top adviser Dr Anthony Fauci has said experts did foresee variants. It comes a day…

Covid-19: Israel plans to give fourth dose of vaccine to over-60s

An expert panel has recommended giving a fourth vaccine dose to health workers and those over 60 JERUSALEM, Dec 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A government panel of experts in Israel has recommended a fourth dose of a Covid-19 vaccine for all people aged over 60 and healthcare workers. The move was welcomed…

French outcry over academic in Grenoble Islamophobia row

Students put up posters and demonstrated against Prof Kinzler and a colleague in March  PARIS, Dec 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Dozens of French academics have warned that freedom of expression is at risk after a German professor was suspended over a row with politics students. Klaus Kinzler has been locked in dispute…

Myanmar: Up to 100 missing in jade mine landslide

As many as 200 people were reported to have joined search and rescue efforts  HPAKANT (Myanmar), Dec 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — As many as 100 people are feared missing after a landslide at a jade mine in Myanmar. Rescue teams are desperately searching for people in a nearby lake, with most…

New Zealand’s Health Ministry warns of radioactive material in health items sold online

WELLINGTON, Dec 24 (NNN-XINHUA) — New Zealand’s Ministry of Health has  recommended consumers exercise caution when buying alternative health products online. Overseas regulators reported radioactive material in a number of pendants, jewelry items, sleep masks and bracelets, a ministry statement said. The products are claimed to offer protection against radiation…

Covid-19: 335 new cases in Singapore, including record 76 imported infections

There are 76 imported cases of Covid-19 in Singapore on Dec 23, the highest number of new imported infections reported here since the start of the pandemic SINGAPORE, Dec 24 (NNN-CNA) — Singapore reported 335 new Covid-19 cases and one fatality as of noon on Wednesday. This takes the country’s…

UK virus cases top 106,000 in record

LONDON, Dec 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UK government reported 106,122 new virus cases in the last 24 hours, the first time the daily figure has topped 100,000, as the Omicron variant spreads rapidly.    The UK is one of Europe’s most affected by the virus with 147,573 deaths since the pandemic…

UN Security Council adopts resolution to ease Afghan aid

 UNITED NATIONS, Dec 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a US-proposed resolution to help humanitarian aid reach desperate Afghans, while seeking to keep funds out of Taliban hands.    The resolution — a first step by the UN after months of wrangling over how to avert a humanitarian…

Covid-19: US regulator authorizes Merck’s pill

  WASHINGTON, Dec 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized Merck’s Covid pill for high risk adults, a day after giving the green light to a similar pill by Pfizer.    “Today’s authorization provides an additional treatment option against the COVID-19 virus in the form of…