US averts government shutdown one day ahead of deadline

 WASHINGTON, Dec 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US Congress approved a stopgap funding bill Thursday in a rare show of cross-party unity to keep federal agencies running into 2022 and avert a costly holiday season government shutdown.   With the clock ticking down to the 11:59 pm Friday deadline, the Senate voted…

Armed man arrested outside UN HQ after stand-off

   UNITED NATIONS, Dec 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — New York police on Thursday arrested a man holding a shotgun outside the United Nations headquarters after a tense stand-off in which roads around the venue were cordoned off.   According to a UN official speaking on condition of anonymity, the man had threatened…

UN says aid needs will surge in 2022 amid pandemic, conflict

   GENEVA, Dec 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UN warned that the need for humanitarian aid was skyrocketing worldwide, as the pandemic continues to rage, and climate change and conflicts push more people to the brink of famine.    The United Nations’ humanitarian agency OCHA estimated that 274 million people worldwide…

Ethiopia-Tigray conflict: Lalibela retaken – government

The rock-hewn churches of Lalibela are a Unesco world heritage site  ADDIS ABABA, Dec 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ethiopian troops have recaptured the historic town of Lalibela from Tigrayan rebels, the government has said. This is the latest victory claimed by the government since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed went to the…

Michigan school shooting: Suspect, 15, charged as an adult

Students hug during a vigil to honour the victims of Tuesday’s shooting at Oxford High School in Oakland County, Michigan  OXFORD (Michigan, US), Dec 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The suspect in a Michigan school shooting will face charges of terrorism and first-degree murder following a rampage that left four students dead…

Austria: Doctor fined for amputating wrong leg of patient

The mistake was identified two days after the surgery took place VIENNA, Dec 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A surgeon in Austria has been fined after amputating the wrong leg of a patient earlier this year. The elderly patient’s right leg was removed instead of his left, with the mistake only discovered two…

World AIDS Day: Zambia urges elimination of inequalities to end AIDS

LUSAKA, Dec 3 (NNN-XINHUA) — Zambia called for eliminating inequalities to curb the spread of HIV infections when marking this year’s World AIDS Day with the theme of “End Inequalities, End AIDS, End Pandemic.” Noting the southern African nation recorded 51,000 new HIV infections in 2020, Minister of Health Sylvia…

Covid-19: Previous infection may not stop Omicron – South Africa top scientist

   JOHANNESBURG, Dec 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — People infected with earlier variants of Covid do not appear to be rotected against Omicron, although vaccination will still prevent serious illness, a top South African scientist said.   “We believe that previous infection does not provide protection from Omicron,” said Anne von Gottberg, an expert at the…

Ukraine crisis builds towards Biden-Putin talks

  STOCKHOLM, Dec 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Momentum was building for direct talks between US President Joe Biden and Russian leader Vladimir Putin as both sides sought to avoid a “nightmare” confrontation over Ukraine.    The Russian and US foreign ministers came face to face in Sweden to discuss recent allegations…

Covid-19: UK orders 114 mln additional vaccine doses

 LONDON, Dec 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UK government said it has ordered 114 million additional Covid-19 vaccine doses, from pharmaceutical giants Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, to bolster its jabs drive over the next two years.   The orders — 60 million extra doses of the Moderna vaccine and 54 million more…