Covid-19: Ecuador to keep land border with Peru shut to try stop Omicron spread as Brazil reports two cases

QUITO, Dec 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ecuador’s foreign ministry said that it would keep the country’s border with Peru closed in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus’ Omicron variant. Peru announced that as of Dec 1, it would open its land border for residents and non-residents coming from Ecuador…

US shooting: Three students dead, eight wounded in high school shooting

OXFORD (Michigan, US), Dec 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A 15-year-old student opened fire at his Michigan high school on Tuesday, killing three teenagers and wounding eight other people before surrendering to police, authorities said, in what was the deadliest school shooting in the United States so far this year. One teacher was…

Covid-19: Air travellers to US likely to face tougher testing

Currently, vaccinated international air travellers can present a negative test result obtained within three days WASHINGTON, Dec 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Biden administration is likely to impose stricter COVID-19 testing rules for air travelers entering the United States amid concerns about a new COVID-19 variant, sources briefed on the matter…

Barbados declared a republic, removing Queen Elizabeth II

Barbados’ first president Sandra Mason, stands after being sworn in at midnight BRIDGETOWN, Dec 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Barbados formally declared itself the world’s newest republic at the stroke of midnight, as the Caribbean island nation removed Queen Elizabeth II as head of state in a solemn ceremony Tuesday attended by…

Covid-19: Russian Pres Putin calls for mutual approval of vaccines

   MOSCOW, Dec 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russian President Vladimir Putin called for mutual recognition of vaccines against the coronavirus to  help curtail the pandemic, as concern grows around the world about the fast-spreading Omicron variant.     Speaking at a Russian investment forum by video link, Putin said that countries can “effectively…

Azerbaijan says 14 dead in military helicopter crash

  BAKU, Dec 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Fourteen people died in an Azerbaijani military helicopter crash which went down in the east of the Caucasus country during a training flight, officials said.    “Fourteen people died and two more were wounded as a result of a state border service helicopter crash,”…

Covid-19: WHO urges ‘rational’ measures against Omicron variant

 GENEVA, Dec 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Health Organization called for countries to keep calm and take “rational” measures in response to the new, fast-spreading Covid variant Omicron, which has sparked global panic.   “We call on all member states to take rational, proportional risk-reduction measures,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom…

Covid-19: Latest global developments

  PARIS, Nov 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:   – No ’cause for panic’: President Joe Biden tells Americans in a televised address from the WhiteHouse that the newly identified Covid variant Omicron “is a cause for concern, not a cause for panic”.…

Russia to send more spacecraft to new national orbital station to ISS

    MOSCOW, Nov 30 (NNN-TASS) — The frequency of flights to the future Russian Orbital Service Station (ROSS) will be higher compared to space missions to the International Space Station (ISS), Roscosmos Chief Dmitry Rogozin said on Monday.     “The frequency of flights will be higher and that is why…

Pentagon claims Russia continues boosting troops near border with Ukraine

  WASHINGTON, Nov 30 (NNN-TASS) — The United States continues to see additions to the Russian forces near the Russian-Ukrainian border, Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs John Kirby told a briefing onMonday.   Asked to comment on reports saying that Russian troops are allegedly staying near…