Covid-19: Omicron variant poses ‘high to very high’ risk to Europe – EU health agency

  STOCKHOLM, Nov 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The new Covid variant, dubbed Omicron and originally detected in South Africa, poses a “high to very high” risk to Europe, the EU health agency warned.   The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) noted in a threat assessment report that there…

Countries convene for pandemic treaty talks

   GENEVA, Nov 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — World nations will gather Monday to thrash out whether to pursue a pandemic treaty setting out how to handle the next crisis — which experts fear is only a matter of time.   The three-day meeting at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva…

Clashes as Mexico City marches against gender violence

MEXICO CITY, Nov 27 (NNN-EFE) — Clashes took place in Mexico City on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women as thousands marched to condemn gender violence, which kills at least 10 women a day in the country. “In Mexico, ten women continue to disappear every day,…

Libya gunmen attack court, stop Gaddafi son’s candidate appeal

The UN mission to Libya has expressed alarm about the reported attack in the southern city of Sebha TRIPOLI, Nov 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Gunmen have attacked a Libyan court before an appeal by the son of slain former ruler Muammar Gaddafi against the rejection of his presidential election candidacy, drawing…

France delays vaccine mandate on Caribbean islands amid protests

Demonstrators have taken to the streets in Martinique and Guadeloupe over the past week to protest mandatory vaccination rules for health workers GUADELOUPE, Nov 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France has postponed a mandatory coronavirus vaccination requirement for health workers in Guadeloupe and Martinique, after the measure spurred several days of widespread…

Cameroon school attack scares students, teachers

YAOUNDE, Nov 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Cameroonian officials say a suspected separatist attack on a school this week, which left four students and a teacher dead, has scared hundreds of teachers and students from going to school. Cameroon’s military said it launched a search Thursday for the suspected rebels, who it…

Covid-19: Chile lowers vaccination age for children down to the age of 3

SANTIAGO, Nov 27 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Chilean health authorities have allowed children from the age of 3 onwards to be vaccinated against COVID-19 with the Chinese-developed Sinovac drugs, the one most widely used on adults in the country, it was announced Thursday. Before Thursday, immunization had been cleared by The Government’s…

Armenia, Azerbaijan agree to ease tension under Putin’s watch

Russian President Vladimir Putin (C), Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan (R) and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev (L) during a joint statement following their trilateral talks in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia MOSCOW, Nov 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The leaders of arch foes Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to ease tensions…

Covid-19: Kenya receives 834,130 doses of Pfizer from US Govt

NAIROBI, Nov 27 (NNN-KBC) — Kenya has received a donation of 834,130 doses of Pfizer vaccines from the US government. The vaccines arrived Friday evening were received by Ministry of Health officials led the Port Health Officer in charge at JKIA Benjamin Murkomen. US officials were led by the head…

Top US diplomat for Asia to visit four ASEAN countries

WASHINGTON, Nov 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The top US diplomat for East Asia will visit Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand from the weekend after President Joe Biden pledged stepped up engagement with Southeast Asia, a key battleground in his contest for influence with China. Daniel Kritenbrink, the assistant secretary of state for…