Covid-19: French city of Nice asks tourists to stay away amid surge

A man, wearing a protective face mask, rides his scooter in a local market in Nice PARIS, Feb 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The mayor of the French city of Nice called for a weekend lockdown in the area to stop the flow of visitors, saying tourists are welcome in normal times,…

Covid-19: Argentina president blasts ‘unforgivable’ vaccine line-jump scandal

Argentina President Alberto Fernandez (right) swears in Carla Vizzotti as the new health minister a day after the vaccines scandal broke BUENOS AIRES, Feb 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Argentina’s president Alberto Fernandez blasted his former health minister over an “unforgivable” COVID-19 vaccine scandal. Gines Gonzalez Garcia resigned late on Friday after it…

Japan requests airlines avoid Boeing 777 with certain engines as US aviation authority issues new directive

TOKYO, Feb 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Japan has requested that airlines avoid using Boeing 777 planes with Pratt & Whitney 4000 engines for take-offs, landings and overflights in its territory until further notice, the Japan Aeronautical Information Service Center said. The notice to airmen, issued on Sunday evening, came after a United…

EU set to agree sanctions over Russia, Myanmar crackdowns, and also Venezuela, China

BRUSSELS, Feb 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — EU foreign ministers are expected on Monday to approve sanctions against those behind RUSSIA’s crackdown on Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny and his supporters, as well as those responsible for the coup in Myanmar. The top diplomats from the 27-nation bloc meet in Brussels for talks that will…

Israel scrambles to clean beaches after massive tar pollution

MIKHMORET (Israel), Feb 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Israeli authorities warned people to keep away from the country’s Mediterranean shore to avoid amassive tar slick, as thousands of labourers and volunteers worked to cleancontaminated beaches. Powerful winds and unusually high waves pummelled Israel’s entireMediterranean coastline over Tuesday and Wednesday, with tonnes of…

Covid-19: Vaccine giant asks for world’s patience, says told to prioritise India

NEW DELHI, Feb 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The world’s biggest vaccine maker,India’s Serum Institute, has urged other countries to be “patient” about itsupplying anti-coronavirus shots, saying it has been instructed to prioritiseits home market. “Dear countries & governments, as you await #COVISHIELD supplies, I humbly request you to please be patient,”…

Covid-19: South Korea doctors threaten strike, fanning fears of vaccine rollout disruption

A health worker wearing a protective suit enjoys the falling snow at a Covid-19 testing site in Seoul SEOUL, Feb 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Doctors in South Korea have threatened a protest strike against legislation to strip them of licences following criminal convictions, sparking fears about possible disruption of a coronavirus…

Myanmar protesters grieve as funeral rites held for woman who was shot in head

People attend the funeral of Mya Thwate Thwate Khaing, a young woman protester who became the first death among anti-coup demonstrators NAYPYIDAW, Feb 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A sombre Buddhist funeral song rung out in Myanmar’s capital as the body of a young woman, struck down during a rally against this…

US snow storms: Anger over huge power bills in ‘preventable’ Texas weather crisis; 70 died

HOUSTON, Feb 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Millions of Texans were still withoutsafe water as officials fielded angry complaints over shockinglylarge power bills spawned by a cold weather crisis that Houston’s mayor said was ultimately preventable. The frigid air mass that paralyzed parts of the southern and central UnitedStates early in the…

Covid-19: India’s tally crosses 11-mln mark

NEW DELHI, Feb 22 (NNN-Xinhua) — India’s COVID-19 tally crossed the 11-million mark, reaching 11,005,850 on Monday as 14,199 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours, said the latest data from the federal health ministry. According to the official data, the death toll mounted to 156,385 as 83…