Covid-19: WHO in ‘close contact’ with UK over new variant

Photo Courtesy GENEVA, Dec 20 (NNN-AGENCIES(NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Health Organization (WHO) has said it is in “close contact” with UK officials over the emergence of a new variant of Covid-19. The new variant is spreading more rapidly than the original version but is not believed to be more deadly.…

Deadly Fiji super cyclone sparks disease fears

SUVA, Dec 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Disease threatens to worsen an alreadydesperate situation in Fiji, an official warned Sunday, where thousands oflives have been devastated in the wake of the deadly super cyclone Yasa. Agencies rushed food and clean water to areas where the storm smashed into the northern islands of…

Covid-19: Russia’s deaths surpass 50,000

Grave diggers wearing protective suits carry the coffin of a COVID-19 victim in the section of a cemetery reserved for coronavirus victims in Kolpino, outside St.Petersburg, Russia MOSCOW, Dec 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The number of COVID-19 deaths in Russia surpassed 50,000 on Saturday as the country continues to fight stubbornly…

World court to intervene in Guyana-Venezuela border dispute

The Peace Palace, which houses the International Court of Justice, or World Court, is seen in The Hague, Netherlands THE HAGUE, Dec 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations’ highest court ruled that it will intervene to settle a decades-old border dispute between South American neighbours Guyana and Venezuela. The decision…

US imposes sanctions on Venezuela election firm

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro WASHINGTON, Dec 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States imposed sanctions on a biometrics company that assisted voting in Venezuela’s parliamentary elections, which President Donald Trump’s administration says were rigged. Ex-Cle CA, the Venezuelan subsidiary of a company by a similar name in Argentina, has “millions of…

Update: UK coronavirus cases top 2 million as another 27,052 confirmed

LONDON, Dec 20 (NNN-Xinhua) — The number of coronavirus cases in Britain has surpassed 2 million as another 27,052 new cases were confirmed, according to official figures released Saturday. The total number of coronavirus cases in Britain now stands at 2,004,219, the data showed. The coronavirus-related deaths in Britain rose…

Covid-19: US reports all-time high daily case count of over 400,000

The soaring cases, deaths, hospitalizations came amid massive vaccine rollout in the country. WASHINGTON, Dec 20 (NNN-Xinhua) — The United States has reported over 400,000 new COVID-19 cases in a single day on Friday, setting a gloomy new world record as the country is preparing distribution of second COVID-19 vaccine…

UN chief condemns attack in Somalia’s Galkayo

Violent extremists have carried out bombings in the Somali capital of Mogadishu on various occasions UNITED NATIONS, Dec 20 (NNN-Xinhua) — United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday strongly condemned the attack that took place in Galkayo on Friday, which resulted in heavy casualties. At least 10 people were reportedly…

Covid-19: UK PM announces new tighter restrictions for London, parts of England

Pedestrians and shoppers walks past shops on Piccadilly LONDON, Dec 20 (NNN-Xinhua) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday announced a new Tier Four of coronavirus restrictions for London and other parts of England to combat an alarming surge in infections linked to a new virulent strain. The planned…

Covid-19: German factory races to churn out virus syringes

BERLIN, Dec 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The battle against Covid-19has delivered not just a vaccine at record speed but also a spike in demandfor the billions of syringes needed to administer it. One German factory is already busily churning out the little plastic tubesand is confident global needs can be met.…