AstraZeneca vaccine booster works against Omicron: Study

A three-dose course of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine is effective against the rapidly-spreading Omicron coronavirus variant, the pharmaceutical company said on Thursday, citing data from an Oxford University lab study.

Putin admonishes NATO for expansion, asks for Navalny proof

Russian President Vladimir Putin Thursday accused NATO of massive expansion to the east with no regards for his country’s security interests.

S.African study offers Omicron hope as countries reimpose curbs

A South African study offered pre-Christmas good tidings about the severity of Omicron on Wednesday as the fast-spreading coronavirus variant forces countries across the world to impose new curbs.

US concerned over Turkey’s drone sales to conflict-hit Ethiopia

U.S. authorities have taken issue with Turkey over its sales of armed drones to Ethiopia, where two sources familiar with the matter said there was mounting evidence the government had used the weapons against rebel fighters.

UN shrinks Yemen food rations in “desperate measures”

The World Food Programme (WFP) said on Wednesday it will reduce food rations for 8 million people in Yemen from January due to a lack of funding from donors, warning the cuts will push more people into starvation.

UN urges Belarus, Poland to address refugees’ ‘dire conditions’

Belarus and Poland are pushing refugees back and forth across their border and leaving them with little if any food, clean water or shelter, the U.N. Human Rights office said on Tuesday, urging both countries to address “this appalling situation”.

Putin blames West for tensions in Europe

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday blamed the West for escalating tensions in Europe, saying it had incorrectly assessed the outcome of the Cold War.

Europe considers new curbs as Omicron sweeps world

Countries across Europe were considering new curbs on movement on Tuesday, with German scientists urging maximum and immediate restrictions on social contacts as the Omicron variant swept the world days before the second Christmas of the pandemic.

More Covid restrictions inevitable: London mayor

London’s mayor has said he sees no way to avoid more Covid restrictions in the British capital amid a spike in Omicron infections, fearing without them the NHS would be brought to the brink of collapse.

Netherlands starts Christmas coronavirus lockdown

The Netherlands went into lockdown on Sunday and the possibility of more COVID-19 restrictions being imposed ahead of the Christmas and New Year holidays loomed over several European countries as the Omicron variant spreads rapidly.

Pakistan urges US to ‘de-link’ Taliban from Afghan citizens

Pakistan on Sunday urged the United States to “de-link” the Taliban regime from Afghan citizens to help prevent a humanitarian crisis and chaos in Afghanistan.

Johnson ’accepts verdict’ after shock by-election defeat

Boris Johnson said on Friday he took personal responsibility for the loss of a Conservative stronghold in an election defeat that showed public dismay over a litany of scandals and stepped up pressure on the British prime minister from mutinous lawmakers.

More than 2,500 flee to Thailand as rebels clash with Myanmar army

At least 2,500 people including hundreds of children have fled a flare-up in fighting between the Myanmar army and ethnic minority rebels and have taken refuge across the border in Thailand, Thai authorities and an aid group said.

EU leaders weigh new sanctions on Russia amid ‘series of attacks’

BRUSSELS, DEC 16 (REUTERS) - The European Union is under assault from Russia on multiple fronts and must unite behind new economic sanctions, Baltic and central European leaders said on Thursday, with Lithuania citing a risk of possible Russian military strikes from Belarus.

FRANCE RESTRICTS ENTRIES FROM BRITAIN AS OMICRON VARIANT TAKES HOLD

France has significantly reduced entries from Britain as the new and more transmissible Omicron strain of Covid-19 continues its rapid advance.

Typhoon Rai intensifies to Cat 5 storm as it slams Philippines

MANILA, DEC 16 (REUTERS) - Typhoon Rai rapidly intensified to a Category 5 storm before making landfall in the southern Philippines on Thursday, forcing mass evacuations and flight cancellations as floodwaters reached chest-high in low-lying communities.

OMICRON IS FASTEST-SPREADING COVID VARIANT YET: WHO

The World Health Organization warned Tuesday the Omicron variant of the coronavirus was spreading at an unprecedented rate and urged countries to act, and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Omicron could become dominant in Europe next month.

Scholz vows to modernize Germany under his ‘government of progress’

BERLIN (DPA), 15 DEC, 2021 – New Chancellor Olaf Scholz intends to modernize Germany, he told the Bundestag on Wednesday, during his first government statement since taking office last week.

At least 11 migrants drown off Malaysia, 25 missing

BANGKOK (DPA), 15 DEC, 2021 – At least 11 migrants have drowned off the southern coast of peninsular Malaysia after their vessel capsized, local media reported on Wednesday evening, citing rescue services.

Ukraine sees no sign of Russia withdrawing troops from border

KYIV, DEC 15 (REUTERS) – Russia has made no move to withdraw troops it has amassed at the border with Ukraine but there is no sign that a Russian invasion is imminent, a senior Ukrainian security official said on Wednesday.

Chauvin pleads guilty to violating George Floyd’s civil rights

RT.COM, 15 DEC, 2021- Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has pleaded guilty to violating the civil rights of George Floyd in the events that led to his death. Chauvin has already been convicted of murder and manslaughter.

Berlin court sentences Russian contract killer to life in prison

BERLIN (DPA), 15 DEC, 2021 – A 56-year-old Russian national has been sentenced to life in prison for the contract killing of a Georgian man in a park in Berlin more than two years ago.

Putin and Xi cement partnership in face of Western pressure

MOSCOW, DEC 15 (REUTERS) – Russia and China should stand firm in rejecting Western interference and defending each other’s security interests, presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping agreed in a video call on Wednesday.

WHO warns of Covid ‘tsunami’ before Christmas

Speaking during an interview, Maria Van Kerkhove, the technical lead at the World Health Organization (WHO), warned that the world was facing a “tsunami of Covid infections” due to the joint spread of Delta and Omicron.

Taliban rule marked by killings, denial of women’s rights: UN

GENEVA, Dec 14 (Reuters) - More than 100 former Afghan national security forces and others have been killed since the Taliban takeover in August, most at the hands of the hardline Islamist group which is recruiting boy soldiers and quashing women’s rights, the U.N. said on Tuesday.

COVID-19 pill near 90% effective in final analysis: Pfizer

NEW YORK, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Pfizer Inc on Tuesday said final analysis of its antiviral COVID-19 pill still showed near 90% efficacy in preventing hospitalizations and deaths in high-risk patients, and recent lab data suggests the drug retains its effectiveness against the fast-spreading Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

Iran accuses Western powers of ‘blame game’ over 2015 nuclear deal

VIENNA, Dec 14 (Reuters- Iran accused Western parties to its 2015 nuclear deal on Tuesday of “persisting in their blame game”, a day after European diplomats warned the pact would soon become defunct if efforts to revive it fail.

UK PM faces rebellion in parliament over COVID measures

LONDON, Dec 14 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces a large rebellion among his Conservative lawmakers on Tuesday in a parliamentary vote over new restrictions to try to curb the spread of the new Omicron coronavirus variant. The measures, including ordering people to work from home, to wear masks in public places and use COVID-19 passes to enter some venues, are expected to be approved by parliament but with Johnson relying on

Junta forces burn down a village in Myanmar

Yangon (dpa) 14 December 2021 - A village in the north-western Sagaing region was burned down on Monday after it was shelled by junta forces, according to local media and resistance activists in the area.

Mystery disease kills 89 people in Africa

RT.com, 14 Dec, 2021- A yet-to-be-identified disease has killed at least 89 people in Fangak in South Sudan’s state of Jonglei, a World Health Organization (WHO) official told the BBC.