Covid-19: US reports record child hospitalisations

The massive surge in Covid-19 cases in the US is putting children in the hospital in record numbers WASHINGTON, Dec 31 (NNN-Xinhua) — The number of children hospitalised with COVID-19 in the United States has hit record high due to the Omicron-fueled surge. During the week of Dec 22-28, an…

Diplomatic boycott of Beijing Games is ‘meaningless’: World Athletics President Sebastian Coe

World athletics president Sebastian Coe LONDON, Dec 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said he takes human rights “very seriously” but that Britain’s diplomatic boycott of next year’s Beijing Winter Olympics is “meaningless”. The United States, Australia and Canada have also announced a diplomatic boycott of the Games over China’s human rights record,…

Mexico disbands makeshift camp with thousands of migrants

TAPACHULA (Mexico), Dec 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mexican officials dismantled a makeshift migrant camp in the country’s south near the Guatemalan border, government officials said. Many of the migrants, some families with children, had been waiting in Tapachula camp for months, which some described as a “prison” due to the squalid…

South Africa: Desmond Tutu’s body lies in state in his old cathedral

A service was held for Archbishop Tutu’s family at the church  CAPE TOWN, Dec 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mourners have been filing past the coffin of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, as his body lies in state at St George’s Cathedral in Cape Town, South Africa. Tutu, a Nobel Peace Prize winner who…

Covid-19: France suspends transit ban for UK nationals during festive period

PARIS, Dec 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — UK nationals will be allowed to travel through France if they are going to their home in an EU country during the festive period. France suspended its Covid restriction after UK travellers faced difficulties reaching their country of residence. Eurotunnel, which had earlier issued warnings…

Beijing Winter Olympic 2022: African athletics opposes politicization of sports

 YAOUNDE, Dec 31 (NNN-XINHUA) — African Athletics Confederation president Hamad Kalkaba Malboum has called for efforts not to let politics get in the way of sports. “Sports is first and foremost apolitical. Sports is a means to bypass egoism so that, young people in the world could gather in one…

Covid-19: As virus surges, England builds temporary hospitals

  LONDON, Dec 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — England is building temporary hospitals to help cope with rising coronavirus cases, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday issued a stark warning to those not fully vaccinated.    The new “surge hubs” would deal with a potential overspill of inpatients as surging virus cases…

US voices ‘concern’ on Iran space launch but favors talks

  WASHINGTON, Dec 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States voiced concern about Iran’s new space launch, saying it would help the clerical state’s missile program, but indicated it was still pursuing diplomacy to return to a nuclear deal.    “The United States remains concerned with Iran’s development of space launch vehicles,…

US: Tiger shot dead after biting worker’s arm at Florida zoo

   MIAMI, Dec 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A tiger was shot dead at a Florida zoo after biting a cleaner who had put his arm through the fencing of its enclosure, law enforcement and local media said.   The cleaner at the Naples Zoo was “was either petting or feeding” the…

Covid-19: Peru closes all beaches for New Year’s celebrations to keep strains at bay

LIMA, Dec 31 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — The government of Peru Wednesday announced access to the country’s beaches, lagoons and rivers will be banned on Dec 31 and Jan 1, 2022, to contain the advance of the covid-19 pandemic. Peru’s Health Minister Hernando Cevallos said closing the countries’ beaches for the remainder…