Leaked text suggests possible US-Russia missile arrangement

In this photo taken from video and released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022, Russian and Belarusian tanks and military helicopters attend a joint military drills at Brestsky firing range, Belarus. Photo Courtesy: AP

BRUSSELS (AP): The United States could be willing to enter into an agreement with Russia to ease tensions over missile deployments in Europe if Moscow steps back from the brink in Ukraine, according to a leaked document published in a Spanish newspaper on Wednesday. The daily El Pais published two documents purported to be written… Continue reading Leaked text suggests possible US-Russia missile arrangement

Canadian prime minister tests positive for COVID-19

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau receives his COVID-19 vaccine booster shot at a pharmacy in Ottawa on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022. Photo Courtesy: AP

TORONTO (AP): Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday he has tested positive for COVID-19, but is “feeling fine″ and will continue working remotely. The announcement came in a tweet in which he urged everyone to “please get vaccinated and get boosted.″ Trudeau said on Thursday that he was going into isolation for five days… Continue reading Canadian prime minister tests positive for COVID-19

US tries to name and shame Russian disinformation on Ukraine

This satellite image provided by Planet Labs PBC shows vehicles and tanks stationed at the Pogonovo training area just south of the city of Voronezh, Russia, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. Photo Courtesy: AP

WASHINGTON (AP): In a break from the past, the U.S. and its allies are increasingly revealing their intelligence findings as they confront Russian preparations for a possible invasion of Ukraine, looking to undercut Russian President Vladimir Putin’s plans by exposing them and deflecting his efforts to shape world opinion. The White House in recent weeks… Continue reading US tries to name and shame Russian disinformation on Ukraine

Omicron spreads in New Zealand, spoiling PM’s wedding plans

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks about the COVID-19 situation while visiting New Plymouth on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. Photo Curtesy: AP

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP): New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is postponing her wedding after announcing new COVID-19 restrictions Sunday following the discovery of nine cases of the omicron variant in a single family that flew to Auckland to attend a wedding. The so-called “red setting” of the country’s pandemic response includes heightened measures such… Continue reading Omicron spreads in New Zealand, spoiling PM’s wedding plans

Arizona sues Biden to keep school anti-mask rules

File Photo Arizona Republican Gov. Doug Ducey gives his state of the state address at the Arizona Capitol, Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, in Phoenix. Photo Courtesy: AP

PHOENIX (AP): Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey sued the Biden administration on Friday over its demand that the state stop sending millions in federal COVID-19 relief money to schools that don’t have mask requirements or that close due to COVID-19 outbreaks. The lawsuit filed in federal court in Phoenix comes a week after the U.S. Treasury… Continue reading Arizona sues Biden to keep school anti-mask rules

19-year-old woman sets record for solo global flight

Belgium-British teenage pilot Zara Rutherford jubilates in the cockpit after landing her Shark ultralight plane at the Kortrijk airport in Kortrijk, Belgium, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. Photo Courtesy: AP

KORTRIJK, Belgium (AP): The 19-year-old Belgian-British pilot Zara Rutherford set a world record as the youngest woman to fly solo around the world, touching her small airplane down in western Belgium on Thursday — 155 days after she departed. Rutherford will find herself in the Guinness World Records book after setting the mark that had… Continue reading 19-year-old woman sets record for solo global flight

Suspected drone attack in Abu Dhabi kills 3, wounds 6

File Photo In a satellite photo by Planet Labs PBC, Abu Dhabi International Airport is seen Dec. 8, 2021. Photo Courtesy: AP

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP): A suspected drone attack claimed by Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeting a key oil facility in Abu Dhabi killed three people on Monday and sparked a separate fire at Abu Dhabi’s international airport. Emirati police identified the dead as two Indian nationals and one Pakistani. They did not identify the wounded… Continue reading Suspected drone attack in Abu Dhabi kills 3, wounds 6

China’s Xi rejects ‘Cold War mentality,’ pushes cooperation

File Photo Chinese President Xi Jinping attends an event commemorating the 110th anniversary of Xinhai Revolution at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Oct. 9, 2021. Photo Courtesy: AP

GENEVA (AP): Chinese President Xi Jinping called Monday for greater world cooperation against COVID-19 and pledged to send an additional 1 billion doses of vaccine to other countries, while urging other powers to discard a “Cold-War mentality” at a time of rising geopolitical tensions — a veiled swipe at the United States. The Chinese leader… Continue reading China’s Xi rejects ‘Cold War mentality,’ pushes cooperation

Chicago cites restaurants, gyms for COVID vaccine violations

File Photo In this file photo dated, Dec. 30, 2020, a bottle of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on a table before being utilised in Topeka, USA. Photo Courtesy: AP

CHICAGO (AP): Chicago officials have handed out more than 30 citations to businesses for failing to enforce the city’s requirement that people show proof of COVID-19 vaccination in many places. The order took effect Jan. 3, and through Wednesday, the city’s Business Affairs and Consumer Protection agency had issued 32 citations to 16 businesses. The… Continue reading Chicago cites restaurants, gyms for COVID vaccine violations

Soaring COVID-19 cases renew US debate over mask mandates

File Photo Teachers protest for stronger COVID-19 safety protocols outside Oakland Unified School District headquarters on Jan. 7, 2022, in Oakland, Calif. Photo Courtesy: AP

(AP): Officials across the U.S. are again weighing how and whether to impose mask mandates as COVID-19 infections soar and the American public grows ever wearier of pandemic-related restrictions. Much of the debate centers around the nation’s schools, some of which have closed due to infection-related staffing issues. In a variety of places, mask mandates… Continue reading Soaring COVID-19 cases renew US debate over mask mandates