Category: World

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP): Good riddance to 2021. Let 2022 bring fresh hope. That was a common sentiment as people around the world began welcoming in the new year. In many places, New Year’s Eve celebrations were muted or canceled for the second straight year due to a surge of coronavirus infections, this time driven… Continue reading New Year’s Eve muted by omicron; many hoping for better 2022

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP): A total of 116 cities in the northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia were in a state of emergency because of flooding on Tuesday due to heavy rains that have been pounding the region since the end of November. Cities in at least five other states in Brazil’s north and southeast have also… Continue reading Severe Brazil flooding spreads in Bahia and beyond

(The Hindu): The number of Omicron cases has risen to 578 in the country and at least 151 patients have recovered, the Health Ministry said on Monday. India reported 6,531 new coronavirus cases and 315 deaths on Monday, hiking the total active cases to 75,841 and the death count to 4,79,997. There were at least… Continue reading Omicron cases rise to 578 across India

BRUSSELS (AP): After struggling with the coronavirus for far too long, the world understands all too well Belgium’s word of the year, “knaldrang!” — the urge to party, the need to let loose. Yet as New Year celebrations approach, the omicron variant is casting more gloom. Monday was a case in point, with several governments… Continue reading Omicron spreads global gloom over New Year’s celebrations

JOHANNESBURG (AP): Desmond Tutu, South Africa’s Nobel Peace Prize-winning icon, an uncompromising foe of the country’s past racist policy of apartheid and a modern-day activist for racial justice and LGBT rights, died Sunday at 90. South Africans, world leaders and people around the globe mourned the death of the man viewed as the country’s moral… Continue reading Desmond Tutu, South Africa’s Nobel Peace winner, dies at 90

BEIJING (AP): China plunged a city of 13 million people into lockdown on Thursday to stamp out an increase in coronavirus infections, as the country doubles down on its “zero tolerance” policy just weeks before it is set to host the Winter Olympics. The restrictions in the northeastern city of Xi’an took effect at midnight… Continue reading China puts city of 13 million in lockdown ahead of Olympics

Kathmandu: The new variant of covid-19 Omicron, which is spreading worldwide, has so far spread to 106 countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) said in its weekly report on Tuesday that so far 106 countries have been infected with the Omicron variant. Although the Delta has emerged as a major variant in worldwide sampling tests,… Continue reading Omicron variant spread over 106 countries so far

MANILA, Philippines (AP): The governor of an island province in the central Philippines said Sunday at least 72 people died in the devastation wrought by Typhoon Rai in more than half of the towns that managed to contact him, bringing the death toll in the strongest typhoon to batter the country this year to at… Continue reading Typhoon deaths in Philippines top 100, mayors plead for food

Kathmandu: A two-week restraining order has been issued in Mumbai after seven people were found to be infected with Omicron in a single day. Seven people were confirmed infected with the Omicron variant in Mumbai on Wednesday. A restraining order has been issued from Thursday to December 31, according to Mumbai Police. According to Indian… Continue reading Prohibition in Mumbai due to increasing in Omicron infection

(BBC): It’s a frantic time at the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in the western city of Pune, India’s oldest genome sequencing facility. As the country tries to contain the spread of the Omicron variant, laboratories like the NIV are working round the clock to identify people who might be infected by it. Every day… Continue reading Omicron spread to 8 states of IndiaOmicron: India aims to avoid ‘pandemic roulette’