Other News

Australia’s Omicron surge drives infections record, testing rush

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) – Australia reported a record daily tally of nearly 50,000 Covid-19 cases Tuesday as the Omicron variant raced through the population and sent people scrambling for tests. While the Omicron surge has apparently left relatively few dangerously ill, it has driven a rush on increasingly scarce self-administered rapid antigen kits and created hours-long queues at centres providing more reliable PCR tests. Australia had successfully suppressed infections for much of the pandemic through […]

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S. Africa parliament fire contained: firefighters

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AFP) – A fire that ravaged South Africa’s parliament has been contained after strong winds had reignited the blaze, firefighters said on Tuesday. The fire began in the early hours on Sunday and devastated much of the parliament complex before it was declared under control on Monday morning. But strong winds reignited the blaze late in the afternoon. “Firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze that erupted late yesterday afternoon just before five,” […]

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PNP Chief Carlos tests positive for COVID-19

(Eagle News) — Philippine National Police Chief Dionardo Carlos has tested positive for COVID-19. According to Carlos, this was according to RT-PCR test results he took on Sunday, after one of his staff members experienced fever and chills. He said his driver and aide also tested positive for the virus. “I experienced fever, chills, and body sweats Sunday evening but come Monday, only lower back pain remains,” he added. On Tuesday, the PNP reported 107 […]

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China will continue to ‘modernize’ nuclear arsenal: foreign ministry

BEIJING, China (AFP) — China Tuesday said it will continue to “modernize” its nuclear arsenal and called on the United States and Russia to reduce their stockpiles a day after global powers pledged to prevent such weapons spreading. In a rare joint statement setting aside rising West-East tensions, the United States, China, Russia, Britain and France reaffirmed their goal of creating a world free of atomic weapons and avoiding a nuclear conflict. The five nuclear […]

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Chilean zoo jabs big cats, orangutan against Covid-19

by Paulina ABRAMOVICH Agence France-Presse BUIN, Chile (AFP) – Bengal tiger Charly and Bornean orangutan Sandai, both members of endangered species, have received coronavirus vaccines at a Chilean zoo in a Latin American first. Charly, Sandai and eight other animals at the Buin Zoo in Santiago were chosen for the experimental vaccine campaign as they belong to species considered at high risk of contracting Covid-19. The viral disease which has killed more than 5.4 million […]

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Embiid records triple double as 76ers trounce Rockets

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Joel Embiid posted his third career triple double with 31 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists to power the Philadelphia 76ers past the Houston Rockets 133-113 on Monday. Furkan Korkmaz added 24 points and a career-high 11 rebounds, Isaiah Joe scored 18 points, Seth Curry contributed 15 and Tobias Harris had 14 as the Sixers won their fourth-straight game. Garrison Mathews scored a team high 23 points, while Eric […]

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45 cruise passengers with Covid disembark in Italy

ROME, Italy (AFP) — Some 45 cruise ship passengers disembarked in the Italian port of Genoa on Monday after contracting coronavirus, while others who tested positive remained aboard to be let off later, the operator said. Media reports had suggested anywhere between 120 and 150 people were infected onboard MSC Grandiosa, which arrived in Genoa on Monday morning from the French port of Marseille. MSC denied “incorrect” media reports, but would not say how many […]

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OPEC expected to maintain course to modestly open taps

by Joseph SOTINEL LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Major oil-producing countries are expected to maintain on Tuesday their course of modestly boosting output as the rapidly spreading Omicron variant has so far not heavily hit demand. The so-called OPEC+ grouping, including top producers Saudi Arabia and Russia, has withstood pressure to more widely open the taps though high energy prices are fuelling a surge in inflation across the world. The 13 members of the Organization […]

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China locks down city of 1.2 million after three virus cases

BEIJING, China (AFP) – More than one million people in a city in central China were being confined to their homes on Tuesday after three asymptomatic coronavirus cases were recorded in the country’s latest mass lockdown. Beijing has pursued a “zero Covid” approach with tight border restrictions and targeted lockdowns since the virus first emerged. But the strategy has come under pressure with a series of recent local outbreaks and with just a month to […]

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23 dead in clashes between Colombian rebels

BOGOTA, Colombia (AFP) — At least 23 people — four of them Venezuelans — were killed in fighting between rival rebel groups in Colombia’s border region with Venezuela, top Colombian officials said on Monday. Civilians were “likely” among the casualties from clashes between members of Colombia’s last recognized guerrilla group, the ELN, and dissidents of the FARC rebel movement, President Ivan Duque said. “We have found 23 dead” in a rural area of the northeastern […]

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Spoils of war: Taliban put victory over US on display

by Elise BLANCHARD Agence France-Presse GHANZI, Afghanistan (AFP) – In the governor’s compound of Afghanistan’s Ghazni province, a new historical exhibit is unveiled before a rapt audience of Taliban fighters — sections of blast walls from a former US military base. One concrete slab is inscribed with the names and regiments of US troops who served in the province during America’s longest war. Like soldiers throughout history, US troops regularly daubed their names on the […]

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Bowie estate sells songwriting rights to Warner

by Maggy DONALDSON Agence France-Presse NEW YORK, United States (AFP) – David Bowie’s estate has sold the publishing rights to his “entire body of work” to Warner Chappell Music, the company said Monday, the latest massive deal in a roaring song rights purchasing boom. Warner Chappell did not reveal financial terms of the agreement, but according to trade publications the price tag is estimated at upwards of $250 million. Recent years have seen a series […]

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