Dec 21 Putin blames West for ‘tensions’ in Europe, calls for security guarantees By Dasha Litvinova, Associated Press Russian President Vladimir Putin's speech at a meeting with Russia's top military brass came just days after Moscow submitted draft security documents demanding that NATO deny membership to Ukraine and other former Soviet countries. Continue reading
Dec 20 Watch 10:19 Vaccines reduce hospitalizations, but slow testing and rapid omicron spread worry experts By Stephanie Sy, Claire Mufson The rapid and relentless spread of COVID-19 in the midst of a new variant of the coronavirus is leading to growing alarm just ahead of the holidays. Omicron infections are exploding amid a shortage of testing, and governments are imposing… Continue watching
Dec 20 Peng Shuai denies making sexual assault allegation against top Chinese official By Associated Press Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai has denied saying she was sexually assaulted, despite a November social media post attributed to her that accused a former top Communist Party official of forcing her into sex. Continue reading
Dec 20 Captive missionaries made daring escape, says church agency By Peter Smith, Associated Press Captive missionaries in Haiti found freedom last week by making a daring overnight escape, eluding their kidnappers and walking for miles over difficult, moonlit terrain with an infant and other children in tow, according to the agency they work for. Continue reading
Dec 19 Leftist millennial wins election as Chile’s next president By Associated Press A leftist millennial who rose to prominence during anti-government protests was elected Chile’s next president Sunday after a bruising campaign against a free-market firebrand likened to Donald Trump. Continue reading
Dec 19 Omicron may sideline two leading drugs against COVID-19 By Matthew Perrone, Associated Press As strained U.S. hospitals brace for a new surge of COVID-19 cases caused by the fast-spreading omicron variant, doctors are warning of yet another challenge: the two standard drugs they’ve used to fight infections are unlikely to work against the… Continue reading
Dec 19 Typhoon deaths in Philippines top 140; mayors plead for food By Jim Gomez, Associated Press Gov. Arthur Yap of Bohol province in the central Philippines said 72 people died there, 10 others were missing and 13 injured, and suggested the fatalities may still considerably increase because only 33 of 48 mayors were able to report… Continue reading
Dec 18 Netherlands ‘going into lockdown again’ to curb omicron By Danica Kirka, Mike Corder, Associated Press Schools, universities, and all non-essential stores, bars and restaurants in the Netherlands will be closed until Jan. 14 starting Sunday, caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Saturday night. Continue reading
Dec 18 Europeans reimpose restrictions as omicron sweeps continent By Associated Press Nations across Europe are moving to reimpose tougher measures to stem a new wave of COVID-19 infections spurred by the highly transmissible omicron variant, triggering calls for protests from Paris to Barcelona. Continue reading
Dec 17 Watch 6:30 South Africa reels under omicron wave amid vaccine lag, pans ‘rushed’ travel ban By Michael Baleke As the omicron variant sends a fourth wave of patients to hospitals across South Africa, leaders across the continent are pointing fingers at wealthy nations. Those countries, they say, could have helped prevent the latest variant had vaccines been distributed… Continue watching