World News in Brief: December 30
An earthquake of magnitude 7.2 struck Kepulauan Barat Daya, Indonesia on Thursday, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said.
Some nations rethink isolation, testing rules as Omicron sweeps globe
Global COVID-19 infections hit a record high over the past seven-day period, Reuters data showed on Wednesday, as the Omicron variant raced out of control and governments tried to contain its spread without paralysing fragile economies.
World News in Brief: December 29
The simultaneous circulation of the Delta and Omicron variants of the coronavirus is creating a "tsunami of cases", World Health Organization (WHO) director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a news briefing on Wednesday.
Indonesia targets 1.8-3.6 million foreign arrivals in 2022
NDO/VNA - The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy of Indonesia set a target to welcome 1.8 – 3.6 million foreign vistors in 2022.
Malaysia shortens interval time for booster jab injection
NDO/VNA - The Health Ministry of Malaysia has shortened the interval period after the second dose for people receiving booster shots of the Pfizer and Astra Zeneca COVID-19 vaccines to three months from the previous duration of six months.
US, Russia set for Jan 10 security talks amid Ukraine tensions
US and Russian officials will hold security talks on Jan. 10 to discuss concerns about their respective military activity and confront rising tensions over Ukraine, the two countries said.
World News in Brief: December 27
Australia reported its first confirmed death from the new Omicron variant of COVID-19 on Monday amid its biggest daily surge in infections, but the authorities refrained from imposing new restrictions saying hospitalisation rates remained low.
Venezuela's president to visit Iran 'very soon'
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said on Sunday he will soon visit Iran to finalize new agreements on cooperation with the Middle Eastern country, which has become Venezuela's top ally in boosting oil output amid US sanctions.
Support for Japan PM up as voters welcome his COVID measures
Nearly two-thirds of Japanese voters support Prime Minister Kishida Fumio's government, with the public welcoming his anti-coronavirus measures, including temporary border closure to new foreign entrants, the Nikkei business daily said on Monday.
India to give COVID-19 booster shots to healthcare workers from Jan. 10
India will start administering COVID-19 booster shots to healthcare and frontline workers from Jan. 10, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday.
Big challenge for Europe
NDO - The wave of asylum seekers in the European Union (EU) and the UK continues to increase, despite the complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic. Facing pressure to prevent a recurrence of the migration tragedy in 2015, European countries have increased coordination to find solutions to
Strong earthquake jolts Laos
NDO/VNA - An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.0 jolted various Lao localities on December 24 evening (local time).
