WORLD
Over 10mn children in US infected with Covid-19
A total of 10,603,034 child Covid-19 cases had been reported across the country as of January 20, and children represented 18.4 per cent of all confirmed cases, according to the report published late Monday. Covid-19 cases among children have spiked dramatically across the US during the Omicron variant surge, Xinhua news agency reported.
Pfizer, BioNTech start clinical trial of Omicron-specific Covid-19 vaccine
German biotechnology company BioNTech and US company Pfizer have started clinical trials of an Omicron-based Covid-19 vaccine candidate in healthy adults aged from 18 to 55 years, the companies have said. The trials would evaluate the safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of the vaccine candidate, according to a joint statement by the companies on Tuesday. The study would involve up to 1,420 participants.
US forces continue shelling in Syria: state media
The US forces are shelling buildings and public institutions on Tuesday in the vicinity of the Sina'a prison in the Gweiran neighborhood in Hasakah "on the pretext of hunting down IS militants who fled the prison," said SANA. The shelling came in tandem with waves of raids by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to homes in the surrounding areas, rounding up many civilians and taking them to unknown locations, the state news agency added.
EU urges member states to abolish 'cumbersome' travel restrictions
In a joint statement, Commissioners for Health and Justice, Stella Kyriakides and Didier Reynders on Tuesday said the extra restrictions made travel "more cumbersome and less predictable across the EU." The 27 member states have now agreed on new recommendations regarding the EU Digital Covid Certificate, they said. Holders of valid EU digital Covid certificates should be allowed to enjoy travel restriction-free, the Commission said.
Poland starts building barrier on border with Belarus
The project will cost 1.6 Polish billion zloty ($395 million), Xinhua news agency reported.
Work started near the Mielnik Border Guard post. The Polish construction company Budimex has been contracted to erect a 105.5-kilometre stretch of the barrier, while Unibep, another firm, is to build the remaining 80.7 kilometres.
US House Speaker Pelosi announces reelection bid in 2022 midterms
"While we've made progress, much more needs to be done to improve people's lives. Our democracy is at risk because the assault on the truth, assault on the US Capitol and the state-by-state assault on voting rights. This election is crucial. Nothing less is at stake than our democracy," Pelosi said on Tuesday in an announcement video posted on Twitter.
2nd ballot to elect Italy's Prez fails, but strong candidatures start emerging
The second ballot to elect new President took place on Tuesday while the first round was held on Monday. Out of 976 votes totally cast, 527 were blank ballots. Yet, talks within and between the two main coalitions -- center-left and center-right -- intensified alongside the proceedings, helping clear the way for the first strong candidatures, Xinhua news agency reported.
Kremlin says US actions escalate tensions around Ukraine
"We are watching the actions of the US with great concern," TASS news agency said on Tuesday, citing the spokesman. The US Department of Defense announced on Monday that nearly 8,500 US troops have been put on heightened alert for a possible deployment due to escalating tensions on the Russia-Ukraine border, with no decision on formal deployments.
No intention of putting the US or NATO troops in Ukraine: Biden
"We have no intention of putting American forces or NATO forces in Ukraine," Biden told reporters on Tuesday when he was at a store in Washington buying gifts for his wife and grandson, Xinhua news agency reported. "But I said there are going to be serious economic consequences if (Russian President Vladimir Putin) moves" Russian troops into Ukraine.
WHO funding needs a 'paradigm shift': Director General
Addressing the 150th session of WHO's executive board, Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressed on the need for a paradigm shift in the way the global health body is funded. "If the current funding model continues, WHO is being set up to fail," he said. "The paradigm shift in world health that is needed now must be matched by a paradigm shift in funding the world's health organisation," he added.
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