Six Nigerian states drop bid to annul presidential election
Abuja, Nigeria Reuters Six opposition-led Nigerian states on Friday night withdrew a Supreme Court petition to invalidate the result of last weekend’s presidential vote, which they had argued violated electoral rules, court papers showed. The states, in a court filing signed by their attorneys general, did not give reasons for their decision. Nigeria’s newly declared winner […]
Repeat COVID is riskier than first infection, study finds
Reuters The risk of death, hospitalization and serious health issues from COVID-19 jumps significantly with reinfection compared with a first bout with the virus, regardless of vaccination status, according to a study published on Thursday. “Reinfection with COVID-19 increases the risk of both acute outcomes and long COVID,” said Dr Ziyad Al-Aly of Washington University […]
Australia vows to “push through” Omicron wave as infections cross a million
Sydney, AustraliaReuters Australia must “push through” the fast-moving Omicron outbreak, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Monday, as infections surpassed one million, more than half in the past week alone, throwing a strain on hospitals and supply chains. Although aggressive lockdowns and tough border controls kept a lid on infections earlier in the pandemic, Australia […]
Some nations look to shorten isolation rules as Omicron races around the world
Rome, Italy/Washington DC, USReuters 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 wrestled with how to contain its spread without paralysing fragile economies. Almost 900,000 cases were detected on average each day around the world between […]
Vaccines, pills and data offer some Christmas cheer in face of Omicron advance
Johannesburg, South Africa/London, UKReuters Omicron advanced across the world on Thursday, with health experts warning the battle against the COVID-19 variant was far from over despite two drugmakers saying their vaccines protected against it and signs it carries a lower risk of hospitalisation. Coronavirus infections have soared wherever the highly infectious Omicron variant has spread, […]
Too soon to decide if Omicron more severe than Delta, WHO says
Reuters The World Health Organization does not yet have enough data on the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus to say if it is more severe than the Delta variant, an official said on Wednesday, almost a month after South Africa first raised the alarm about its emergence. “We do have some data suggesting that […]
Omicron set to be Europe’s dominant variant by early 2022 – ECDC
Brussels, BelgiumReuters There is a “very high” risk the Omicron variant of COVID-19 will become dominant in Europe by early next year and lead to a growing number of hospital admissions and deaths, the European Union’s public health body said on Wednesday. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said in a report that […]
Australia pandemic panel backs reopening plans amid Delta surge
Sydney, AustraliaReuters Australia can proceed with its reopening plans when the country reaches 70 to 80 per cent vaccination levels, the government’s pandemic modelling adviser said, even as some states hinted they may not ease border curbs if Sydney fails to control its Delta outbreak. The Melbourne-based Doherty Institute said the country’s focus must shift […]
Soundbite – The TCM Update: Newsboys’ manager in mid-air drama
Wes Campbell Listen to this week’s TCM Update…
Kidnapped British optician killed in Nigeria last month after singing ‘Amazing Grace’, hostages said
The British optician kidnapped and killed last month in Nigeria died in a hail of bullets after singing the hymn ‘Amazing Grace’ to lift the spirits of his fellow hostages, two of them said. Ian Squire, 57, was killed instantly by shots fired by one of four gang members who abducted him and three other […]