China Tries to Contain Omicron Outbreak Ahead of Winter Olympics

Ahead of the February opening of the Winter Olympics in China, authorities are attempting to contain an outbreak of the omicron coronavirus variant in a southern city.

Officials in Zhuhai suspended the city’s bus service after uncovering seven cases of the highly contagious variant and advised residents to stay home.

In the next week or two, Americans will begin receiving free rapid home coronavirus tests from the U.S. government. Residents will have to request the tests on a designated website. The tests have been almost impossible to find in stores.

India’s health ministry on Saturday said it had recorded 268,833 new COVID cases, which is 4,631 more cases than were recorded Friday.

The Russian government on Friday delayed approving unpopular legislation that would have restricted access to public places without proof of COVID-19 vaccination, amid a surge in new infections.

The Associated Press reports the bill would have required Russians seeking to enter certain public places to have a QR code either confirming vaccination, recent recovery from COVID-19 or a medical exemption from immunization.

Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said the measure was pulled due to uncertainty regarding its effectiveness as it was drawn up in response to the delta variant of the virus that causes COVID-19. The omicron variant is currently driving a surge in new infections in the country.

She said 783 omicron variant cases have been confirmed across Russia. Moscow officials reported 729 confirmed omicron cases in the capital since Dec. 20.

Meanwhile, a French court suspended an outdoor mask requirement in the streets of Paris. The requirement had been imposed Dec. 31 in an effort to suppress the spread of the omicron variant.

A court in Versailles on Wednesday suspended a similar outdoor masking requirement for the Yvelines region.

The Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center reported early Saturday that 323.7 million COVID cases have been recorded and 5.5 million deaths. The center said 9.6 billion vaccines have been administered.

–VOA

ECOSOC 2025 Development Cooperation Forum

Noela Pantoja Crespo,Executive Director of the Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation (APCI), addresses the opening of the 2025 Development Cooperation Forum of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

Read More

At Finnish State Banquet,Queen Mary Dazzles With Rare 200 Year Old Tiara

At state banquet in Finland, Queen Mary of Denmark donned a 200-year-old tiara set with ancient stones for the first time, bringing a rare piece of royal history out of the shadows.

Read More

Why You Should Adopt Pets

Adopting a stray animal is a decision that can change the animal’s life.Many people believe that stray animals are sick or have behavioral issues.But they can easily become ideal family pets if given the right attention and affection.

Read More

AI Generated Scams:How You Protect Yourself

Anyone with an internet connection may now access AI, which is now widely used. ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity are powerful AI tools that enable almost anyone to use some very powerful technology.

Read More

Thailand’s Power and Fuel Cuts Hurting Ordinary Myanmar Residents

Thailand’s move to cut off electricity, fuel and internet service to an area across the border in Myanmar rife with scam centers is hurting ordinary people more than the crime syndicates it was trying target, residents told Radio Free Asia.

Read More

UN Security Council Meets on Maintenance of International Peace and Security

Christina Markus Lassen, Permanent Representative of Denmark to the United Nations and President of the UN Security Council for the month of March, chairs the Security Council meeting on cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in maintaining international peace and security

Read More

Complaints About Barking Dogs,Rats

Herefordshire Council, a ceremonial county in the West Midlands of England, has received hundreds of complaints from disgruntled neighbors about rodents, loud music, and barking dogs.

Read More

Minskin Cat Breed

The Minskin cat breed is the result of intentional hybrid crossbreedings between the Burmese and Munchkin, together with Sphynx and Devon Rex.Paul McSorley developed a new cat breed in Boston called the Minskin beginning in 1998.

Read More