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CORONAVIRUS
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SITUATION
WHO records a new record for global COVID cases in one day, 2.6 million
Geneva (EFE).- The current global wave of COVID-19 infections continues unabated and in the last 24 hours a new record figure of 2.6 million cases was registered, according to statistics from the World Health Organization. Health (WHO). The case curve continues its exponential rise and the current record almost triples the one that before the current wave had been measured in April 2021, with 900,000 cases due then to the rise of the delta variant. The sharp increases in current infections, many associated with the omicron variant, are especially recorded in regions such as Europe, which confirmed 1.2 million cases in the last 24 hours, America (1.1 million) and East Asia (105,000).
CONTAGIONS
The world exceeds 300 million cases of coronavirus
Washington (EFE).- The number of Covid-19 infections registered worldwide today reached 300 million, a number that scientists believe could be much higher, due to the number of cases that are not reported. According to the independent count carried out by Johns Hopkins University, with data collected from different official sources, the number of known infections of covid-19, a virus that was released just over two years ago, reached 300,338,680 this Friday. . The updated data on deaths worldwide provided by Johns Hopkins is 5,472,939, with the United States in the lead (833,988), followed by 619,654 deaths from Brazil, 483,178 from India, 307,488 from Russia and 299,970 from Mexico. .
EUROPE
Infections rose 46% last week in a Europe at high risk
Copenhagen (EFE).- New coronavirus infections rose 46% last week in Europe, in which most countries are at high risk, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reported today. . According to the latest report from the ECDC, with data updated until last day 2, the general epidemic situation in the countries of the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA) presents a high rate of cases, which have been rising two weeks. Ten countries (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg and Malta) are experiencing a situation of very high concern; and 18 (including Spain), of high concern, while in the remaining two (Austria and Romania) this is moderate.
DJOKOVIC
Australia says Djokovic is ‘not in captivity’ and can leave whenever he wants
Sydney (Australia) (EFE).- The number one tennis player in the world, Serbian Novak Djokovic, is free to leave the hotel in the city of Melbourne, where he has been confined since Thursday after the cancellation of his visa to return whenever he wants to their home country, Australian Home Secretary Karen Andrews said today. Djokovic, who arrived in Melbourne on Wednesday night with a medical exemption that allowed him to defend his title at the Australian Open without being vaccinated, is being held in a hotel managed by the immigration authorities while waiting for the Australian justice to address Monday. an appeal against his deportation. “He is not captive in Australia, he is free to leave at any time he decides to do so,” the minister said in an interview with Australian public broadcaster ABC.
UNITED R.
UK prioritizes face-to-face teaching despite growing teacher losses
London (EFE).- The British Government faced this week the return to schools after the Christmas break with the introduction in England of the use of masks for secondary school students and giving priority to face-to-face classes and “online” access to those students confined by covid-19. At a time when daily infections do not seem to fall below 200,000 in the country as a whole, the United Kingdom expects that in the coming weeks there will be a significant upturn in the number of casualties of its teachers due to the omicron variant, according to alert from the Ministry of Education. “Face-to-face education continues to be our highest priority since the evidence shows that (the classroom) is the best place for the education and well-being of children,” said a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Education when asked by Efe.
INDIA
India exceeds 117,000 daily cases increasing at an unprecedented rate
New Delhi (EFE) .- India registered 117,100 new cases of coronavirus this Friday, the largest increase in seven months, showing a speed of contagion that even exceeds the devastating second wave that the country suffered between April and May. This brings to 35.2 million the total number of cases reported since the beginning of the pandemic, almost two years ago, according to the daily report of the Indian Ministry of Health. The speed with which infections are increasing is unprecedented in the country. Passing the barrier of 100,000 infections took this nation of 1.35 billion inhabitants almost seven months during the first wave, and almost four in the second. The projections of the authorities estimate that this impulse could lead the country to reach a peak of between 500,000 and one million patients daily.
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KAZAKHSTAN PROTESTS
Kazakhstan’s president orders ‘shoot to kill’ protesters
Nur-Sultan (EFE).- The president of Kazakhstan, Kasim-Yomart Tokáyev, affirmed today during a speech to the nation that he gave the express order to “shoot to kill” without prior notice against the protesters who have been causing serious disturbances in recent times. days, whom he described as “bandits”, if they offer resistance to the authorities. “I gave the order to the police and army bodies to shoot to kill without prior notice,” said the president, warning that he will not dialogue “with armed and prepared bandits, both local and foreign.” The president pointed out that “terrorists continue to damage state and private property, use their weapons against citizens” and warned that “the anti-terrorist operation continues.”
KAZAKHSTAN PROTESTS
Russia sends to Kazakhstan more than 75 planes with troops and military equipment
Moscow (EFE).- The Russian Ministry of Defense has sent more than 75 military transport planes with the Russian units of the “peace contingent” of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a military alliance that brings together six former Soviet republics, the military entity reported today. “The air group made up of more than 70 Il-76 and 5 An-124 aircraft (…) transported the Russian part of the CSTO peace contingent to Kazakhstan on the last day,” the Ministry spokesman said in a statement. of Defense of Russia, Major General Igor Konashenkov. According to the senior Russian military officer, the aircraft of the Russian Military Air Transport Force also transport the units of Belarus, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia, CSTO member countries.
US CAPITOL
Biden blames Trump for the assault on Capitol Hill in the face of Republican denialism
Washington (EFE).- The first anniversary of the assault on the Capitol illustrated this Thursday the deep divisions in the United States over one of the most serious events in its history, with the Democrats united in their condemnation and the majority of the Republicans mired in denial. about what happened. US President Joe Biden delivered his harshest speech yet against his predecessor, Donald Trump, whom he accused of “creating and spreading a web of lies about the 2020 election” that prompted hundreds of his supporters to attack the Capitol a year ago. “His wounded ego matters more to him than our democracy and our Constitution. He cannot accept that he lost,” Biden said from the solemn Statuary Room of the US Capitol.
USA SPAIN
Julissa Reynoso sworn in as the new US ambassador to Spain
Washington (EFE).- The Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, swore in on Thursday the lawyer of Dominican origin Julissa Reynoso Pantaleón as Washington’s new ambassador to Spain and Andorra, after her nomination was confirmed by the Senate last Dec. 18. The ceremony, which took place in the office of ceremonies of the Vice President, was unexpectedly attended by the first lady, Jill Biden. Reynoso, who was the United States ambassador to Paraguay during the presidency of Barack Obama, held the position of chief of staff of the first lady’s office as well as co-chair of the White House Gender Policy Council.
BURMA CRISIS
Cambodian leader, the first head of government to travel to Burma since the coup
Bangkok (EFE).- The Prime Minister of Cambodia, Hun Sen, arrived in Burma this Friday for an official two-day trip, being the first head of a foreign government to visit the country since the coup last February. The Cambodian president was received at the Naypyidaw airport by the Burmese Foreign Minister, Wunna Maung Lwin, and starred in a small act of donating medical supplies against covid-19. Hun Sen is scheduled to meet with coup leader General Min Aung Hlaing to discuss bilateral issues and relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which vetoed the military junta chief from their last leaders’ summit.
HAITI CRISIS
NGO denounces the lack of progress in the investigation of Moise’s assassination
Port-au-Prince (EFE).- The National Network for the Defense of Human Rights (RNDH) denounced this Thursday the lack of progress in the investigation of the murder of Haitian President Jovenel Moise perpetrated on July 7, 2021, an assassination that aggravated the socio-political crisis and economic crisis that the country is suffering. “Six months after the tragic murder of Jovenel Moise there is no additional investigation. No judicial investigation,” this report denounces. In the document, the NGO advocated the clarification of the act, “not only because the Haitian people must understand what happened, but also because the right to life is fundamental, its violation must immediately lead to the corresponding punishment,” he said. EFE
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