W.H.O. warns Omicron ‘storm’ is coming to Europe – CityNews

More restrictions are coming to more countries as Omicron tightens its grip on Europe. Melissa Duggan on preparations for a second pandemic Christmas.

US, Europe expand sanctions on Belarus over ‘migrant smuggling’ – WION

The United States, Canada, and European allies expanded sanctions on Belarus placing restrictions on government officials and entities for human rights abuses and official support for “migrant smuggling.”

Australia: WA Premier Mark McGowan says US white supremacists are targeting remote communities

Premier Mark McGowan says United States-based white supremacist groups are spreading misinformation online to cause fear about COVID-19 vaccinations in remote Aboriginal communities in Western Australia. Mr McGowan made the comments during a press conference in Kalgoorlie on Thursday and again warned that travel to regional communities could be restricted after WA’s border reopens if they do

Belarus set up fake accounts to inflame migrants: Facebook’s Meta

Meta report says the Belarusian KGB set up dozens of fake accounts to stir up migrant crisis on the border with Poland. Facebook’s parent company Meta has linked the Belarusian KGB to the setting up of dozens of fake social media accounts of people posing as journalists and activists to stir up a migrant crisis on the

Australia delays border reopening as Omicron cases rise

Australia said on Monday it would delay the reopening of its international border by two weeks after reporting its first cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant. Prime Minister Scott Morrison convened a meeting of his national security committee and said it received advice from Australia’s chief health officer to delay the reopening after the first

The Netherlands and Australia find the omicron variant as curbs spread

The Netherlands confirmed 13 cases of the new omicron variant of the coronavirus on Sunday and Australia found two as the countries half a world apart became the latest to detect it in travelers arriving from southern Africa. A raft of curbs being imposed by nations around the world as they scramble to slow the

‘Go through. Go,’ Lukashenko tells migrants at Polish border

Lukashenko says he won’t force migrants to return home Two flights with returning migrants arrive in Iraq Two more flights planned on Nov. 26-27 Poland reports detention centre unrest Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko told migrants stranded at the border with Poland on Friday that his country would help them to return home if they wanted

Failure to share Covid vaccines ‘coming back to haunt us’, says Gordon Brown

Ex-PM says world was ‘forewarned’ of dangers of failing to vaccinate poorer countries amid rise of new variant ‘New variant is no surprise when rich countries are hoarding vaccines’ The failure of wealthy nations to get vaccines to the developing world is “coming back to haunt us”, Gordon Brown has warned, as experts said the emergence of

EU advises border closures over new Covid variant as European case confirmed – BBC News

Countries around the world are taking steps to tighten travel restrictions after a new coronavirus variant was identified in southern Africa. The European Commission has recommended that EU countries introduce an “emergency brake” on all travel from the region in response. The World Health Organization (WHO) is meeting to discuss the new variant.

Germany refuses to take in stranded migrants after calls from Minsk – DW

Germany has rejected calls from Minsk for the European Union to take in migrants stranded at the Belarus-Poland border. EU member states have also made it clear they won’t be blackmailed by Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko. He is demanding they take in thousands of migrants. They’re facing harsh winter conditions out in the forests along