Australia to deport Djokovic as Omicron halts Grammy Awards

Published by
AFP

Melbourne (AFP) – Australia vowed to deport tennis world number one Novak Djokovic on Thursday after he failed to meet stringent pandemic entry requirements, as Omicron’s relentless march forced organisers to cancel the Grammys and Sundance Film Festival. The vaccine-sceptic Serb failed to provide evidence of double vaccination or a medical exemption when he landed to defend his Australian Open crown, prompting authorities to cancel his visa and hold him at the airport overnight.  “Rules are rules and there are no special cases,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.  Djokovic said he had receiv…

Omicron variant of Covid surges around globe

Published by
The Bangkok Post

HONG KONG: Asian financial hub Hong Kong banned flights from eight nations on Wednesday as part of strict new virus curbs, with Omicron outbreaks spiralling out of control from Europe to the United States. The new coronavirus variant is spreading rapidly across continents, leaving governments rushing to roll out vaccine boosters and bolster healthcare systems as infection numbers reach new highs. Britain, the United States, France and Australia have all announced record case numbers in recent days, while China has imposed lockdowns in two cities and rolled out mass testing for millions as it d…

On a South Jersey military base, help for Afghan evacuees starting new lives

Published by
The Philadelphia Inquirer

A cold wind ripped between the brick buildings of “Liberty Village,” the enclave of Afghan evacuees at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, but inside the gym it was warm and rocking. Two soldiers knocked a volleyball across a net with a couple of Afghan children. A half-circle of women laughed and talked on the other side of the court. Children ran in all directions. And everyone wanted to practice their English. Lt. Col. Adam Howland became an attraction the moment he stepped through the door and onto the hardwood floor — an American soldier who speaks Dari, one of Afghanistan’s two national la…