North Korea in recent months has ramped up tests of short-range missiles designed to defeat missile defenses in the region. Nam said North Korea would time the test to maximize its political effect, with South Korean presidential elections scheduled in March and President Joe Biden facing crucial midterm elections in November. “Externally, North Korea is trying to make a statement that it will continue to go its own way regardless of sanctions. Experts say a major COVID-19 outbreak would have devastating consequences because of North Korea’s poor health care system, and could even trigger instability. For decades, North Korea has mastered the art of brinkmanship, manufacturing diplomatic crises with weapons tests and threats before offering negotiations aimed at extracting concessions.

He said dismantling restrictive measures in the spring could prolong the circulation of flu far beyond the normal end of the European season in May. Penttinen said it was too early to make a final assessment of flu vaccines because a larger number of ill patients was needed for real-world analyses. Flu vaccines are adapted every year to make them as effective as possible against ever-changing flu viruses. Their composition is decided six months before the flu season kicks in, based on circulation of viruses in the opposite hemisphere. Vaccines Europe said the industry had supplied large numbers of flu shots, despite the strain on production facilities posed by the pandemic.

Australia’s Minister for the Pacific Zed Seselja said initial reports suggested no mass casualties from Saturday’s eruption and tsunami but Australian police had visited beaches and reported significant damage with “houses thrown around”. Read more: Scientists struggle to monitor Tonga volcano after massive eruption“We know there is some significant damage, and know there is significant damage to resorts,” he said in an interview with an Australian radio station, adding that Tonga’s airport appeared to be in relatively good condition. Tonga’s deputy head of mission in Australia, Curtis Tu’ihalangingie, asked for patience as Tonga’s government decides its priorities for aid. The eruption of the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai volcano triggered a tsunami on the shores of Tonga and cut off phone and internet lines for the entire island. Telephone networks in Tonga have been restored but ash was posing a major health concern, contaminating drinking water.

BERLIN (AP) — The World Health Organization said Sunday that a U.N.-backed program shipping coronavirus vaccines to many poor countries has now delivered 1 billion doses, but that milestone “is only a reminder of the work that remains” after hoarding and stockpiling in rich countries. A shipment of 1.1 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to Rwanda on Saturday included the billionth dose supplied via the COVAX program, the U.N. health agency said. WHO has long criticized unequal distribution of vaccines and called for manufacturers and other countries to prioritize COVAX. “COVAX’s ambition was compromised by hoarding/stockpiling in rich countries, catastrophic outbreaks leading to borders and supply being locked,” it added. The other industrial countries have significant ground to catch up.”Germany has said it donated 103 million doses to poorer countries last year and plans to donate another 75 million in 2022.

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The Egyptian Minister of Environment, Ministerial Coordinator and Envoy of the COP27 Climate Conference, Yasmine Fouad, organized a consultative session with COP26 President Alok Sharma and his accompanying delegation to discuss preparations for the upcoming edition of the conference scheduled in Sharm el-Sheikh. The session also witnessed the exchange of views on how to jointly coordinate on climate issues, discussing Egyptian success stories in the fields of renewable energy projects, environmental sustainability standards and climate finance. Fouad said that Egyptian ministers are working as an integrated team to come up with a distinct version of the climate conference presenting Egypt’s vision for leading global climate action, taking into account the interests of all countries and parties. The COP26 President praised the spirit of cooperation between Egyptian ministries in working towards the COP27 climate conference. He noted that the private sector financing initiatives for climate projects were one of the most important outcomes of the Glasgow conference and the role that Egypt can play in advancing these initiatives, especially in expanding energy transmission.

Gamea made the remarks during her participation Sunday in a symposium organized by the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) under the rubric :" Suez Canal and Global Trade Challenges". She added the Suez Canal acts as a link between production centers in the Far East and distribution and consumption centers in the Middle East, Europe and the two Americas, which gives Egypt an advantage to boost its commercial relations with different world countries and facilitate the entry of Egyptian exports to all foreign markets. The trade minister explained the Suez Canal is one of the world's most important commercial waterways, as it provides the fastest transit route between the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean, which contributes to rapidly transporting goods and lowering the cost of transportation. The Suez Canal makes up of 12% of global trade and acquires 22% of container trade, she noted.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The tsunami threat around the Pacific from a huge undersea volcanic eruption began to recede Sunday, while the extent of damage to Tonga remained unclear. In Tonga it sent tsunami waves crashing across the shore and people rushing to higher ground. The capital, Nuku’alofa, was covered in a thick film of volcanic dust, Ardern said, contaminating water supplies and making fresh water a vital need. The Tonga Meteorological Services said a tsunami warning was declared for all of the archipelago, and data from the Pacific tsunami center said waves of 80 centimeters (2.7 feet) were detected. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrote on Twitter he is “deeply concerned for the people of Tonga as they recover from the aftermath of a volcanic eruption and tsunami.

CAIRO – 16 January 2022: Head of the Air Quality Section at the Ministry of Environment Mostafa Murad told press Sunday that gas-powered and electric buses will be substituted for gasoline-powered ones nationwide on the public transportation level within five years. Murad said that the ministry is joining forces with the World Bank to introduce electric buses that can travel 200 kilometers per charge. Those will be charged overnight through points located at public transport parking lots and others lying at gas stations. The official pointed out that a number of electric buses have been introduced in Cairo and Alexandria as an experimental phase. Speaking of the facilities needed by electric vehicles in general, there are 400 charging stations concentrated in Greater Cairo, and highways.

DUBAI, Jan 15 (Reuters) – Iran’s health ministry reported the country’s first three deaths from the highly contagious Omicron coronavirus variant on Saturday. Iran this week lifted restrictions on land travel to and from neighboring countries and some European states but maintained a ban on arrivals from Britain, France and eight countries in Southern Africa over Omicron fears, Iranian media reported. read moreIran, the pandemic’s epicenter in the Middle East, has suffered 132,044 deaths in five waves of COVID-19 infections since February 2020. Deaths have fallen in recent months and stood at 18 on Saturday, a 22-month low, according the state television. More than 53 million of Iran’s population of about 85 million have received two doses of coronavirus vaccine, and 12.2 million have received three doses.

In an interview with Extra News TV channel, Mohieldin pointed out that the selection of Egypt to host the UN COP27 came due to its expertise and good reputation in clean energy and wind energy. The UN COP27 will be an African summit for the developing and middle-income countries, he underlined, pointing to the Western countries' disobedience to implement the 2015 Paris Agreement's outcomes that led to the emergence of severe weather conditions. Regarding the coronavirus, the IMF official stated the new variants raise great concern because they badly affect the economy due to the lockdown, adding the pandemic drained the economy and increased the debts. Egypt, since the beginning of the pandemic, follows a parallel approach and has various opportunities in all fields, he noted.

TURIN (Reuters) - Paulo Dybala glared at Juventus directors instead of celebrating after scoring in a 2-0 Serie A win over Udinese on Saturday, which sent the Turin club level with fourth-placed Atalanta. The Argentina striker is yet to agree an extension to his Juve contract, which is due to expire at the end of the season, despite long-running negotiations. United States international Weston McKennie headed home Juve's second in the 79th minute to stretch their unbeaten league run to eight games. Juve remain fifth but moved on to 41 points, level with Atalanta in fourth, who have two games in hand. Udinese are 14th with 20 points.

CAIRO-16 January 2022: Mohamed Salah scored a half volley to inspire Egypt in 1-0 win over Guinea-Bissau on Saturday night. The Pharaohs secured their first three points in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon and succeeded to reverse their situation in the group after losing the opening match to Nigeria. The Pharaohs were shocked after Salah's opener when Samba Baldé equalized the score for the Bissau Guineans but his goal was cancelled after reviewing the VAR. Egypt are second in the standings with three points behind the leaders, Nigeria, who secured their spot in the second round with a 3-1 win over Sudan. Egypt will face Sudan on Wednesday in Yaounde in a match that will likely decide the fate of the group.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi held a meeting, on Saturday, to follow up the executive situation of the “The Great Transfiguration Project” in Sinai to develop Jabal Mousa and Saint Catherine’s Monastery. The meeting was attended by Head of the Central Agency for Reconstruction Mahmoud Nassar, Assistant Minister of Housing Mostafa Mounir, and project consultant Maher Esteno. The spokesperson for the Egyptian Presidency Bassam Rady explained that the meeting witnessed a review of all the components planned to be developed under the project. These elements included the establishment of a new visitor center, an eco-lodge, an integrated mountain hotel, and a new administrative complex, as well as the development of the Bedouin area, housing units, and pedestrian routes. As well as raising the efficiency of infrastructure, facilities, works to prevent floods, and establishing a Peace Square to hold various celebrations, activities and performances.

Egypt announced that January marks the beginning of increased salaries for private sector workers, with a minimum wage of LE 2,400 – a first for the nation’s private sector. The National Council for Wages decided that the implementation of the minimum wage for the private sector will be mandatory as of January 1. Minister of Planning and Economic Development and head of the National Council for Wages, Hala al-Saeed, said that implementing the minimum wage for workers and the periodic bonus in the private sector is an unprecedented move. The National Council for Wages received 5,945 requests from private sector establishments in 22 sectors to exclude them from applying the minimum wage due to their economic conditions. The National Council for Wages is responsible for setting a minimum wage at the national level and reviewing the minimum wage at the end of each fiscal year.