A quick catch up on today’s top stories…
New Lockdown, Kylie Jenner, UCL Draw, more
1) Airlines to be charged $3,500 for each unvaccinated persons brought into Ghana
Ghana’s Aviation Authority, Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), has warned that airlines will be surcharged if they fly any unvaccinated persons into Ghana. The statement reads in part: “Airlines that bring passengers to Kotoka International Airport who are not fully vaccinated shall be surcharged $3500 per passenger.
The GACL further stated that all arriving passengers must possess a COVID-19 negative PCR test from an accredited laboratory in the country of origin.
2) Russia looks to deploy intermediate nuclear missiles in Europe
Russia said on Monday it may be forced to deploy intermediate-range nuclear missiles in Europe in response to what it sees as NATO’s plans to do the same. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told Russia’s RIA news agency in an interview that Moscow would have to take the step if NATO refused to engage with it on preventing such an escalation.
His comments further raised the stakes in an East-West standoff in which Russia is demanding security guarantees from the West while the United States and its allies are warning Moscow to pull back from what they see as a possible invasion of Ukraine – something Ryabkov again denied was Russia’s intent.
3) New lockdown looms as UK confirms first death from Omicron variant
At least one person has died in the United Kingdom after contracting the Omicron coronavirus variant, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday, the first publicly confirmed death globally from the swiftly spreading strain.
Britain gave no details on the death or whether the patient had been been vaccinated or had underlying health issues. Deaths from Omicron may have occurred in other countries but none has been publicly confirmed yet outside Britain. “Sadly at least one patient has now been confirmed to have died with Omicron,” Johnson told reporters at a vaccination centre in London.
4) Cops came to rescue after a die-hard Kylie Jenner fan scaled fence to propose to her
Cops were reportedly called in after a Kylie Jenner obsessed fan came to her neighborhood to propose to her. TMZ reported that law enforcement sources said they were called to Kylie’s neighborhood on Thursday December 9, after a man hopped a fence and knocked on a door looking for Jenner. It was however the wrong house.
Th 23-year-old man who was there with flowers, told cops he was there to profess his love for Kylie and ask for her hand in marriage. He was however arrested for misdemeanor trespassing and taken in for booking.
5) Champions League last 16 re-draw now complete; Man United to Atletico, while PSG goes against Real Madrid
A re-draw for the Champions League last 16 has pitted Manchester United against Atletico Madrid after Ralf Rangnick’s side had initially been drawn to face Paris Saint-Germain. A surprise turn of events saw the initial last-16 draw declared void after what UEFA called a “technical error” involving Atletico Madrid, Liverpool and Manchester United.
The re-draw took place three hours later, and Liverpool now face Serie A champions Inter Milan, Chelsea drew Ligue 1 winners Lille – having done so in the first draw as well – while Manchester City will take on Sporting Lisbon. United looked to have been offered the biggest reprieve after drawing PSG in the initial draw, but a meeting with Atletico in European competition since 1991 will still provide a stern test.
