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A flight deck crew member signals to colleagues on the USS Carl Vinson in Western Pacific, south of Japan, on Tuesday. (Reuters photo) USS CARL VINSON: The United States on Tuesday completed ten days of joint military drills in Asian waters with Japan and other allies as it ups the ante on deterring China from pursuing its territorial ambitions amid growing tension in the region over Taiwan. The ANNUALEX drill included 35 warships and dozens of aircraft in the Philippine Sea off Japan's southern coast. The US and Japanese forces were led by the nuclear-powered USS Carl Vinson carrier, which was also joined by ships from Canada, Australia, and for the first time, Germany. On Tuesday, the Vinson was being shadowed by a Chinese navy ship. "We try to deter aggression from some nations that are showing burgeoning strength that maybe we haven't experienced before," US Seventh Fleet commander Vice Admiral Karl Thomas said at a briefing aboard the carrier. The exercise was meant to ... » Learn More about US caps year of drills to deter China with 10-day military exercise

People cross the street in the Ginza shopping area, on the first day of Japan’s closed borders to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus, in Tokyo, Japan Nov. 30, 2021. (REUTERS/) FRANKFURT/BERLIN — The chief executive of drugmaker Moderna set off fresh alarm bells in financial markets on Tuesday with a warning that existing COVID-19 vaccines would be less effective against the new Omicron variant than they have been against Delta. However, European Medicines Agency (EMA) executive director Emer Cooke told the European Parliament that, even if the new variant becomes more widespread, existing vaccines will continue to provide protection. Andrea Ammon, chair of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), said the 42 cases of the variant so far confirmed in 10 European Union countries were mild or without symptoms, although in younger age groups. Major European stock markets, spooked by fears that vaccine resistance pandemic, were down about ... » Learn More about Omicron variant, found in Europe 11 days ago, jolts markets on vaccine fears

Abiy, a former lieutenant-colonel in the military, announced last week that he would head to the battlefield ADDIS ABABA - Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Tuesday urged Tigrayan rebels to surrender, claiming government forces were nearing victory just one week after he vowed to lead military operations at the front. His upbeat portrayal of the military's fortunes came as fighting reportedly raged on at least three fronts, one of which -- the town of Debre Sina -- is located less than 200 kilometres (120 miles) by road from the capital Addis Ababa. "The youth of Tigray is perishing like leaves. Knowing it is defeated, it is being led by one who does not have a clear vision or plan," Abiy, winner of the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize, said in comments aired on state media. "It should surrender today to the Ethiopian National Defence Force, to the special forces, to the militias and to the people." Tuesday's footage was the latest in a series of clips showing Abiy, in uniform ... » Learn More about Ethiopia PM claims war gains, urges rebels to ‘surrender’

(Adds Blinken comment, paragraph 12) RIGA/MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia would pay a high price for any new military aggression against Ukraine, NATO and the United States warned on Tuesday as the Western military alliance met to discuss Moscow's possible motives for massing troops near the Ukrainian border. President Vladimir Putin countered that Russia would be forced to act if U.S.-led NATO placed missiles in Ukraine that could strike Moscow within minutes. Ukraine, a former Soviet republic that now aspires to join the European Union and NATO, has become the main flashpoint between Russia and the West as relations have soured to their worst level in the three decades since the Cold War ended. "There will be a high price to pay for Russia if they once again use force against the independence of the nation Ukraine," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken echoed Stoltenberg, saying: "Any escalatory actions by Russia would ... » Learn More about Putin hits back as NATO warns Moscow against attacking Ukraine

KINGSTON (Reuters) - Barbados' declaration of a republic on Tuesday may fuel fervor in other Commonwealth countries to follow suit, but experts say removing the queen requires overcoming political hurdles that have for decades stymied republican initiatives. Barbados inaugurated President Sandra Mason as its head of state on Tuesday to replace Britain's Queen Elizabeth in a ceremony attended by Prince Charles, marking a cordial severing of ties to the monarchy. It was able to do so thanks to the Labor Party's sweeping parliamentary majority as well as a constitution that allowed the change without a referendum - conditions that may not materialize elsewhere. In nearby Jamaica, which is among the 15 remaining nations that still recognize Queen Elizabeth as sovereign, polls show that voters would support the declaration of a republic. On the streets of the capital Kingston, some people said the time was ripe to follow Barbados. "I think we can start the process," said Abraham ... » Learn More about Commonwealth nations face hurdles to follow Barbados’ republican path

MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Russia would be forced to act if its "red lines" on Ukraine were crossed by NATO, saying Moscow would view the deployment of certain offensive missile capabilities on Ukrainian soil as a trigger. Speaking at an investment forum in Moscow, Putin said he hoped common sense would prevail on all sides, but that he wanted NATO to be aware of Russia's own security concerns around Ukraine and how it would respond if the West continued to help Kyiv expand its military infrastructure. "If some kind of strike systems appear on the territory of Ukraine, the flight time to Moscow will be 7-10 minutes, and five minutes in the case of a hypersonic weapon being deployed. Just imagine," said Putin. "What are we to do in such a scenario? We will have to then create something similar in relation to those who threaten us in that way. And we can do that now." Putin said Russia had just successfully tested a new sea-based ... » Learn More about Putin warns Russia will act if NATO crosses its red lines in Ukraine