World

Belgium detects first case of new COVID variant in Europe 26 Nov 2021 - 04:40 pm

BRUSSELS: Belgium detected Europe's first confirmed case of the new variant of COVID-19 on Friday, and at the same time announced measures aimed...

Spain to restrict flights from S.Africa, Botswana over new COVID-19 variant 26 Nov 2021 - 04:16 pm

MADRID: Spain's cabinet will restrict flights from South Africa and Botswana over concerns about a highly contagious new COVID-19 variant there, Health Minister...

Philippines suspends South African flights over coronavirus variant 26 Nov 2021 - 04:10 pm

MANILA: The Philippines suspended inbound international flights on Friday from South Africa and other countries with cases or the likelihood of cases of...

EU moves to halt air travel from places with new COVID variant 26 Nov 2021 - 03:48 pm

The European Union might halt air travel from places where a new coronavirus variant detected in South Africa had spread, the bloc's executive...

India's Serum Institute resumes vaccine exports under COVAX facility 26 Nov 2021 - 03:38 pm

BENGALURU: Serum Institute of India (SII), the world's biggest vaccine maker, said on Friday it shipped the first batch of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine,...

Merck's COVID-19 pill shows lower efficacy in updated data 26 Nov 2021 - 03:35 pm

Merck & Co said on Friday updated data from its study on its experimental COVID-19 pill showed the drug was less effective in...

WHO meets to designate new variant, cautions against travel measures 26 Nov 2021 - 03:21 pm

GENEVA: The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Friday cautioned countries against hastily imposing travel restrictions linked to the new B.1.1.529 variant of COVID-19,...

South Africa questions UK flight ban amid global alarm over COVID variant 26 Nov 2021 - 01:57 pm

JOHANNESBURG- South Africa said on Friday a British ban on flights from six southern African countries over a new COVID-19 variant seemed rushed,...

Dutch government: temporary stop on flights from Southern Africa 26 Nov 2021 - 01:55 pm

AMSTERDAM- The Dutch government said on Friday it will halt air traffic from Southern Africa starting at noon, following the detection of a...

WHO meeting on Friday to designate new variant B.1.1.529 26 Nov 2021 - 01:51 pm

GENEVA- The World Health Organization is convening an experts' meeting from Geneva at midday (1100 GMT) on Friday to assess the new COVID-19...

German air force to transfer Covid patients as some hospitals overwhelmed 26 Nov 2021 - 01:44 pm

BERLIN- Germany readied its air force to transfer COVID-19 patients from overwhelmed hospitals in the south as national case numbers rocketed and a...

Europe and Asia, alarmed by COVID variant, start to tighten borders 26 Nov 2021 - 01:14 pm

LONDON- European and Asian countries tightened travel curbs on Friday after a new and possibly vaccine-resistant coronavirus variant was detected in South Africa,...

UK says six African countries to be added to COVID red-list 26 Nov 2021 - 12:20 am

LONDON- Six African countries will be added to England's travel "red list" after the UK Health Security Agency flagged concern over a new...

UK flags concern over newly identified coronavirus variant 25 Nov 2021 - 11:41 pm

LONDON- LONDON, Nov 25 (Reuters) - A newly identified coronavirus variant that has spread in South Africa is the most concerning that British...

Czech President Zeman returns to hospital after positive COVID test 25 Nov 2021 - 11:25 pm

PRAGUE- Czech President Milos Zeman was taken back to hospital on Thursday after testing positive for the coronavirus, his office said, just hours...

Pakistan petrol retailers start nationwide strike as profit margins drop 25 Nov 2021 - 10:15 pm

ISLAMABAD- Pakistan's petrol retailers began a nationwide strike on Thursday as the main industry body flagged low profit margins, exacerbated by the government's...

Portugal reimposes COVID-19 restrictions as cases rise 25 Nov 2021 - 09:57 pm

LISBON- Portugal, which has one of the world's highest rates of vaccination against COVID-19, announced it would reimpose some restrictions to stop a...

Saudi lifts suspension of direct entry for travellers from 6 countries 25 Nov 2021 - 09:49 pm

Saudi Arabia will allow direct entry to travellers from Indonesia, Pakistan, Brazil, Vietnam, Egypt and India from Dec. 1, lifting a requirement that...