World / Europe

Greece tightens measures in a bid to control spread of Covid-19 23 Dec 2021 - 01:48 pm

Greece is expanding the use of masks and rapid tests to control the spread of Covid-19 in anticipation that the omicron variant will...

Putin: we don't want conflict over Ukraine 23 Dec 2021 - 01:42 pm

MOSCOW:Russia wants to avoid conflict with Ukraine and the West, President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday. "This is not our (preferred) choice, we...

Omicron less likely to put you in the hospital, studies say 23 Dec 2021 - 11:45 am

Two new British studies provide some early hints that the omicron variant of the coronavirus may be milder than the delta version. Scientists...

Carmat completes probe into heart implant issues 23 Dec 2021 - 11:25 am

PARIS: French artificial heartmaker Carmat said on Thursday it had completed an internal investigation into quality issues that affected some of its prostheses,...

AstraZeneca vaccine booster shot effective against Omicron: Oxford lab study 23 Dec 2021 - 10:44 am

A three-dose course of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine is effective against the Omicron coronavirus variant, the pharmaceutical company said on Thursday, citing data from...

Britain exceeds 100,000 daily COVID-19 cases for the first time 22 Dec 2021 - 11:39 pm

LONDON- Britain reported more than 100,000 new daily COVID-19 cases for the first time since widespread testing was introduced, with 106,122 on Wednesday...

Spain brings back outdoor mask-wearing to stem Omicron spread 22 Dec 2021 - 08:52 pm

MADRID- Spain will make it compulsory to wear a face mask outdoors again as part of a package aimed at containing the fast...

Too soon to decide if Omicron more severe than Delta, WHO says 22 Dec 2021 - 08:11 pm

The World Health Organization does not yet have enough data on the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus to say if it is...

Omicron severity question answered in 3-4 weeks, WHO official says 22 Dec 2021 - 07:38 pm

BRUSSELS- Omicron will become the dominant coronavirus variant in Europe by the start of 2022 and three to four weeks is needed to...

UK allows Pfizer Covid shot for at-risk children aged 5 to 11 22 Dec 2021 - 05:56 pm

The U.K. vaccines panel cleared the Pfizer Inc. Covid-19 shot for use in vulnerable young children in a bid to widen vaccination coverage...

Fourth COVID-19 shot needed, says German health minister 22 Dec 2021 - 04:27 pm

BERLIN: German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said on Wednesday that aFourthvaccination will be necessary in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic due to...

Omicron has 80% lower risk of hospitalization, new study shows 22 Dec 2021 - 03:27 pm

South Africans contracting Covid-19 in the current fourth wave of infections are 80% less likely to be hospitalized if they catch theOmicronvariant, compared...

France makes vaccination push as omicron's domination looms 22 Dec 2021 - 03:06 pm

PARIS: French Health Minister Olivier Veran said Wednesday that omicron infections are spreading fast and that the coronavirus variant will become the dominant...

Poland reports highest number of COVID-related deaths in fourth wave 22 Dec 2021 - 01:23 pm

WARSAW: Poland reported 775 COVID-related deaths on Friday, the highest daily number in the fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic, the data from...

France says Omicron to be dominant variant soon, resists new restrictions 22 Dec 2021 - 12:43 pm

Paris: France could soon see 100,000 new COVID-19 cases a day due to the rapid spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant but the...

UK reduces COVID-19 self-isolation to 7 days for most in England 22 Dec 2021 - 12:14 pm

London: The British government said that from Wednesday it was reducing the COVID-19 self-isolation period to seven days from 10 days for people...

'Significant surge' in European cases expected as Omicron spreads - WHO 22 Dec 2021 - 12:49 am

GENEVA- The World Health Organization's European head on Tuesday warned countries to brace for a "significant surge" in COVID-19 cases as Omicron spreads,...

Travel ban on southern Africa 'inefficient' but EU states oppose lifting: Top official 21 Dec 2021 - 04:20 pm

Brussels is pushing to lift an "inefficient" travel ban on southern African states over the Omicron variant, but European Union nations are reluctant...