World / Europe

Mayor: Madrid blast kills 2; apparently linked to gas leak 20 Jan 2021 - 05:58 pm

MADRID: The mayor of Madrid says that at least two people died Wednesday in a blast that an initial assessment linked to a...

Loud explosion rocks central Madrid; rescue teams to site 20 Jan 2021 - 05:37 pm

MADRID: Madrid's emergency services say rescue teams, firefighters and police are working in a central area of the Spanish capital following an explosion...

Pfizer vaccine appears effective against coronavirus variant found in Britain: Study 20 Jan 2021 - 02:01 pm

FRANKFURT: The COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech is likely to protect against a more infectious variant of the virus, which was...

Germany extends lockdown to Feb. 14 on fears of COVID variants 20 Jan 2021 - 12:05 am

BERLIN - German Chancellor Angela Merkel and state premiers agreed on Tuesday to extend a lockdown for most shops and schools until Feb....

Brazilian firm plans to export Russian COVID vaccine to South America 19 Jan 2021 - 11:35 pm

BRASILIA - Brazilian pharmaceutical company União Quimica plans to press ahead with production of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine with a view to exporting...

Pandemic could be WHO's Chernobyl moment for reform - review panel 19 Jan 2021 - 08:37 pm

GENEVA/LONDON - The COVID-19 pandemic could be the catalyst for much-needed reform of the World Health Organization just as the Chernobyl nuclear disaster...

Italy police recover stolen painting; museum unaware of theft 19 Jan 2021 - 08:13 pm

ROME - A 500-year-old painting, stolen from a Naples' church museum, has been discovered in an apartment on the outskirts of the southern...

European countries struggle to make most of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine doses 19 Jan 2021 - 07:51 pm

ZURICH/PARIS - Some European countries are drawing fewer than the approved six doses from Pfizer and BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine vials, meaning shots are...

Spain to extend COVID furlough scheme until May 19 Jan 2021 - 07:43 pm

MADRID - Spain said on Tuesday it will extend a support scheme for hundreds of thousands of workers furloughed due to COVID-19 until...

Already in lockdown, Dutch to toughen COVID-19 measures 19 Jan 2021 - 07:31 pm

AMSTERDAM - The Dutch government will announce further measures to fight the coronavirus this week amid fears that the "British variant" and other...

Portugal in 'tough marathon', says PM, as COVID-19 deaths hit new daily record 19 Jan 2021 - 07:05 pm

LISBON - Portugal is living "one of the saddest moments", the prime minister said on Tuesday, as doctors warned of a healthcare system...

Russia's second vaccine '100% effective', watchdog tells media 19 Jan 2021 - 02:38 pm

Moscow: A candidate COVID-19 vaccine known as EpiVacCorona, Russia's second to be registered, proved "100% effective" in early-stage trials, Russian consumer health watchdog...

Germany to extend lockdown to mid-Feb on fears of COVID variants 19 Jan 2021 - 01:30 pm

BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel is set to agree with regional leaders on extending a lockdown for most shops and schools until mid-February...

British hospitals use blockchain to track COVID-19 vaccines 19 Jan 2021 - 12:08 pm

LONDON: Two British hospitals are using blockchain technology to keep tabs on the storage and supply of temperature-sensitive COVID-19 vaccines, the companies behind...

UK's Johnson criticised over lack of COVID-19 welfare commitment 19 Jan 2021 - 12:13 am

LONDON - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was criticised in parliament on Monday for refusing to commit to the renewal of a temporary...

Independent pandemic review panel critical of China, WHO delays 18 Jan 2021 - 10:58 pm

GENEVA - An independent panel said on Monday that Chinese officials could have applied public health measures more forcefully in January to curb...

WHO says close to Pfizer deal that would give poorer countries access 18 Jan 2021 - 08:18 pm

GENEVA - The World Health Organization is in advanced negotiations with Pfizer to include the firm's COVID-19 shot in the body's vaccine-sharing scheme,...