World

France's Macron: mandatory COVID-19 jab is an option 15 Dec 2021 - 11:38 pm

PARIS- French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday it was possible the COVID-19 vaccine would eventually be made compulsory in France, but said...

Greece requires Covid tests from travelers, including from EU 15 Dec 2021 - 08:28 pm

Greece will require all visitors traveling to the country, including those from fellow European Union countries, to present a PCR test taken within...

Lioness at Belgian zoo tests positive for COVID-19 15 Dec 2021 - 08:17 pm

BRUSSELS- A lioness in a Belgian zoo has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and the members of her pride have gone into isolation in...

UK reports record daily COVID cases with Omicron spreading rapidly 15 Dec 2021 - 08:07 pm

LONDON - The United Kingdom recorded its most daily coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic on Wednesday as a senior British...

Omicron is responsible for 60% of COVID cases in London: Minister 15 Dec 2021 - 08:05 pm

London: Britain's health minister Sajid Javid said on Wednesday that the Omicron variant of the coronavirus was now responsible for about 60% of...

Biden visits tornado-stricken Kentucky bringing federal aid, empathy 15 Dec 2021 - 07:53 pm

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky- President Joe Biden took an aerial tour of Kentucky on Wednesday to survey the areas hardest hit by one of...

Trudeau to advise Canadians against travel abroad amid Omicron fears 15 Dec 2021 - 07:40 pm

TORONTO- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to advise Canadians on Wednesday to avoid international travel while provinces ramp up vaccinations and hand...

NYC to fine businesses $1,000 for defying vaccine mandate 15 Dec 2021 - 07:33 pm

New York City will fine businesses $1000 if they don’t comply with a Covid-19 vaccine mandate that starts on Dec. 27. The city...

Blinken cuts short Asia trip after COVID-19 case among travelling group 15 Dec 2021 - 03:40 pm

KUALA LUMPUR: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has cut short his trip to Southeast Asia due to a COVID-19 case among his...

Omicron infects 70 times faster but is less severe, study says 15 Dec 2021 - 03:32 pm

The omicron variant replicates around 70 times faster than delta and the original Covid-19 strain, though the infection severity is likely to be...

COVID-19 vaccines may be less effective against Omicron: WHO 15 Dec 2021 - 01:58 pm

GENEVA: Preliminary evidence indicates that COVID-19 vaccines may be less effective against infection and transmission linked to the Omicron coronavirus variant, which also...

Cambodia detects first case of Omicron coronavirus variant 15 Dec 2021 - 12:24 pm

PHNOM PENH: Cambodia has detected the country's first case of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus in a local woman who had travelled...

Haiti searches for victims of fuel truck blast that killed 60 15 Dec 2021 - 12:02 pm

CAP-HaitiEN, Haiti: Haitian authorities on Tuesday searched for victims from a fuel truck explosion in the city of Cap-Haitien that killed at least...

Sanofi, GSK say COVID-19 vaccine booster candidate give good immune response 15 Dec 2021 - 11:39 am

PARIS: Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline said on Wednesday a single booster dose of their COVID-19 vaccine candidate provided strong immune responses, preliminary data from...

S.Korea considers tightening COVID-19 rules as new cases climb to daily record 15 Dec 2021 - 11:33 am

SEOUL: South Korea warned on Wednesday it may reinstate stricter social distancing curbs as it posted a new record daily coronavirus tally due...

Starbucks outlets in eight China cities inspected for food safety 15 Dec 2021 - 11:08 am

SHANGHAI: Market regulators in eight Chinese cities said they had carried out inspections of Starbucks shops after the U.S. coffee chain said it...

Blaze traps 350 people on roof of Hong Kong World Trade Centre 15 Dec 2021 - 10:32 am

About 350 people were trapped atop the rooftop of a Hong Kong building after a fire broke out. Shoppers and restaurant patrons were...

Philippines finds first Omicron cases, adopts loose curbs 15 Dec 2021 - 10:26 am

ThePhilippinesis retaining its second-most lenient movement restrictions in the capital through the Christmas holidays amid easing coronavirus cases, even as the nation detected...