World

Bulgaria to ease entry rules to lure back tourists 23 Apr 2021 - 03:15 pm

SOFIA: Bulgaria, eager to encourage holiday-makers to its Black Sea resorts, will ease rules for entry to the Balkan country from May 1,...

EU seals world's largest vaccine supply deal with Pfizer 23 Apr 2021 - 03:02 pm

PUURS, Belgium: The European Commission said it has sealed the world's biggest vaccine supply deal, agreeing to buy up to 1.8 billion doses...

Germany sets no limits on use of J&J COVID-19 shot 23 Apr 2021 - 02:41 pm

BERLIN: Germany has decided not to impose limits on the use of Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine, the head of the country's vaccine...

Japan declares 'short, powerful' emergency in Tokyo, elsewhere 23 Apr 2021 - 02:29 pm

TOKYO: Japan declared "short and powerful" states of emergency for Tokyo, Osaka and two other prefectures on Friday as the country struggles to...

S.Korea widens public access to virus self-test kits amid surge 23 Apr 2021 - 02:23 pm

SEOUL: South Korea granted conditional approval on Friday that will allow the public to use two coronavirus self-test kits for the first time,...

Australia's Perth to enter snap lockdown after second COVID-19 case 23 Apr 2021 - 01:32 pm

SYDNEY - Western Australia's capital of Perth and the neighbouring Peel region will enter a snap three-day lockdown from midnight on Friday after...

Indian coronavirus cases surge to new record as health system staggers 23 Apr 2021 - 01:10 pm

MUMBAI - India reported the world's highest daily tally of coronavirus infections for a second day on Friday, surpassing 330,000 new cases, as...

J&J COVID-19 vaccine 'pause' reviewed, US officials hope to resume shots 23 Apr 2021 - 01:04 pm

Advisers to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will meet again on Friday to consider whether to it is safe to...

Dutch coronavirus infections rise ahead of lockdown easing 22 Apr 2021 - 08:55 pm

THE HAGUE, Netherlands: Dutch caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Thursday defended his decision to ease his country's lockdown next week even after...

Russia orders troop pullback but keeps weapons near Ukraine 22 Apr 2021 - 08:46 pm

MOSCOW: Russia's defense minister on Thursday ordered troops back to their permanent bases following massive drills amid tensions with Ukraine, but said they...

Prague zoo opens new home for rare wild horse species 22 Apr 2021 - 08:40 pm

PRAGUE: Four rare central Asian wild horses, whose breed was once near extinction, are now roaming a meadow overlooking Prague as the city's...

Belarus leader in Moscow for talks on closer ties 22 Apr 2021 - 08:31 pm

MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted his Belarusian counterpart on Thursday for talks on closer integration between the two ex-Soviet neighbors, discussions that...

French PM confirms COVID-19 travel restrictions to be lifted May 3 22 Apr 2021 - 08:27 pm

PARIS: French Prime Minister Jean Castex confirmed on Thursday that domestic travel restrictions will be lifted on May 3 and that secondary schools...

COVAX in talks for other COVID-19 shots amid AstraZeneca supply problems 22 Apr 2021 - 07:19 pm

LONDON: The COVAX vaccine-sharing plan said on Thursday it is seeking to bolster its supplies of COVID-19 vaccines for poor countries from new...

UBS rolls out bonus for young bankers facing pandemic pressures 22 Apr 2021 - 06:29 pm

ZURICH: UBS has introduced a new promotion bonus for junior investment bankers as part of measures it hopes will keep young staff working...

Norway to lend unused AstraZeneca vaccine doses to Sweden, Iceland 22 Apr 2021 - 06:24 pm

OSLO: Norway will lend 216,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine it has in stock to Sweden and Iceland, the country's health ministry...

Sweden not ready to lift COVID restrictions, but PM says end in sight 22 Apr 2021 - 06:20 pm

STOCKHOLM: Sweden, which has shunned lockdowns throughout the pandemic, will postpone a tentative plan to ease some COVID-19 restrictions, due to the ongoing...