LONDON: A group of airlines accused the UK government on Monday of a “haphazard and disproportionate approach” to travel restrictions in the wake of the Omicron variant and demanded further state help to prevent a “permanent scarring” of the industry. “Whilst we fully recognise the need to take steps to contain the initial impact of … Read more
TOKYO: Japan’s major manufacturers remain cautious about the economy’s trajectory, with business sentiment flat for the quarter as concerns about the pandemic linger, a key survey showed on Monday. Among major non-manufacturers however, there was an improvement in confidence about the world’s third largest economy, offering glimmers of hope. The Bank of Japan’s Tankan business survey, … Read more
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia approved its 2022 budget on Sunday, projecting a surplus for the first time since oil prices collapsed in 2014. King Salman said the improved fiscal situation for the world’s biggest oil exporter comes “after the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has overcome the economic repercussions and the exceptional stages of the coronavirus pandemic”. Cited … Read more
LONDON, (AFP) – UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Sunday warned of a looming “tidal wave” of Omicron, and brought forward a target to give over-18s a booster jab by one month to the end of December. “No-one should be in any doubt: there is a tidal wave of Omicron coming,” he said in a … Read more
LOS ANGELES: Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra questioned the NBA’s Covid-19 protocols on Sunday, suggesting players that test positive but are fully vaccinated and asymptomatic should be treated the same as someone with the flu. “Has everybody gotten their shots and their boosters? Why would they be held out extensively longer than if they have the flu?” … Read more
TOKYO: Business confidence among major Japanese nonmanufacturers recovered to pre-pandemic levels in December, enhanced by the lifting of the COVID-19 state of emergency. However, the improvement of sentiment among manufacturers was dragged by parts shortages and surging raw materials costs, local media reported Monday. According to the quarterly “Tankan” survey, the key confidence index for … Read more
DHAKA: Bangladesh has detected its first cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said Saturday. The Omicron variant was detected in two female cricketers of the Bangladesh Cricket Team, the health minister said, adding the cricketers returned to the country recently from Zimbabwe. They are now in institutional isolation at a … Read more
LUSAKA: Zambia recorded eight more Omicron COVID-19 cases this week, bringing the cases of the new variant to 11, the country’s health ministry said Saturday. The health ministry said the new cases were all recorded in Lusaka, the country’s capital, with five of the patients having a history of traveling outside the country recently. Minister … Read more
PORT LOUIS, Mauritius, Dec 11, 2021 (AFP) – The Indian Ocean island nation of Mauritius has recorded its first two infections of the Covid-19 Omicron variant, both linked to people returned from South Africa, with a dozen more contact cases feared. Health Minister Kailesh Jagutpal told a press conference on Friday the pair were asymptomatic and had … Read more
LONDON: Oil prices rose on Friday and headed for their biggest weekly advance since late August, as the investors became less concerned over the potential effect of the Omicron Covid-19 variant on economic growth and demand for fuel. Brent crude rose one per cent to $75.16 a barrel at about 3:15pm Riyadh time, while WTI, … Read more
The emergence of the Omicron variant has thrown early signs of recovery in the global supply chain into doubt across the world, including in the Middle East and North Africa, Arab News reported. “There may still be swings, but overall, I think the worst is over,” said Esben Poulsson, who chairs the International Chamber of Shipping, on … Read more
BERLIN: With the prolific Erling Haaland fit and firing again, Borussia Dortmund hope to round out the year in style and close the gap on Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich. “We want to put pressure on Bayern, so the next three games are really important,” said captain Marco Reus ahead of Saturday’s derby at Bochum. Last … Read more
LONDON: Britain’s economic growth recovery slowed in October, official data showed on Friday, even before the appearance of the Omicron coronavirus variant that has pushed the UK government to restore restrictions. Gross domestic product increased 0.1 per cent in October compared with output of 0.6 per cent the previous month, the Office for National Statistics said … Read more
LONDON: Steven Gerrard will be determined to give Liverpool a bloody nose on an emotional return to Anfield with Aston Villa on Saturday as the coronavirus once more casts a shadow over the Premier League. Former Liverpool midfielder Gerrard has won three of his four league matches since taking over from Dean Smith at Villa Park but faces a … Read more
THE HAGUE, Dec 9, 2021 (AFP) – The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said Thursday that cases of Omicron so far appear to be “mostly mild”, but cautioned it was still investigating whether the variant could cause severe disease. “Cases appear to be mostly mild, however we need to gather more evidence to determine whether the spectrum … Read more
BEIRUT, Dec 9, 2021 (AFP) – The Lebanese health ministry said Thursday that it had confirmed th country’s first two cases of the Omicron variant of Covid in passengers tested upon arrival at the airport. “Two cases detected in airport testing” were confirmed to be of the Omicron variant, Health Minister Firass Abiad told a press conference. He said both … Read more
NEW YORK: Oil prices edged lower in choppy trade on Wednesday, taking a breather after gains earlier this week, as investors assessed the impact of the Omicron coronavirus variant on the global economy, Reuters reported. The market had a muted reaction to US weekly inventory figures, which showed a smaller-than-anticipated decline in crude stocks and another bump … Read more
ADDIS ABABA: The African Union (AU) warned that travel and entry bans in connection with the emergence of the Omicron COVID-19 variant limit the free movement of people and goods, imposing immediate and significant impact on African countries. The 55-member pan African bloc, in a statement issued late Tuesday, called for the urgent rescinding of … Read more
FRANKFURT, Dec 8, 2021 (AFP) – The coronavirus vaccine developed jointly by BioNTech and Pfizer is “still effective” against the Omicron variant of the virus after three doses, the companies said in a statement on Wednesday. A laboratory study by its makers found the vaccine “is still effective in preventing Covid-19, also against Omicron, if it … Read more
GENEVA, Dec 8, 2021 (AFP) – The Omicron variant appears to be no worse than other coronavirus strains, top scientists from the WHO and the United States told AFP, while cautioning that more research is needed to judge its severity. The hopeful assessments came as global concern grew over the heavily mutated variant, which has forced … Read more
MELBOURNE: Men’s world number one Novak Djokovic was named among the entries for the Australian Open on Wednesday, following intense speculation about his vaccination status, but women’s great Serena Williams was missing. The Serbian had cast doubt on whether he would defend his Melbourne title next month, refusing to reveal whether he was inoculated against coronavirus, a … Read more
LAHORE: As many as 28 women cricketers will undergo skills and fitness training at the Inzamam-ul-Haq High Performance Centre, Multan in the emerging women’s camp, which begins on 10 December. Over the course of the 18-day camp, these 28 players will train under the supervision of the coaching staff of the women’s national cricket team … Read more
WASHINGTON: Strong American export business caused a large drop in the US trade deficit last month, even as imports also rose, according to government data released on Tuesday. The gap between imports and exports of goods and services dropped 17.6 per cent to $67.1 billion last month, bringing the trade deficit down from a record … Read more
LONDON: Britain’s beleaguered travel industry called on Tuesday for government assistance to soften the blow of the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant. The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) said that the latest travel curbs, rolled out on Tuesday to try to prevent transmission, risked holiday firms going bust. “As additional travel restrictions come … Read more
BEIJING: From human rights to coronavirus and tennis star Peng Shuai, February’s Beijing Olympics have been overshadowed by several controversies. With under two months, until the Games begin, the United States on Monday reacted by announcing a diplomatic boycott. AFP Sports looks at the issues hanging over the Olympics: Peng Shuai There was a grave international concern … Read more
RIYADH: Bitcoin, the leading cryptocurrency, plunged around 30 per cent from the year’s high of $69,000 on November 10, Arab News reported. It; however, traded higher on Sunday, rising by 2.82 per cent to $48,972 at 5:14pm Riyadh time. Ether, the second most popular cryptocurrency, traded at $4,140, up 4.16 per cent, according to data from CoinDesk. … Read more
NEW YORK – New York Mayor Bill de Blasio on Monday announced a blanket Covid-19 vaccine mandate for the private sector in the United States’ biggest city, starting from late December. The order goes further than a nationwide mandate set by President Joe Biden for companies with more than 100 employees to vaccinate workers by … Read more
RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec 4, 2021 (AFP) – Rio de Janeiro has decided “with sadness” to cancel its huge New Year’s celebration amid rising concerns over the spread of the new Covid-19 variant known as Omicron. The move also raises doubts about the city’s iconic Carnival in February. “We are going to cancel the official celebration … Read more
