Tue, 21-Oct-2025

Macau authorities aim to complete mass tests on Covid-19 within one day

macau covid 19

Authorities hope to complete the PCR tests within one day. Eleven Covid-19 cases have been discovered in the last few days. Macau residents no longer need to submit visa applications in person. The directive comes as Typhoon Nalgae approaches southern China, and authorities hope to complete the PCR tests within one day. In the previous … Read more

COVID-19 cases surge after Ireland lifts mask mandate

ireland

DUBLIN – The daily number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ireland has more than tripled in less than two weeks after the country lifted the mask mandate, according to the figures released by the Irish Department of Health on Friday. Ireland reported 9,186 PCR-confirmed cases on Friday, an increase of more than 300 percent from … Read more

Singapore reports 13,544 new COVID-19 cases

singapore

SINGAPORE – Singapore reported 13,544 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total tally to 724,424. Of the new cases, 1,973 cases were detected through PC+R (polymerase chain reaction) tests and 11,571 through ARTs (antigen rapid tests), according to statistics released by the Ministry of Health. Among the PCR cases, 1,907 were local … Read more

Multan Sultans’ Tim David tests positive

sultans

Multan Sultans suffered a huge blow ahead of the first HBL PSL 7 playoff match after Tim David was tested positive, according to a private news agency. The results came back positive during the routine PCR testing. However, the franchise management has not revealed anything yet. With losing David, Sultans will have a harder time … Read more

Kenya launches rapid diagnostic kits for testing COVID-19, malaria

kenya

NAIROBI – Kenya’s Ministry of Health on Tuesday launched malaria and COVID-19 PCR diagnostic kits in a bid to boost timely detection and treatment of the two diseases. Rashid Aman, the chief administrative secretary in the Ministry of Health, said that the malaria rapid diagnostic kit (PlamoCheck) and the PCR COVID-19 testing kit (KEMCoV PCR) … Read more

Singapore reports 9,930 new COVID-19 cases

singapore

SINGAPORE – Singapore reported 9,930 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Friday, bringing the total tally to 449,570. Of the new cases, 2,201 cases were detected through PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests and 7,729 through ART (antigen rapid test) tests, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Health (MOH). Among the PCR cases, 2,092 … Read more

Umrah pilgrims must have negative PCR test, says Saudi Hajj Ministry

International Umrah Pilgrims

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has announced that all Umrah pilgrims coming to the Kingdom must submit a negative PCR test report taken no more than 48 hours before arrival. Read more: Pakistan reaffirms full support for Saudi’s security, sovereignty & territorial integrity The ministry in a statement said this applies to all, “regardless … Read more

Moldova PM tests positive for COVID-19

Natalia Gavrilita

BUCHAREST – Moldova’s Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita said late Tuesday that she was tested positive for COVID-19. “Today I performed a PCR test for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus, which turned out to be positive,” she wrote in her social media account, adding that she will work at home, online, in the next few days. … Read more

Singapore reports 4,498 new COVID-19 cases

singapore covid

SINGAPORE – Singapore reported 4,498 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, bringing the total tally to 348,330. Of the new cases, 1,424 cases were detected through PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests and 3,074 through ART (antigen rapid test) tests, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Health. Among the PCR cases, 1,164 were … Read more

Rate of PCR test for Covid-19 detection slashed in Punjab

LAHORE: The Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) on Saturday has fixed the maximum price of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test of Covid-19 at Rs4,800, slashing it from Rs6,500. According to a letter issued to all private laboratories, collection centres, and hospital labs of the province, the maximum price of the PCR test has been fixed … Read more

Uzbekistan cancels mandatory COVID-19 rapid test for arrivals

rapid tests

TASHKENT – Uzbekistan has decided to cancel the mandatory COVID-19 rapid test for all visitors upon arrival from Tuesday, according to the Uzbek Health Ministry. “If visitors have a negative result of the PCR test for coronavirus infection taken within 48 hours, no express test is needed,” said the country’s special commission on COVID-19. Earlier … Read more

Japanese SDF member on aid mission to COVID-free Tonga tests positive, 21 others in quarantine

japanese sdf

TOKYO – A member of Japan’s Self-Defense Force (SDF) unit that was dispatched to provide aid to disaster-struck Tonga has tested positive for COVID-19, Japan’s public broadcaster NHK said Tuesday. According to Japan’s Defense Ministry, a member of the Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) tested positive for the virus after spiking a fever on Monday and … Read more

The Djoker’s Show

djokovic

Australia’s government cancelled the world number one Novak Djokovic’s visa for a second time on Friday as it sought to deport the tennis superstar for arriving in the country without a Covid-19 vaccine. According to Australia’s Immigration Minister Alex Hawke, he acted on “health and good order grounds on the basis that it was in … Read more

COVID-19 cases soar in Aussie state as rapid tests come into force

Aussie state

SYDNEY, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) — Following a government mandate to log positive Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs), the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) recorded a vast record of 92,264 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday. Of the new cases, 30,877 were done through traditional PCR testing and a further 61,387 were self-reported by citizens since … Read more

Africa Cup of Nations poses massive challenges for host Cameroon

africa

YAOUNDÉ: The Africa Cup of Nations, kicking off Sunday in Cameroon after a delay over Covid concerns, is also posing major security, political and organisational challenges for the host nation. Some were fearing yet another postponement, with African football chief Patrice Motsepe saying late last month that the rapid spread of the Omicron variant in a country with … Read more

Cricket Australia chief latest to get Covid on Ashes tour

cricket

SYDNEY: Cricket Australia chief Nick Hockley on Monday became the latest person to contract Covid-19 during the Ashes series against England. Hockley, who is fully vaccinated, developed mild symptoms and immediately got tested and isolated, with a positive PCR result confirmed. “I am isolating at home with my family, who have returned negative results,” he said. Hockley … Read more

Liverpool’s Klopp confident Chelsea game will go ahead despite virus cases

Klopp

LONDON: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes his side’s crucial match against Chelsea will go ahead on Sunday despite three new coronavirus cases in their camp as another fixture was called off by the Premier League. Klopp refused to name the players on Friday as they were awaiting test results but forward Roberto Firmino and goalkeeper Alisson Becker were … Read more

World to ring in New Year under Covid cloud

World

SYDNEY: The world prepared to usher in 2022 on Friday after another tumultuous and pandemic-ridden year capped by new restrictions, soaring case numbers, and a slight glimmer of hope for better times ahead. The past 12 months saw a new US president and a new Adele album, the first spectator-free Olympics, and dreams of democracy … Read more

Under-pressure England coach to miss Sydney Test after virus case in family

coach

SYDNEY: England’s beleaguered Ashes tour went from bad to worse Thursday with under-pressure coach Chris Silverwood to miss the fourth Test in Sydney after a family member tested positive for the coronavirus. Silverwood and his family have to isolate in Melbourne for 10 days while the rest of the team head to Sydney for the … Read more

England face nervous wait as Covid threatens Ashes

England

MELBOURNE: England were nervously awaiting results of PCR tests after four Covid cases in the camp but veteran Jimmy Anderson said Monday they are keen to finish the Ashes series in Australia. Four members of the England party — two support staff and two family members — tested positive for coronavirus just hours before the … Read more

England camp rocked by four Covid cases at Melbourne Ashes Test

England

MELBOURNE: England was rocked by a major Covid scare ahead of day two of the third Ashes Test Monday with four members of the team camp — two support staff and two family members — testing positive for coronavirus. The team and management were forced to undergo urgent rapid antigen tests just as they were … Read more

Confident Pakistan face Covid-hit West Indies in T20Is

Pakistan

KARACHI: High-flying Pakistan start as favourites against a Covid-hit West Indies team in the first of three Twenty20 internationals in Karachi on Monday. Already missing a number of top players including skipper Kieron Pollard, the West Indies were dealt an additional blow when left-arm pacer Sheldon Cottrell, and all-rounders Roston Chase and Kyle Mayers, tested … Read more

Three West Indies cricketers test positive for Covid in Pakistan

West Indies

ST. JOHN’S: Three West Indies cricket players and a member of the team staff have tested positive for coronavirus on arriving in Pakistan and will miss the upcoming limited-overs series, Cricket West Indies (CWI) said on Saturday. Left-arm pacer Sheldon Cottrell, all-rounders Roston Chase and Kyle Mayers and a non-coaching staff member “returned positive tests in Karachi and will … Read more

The way we were: Denmark lifts all Covid curbs

The way we were: Denmark lifts all Covid curbs

With no masks in sight, buzzing offices and concerts drawing tens of thousands, Denmark on Friday ditches vaccine passports in nightclubs, ending its last Covid curb. The vaccine passports were introduced in March 2021 when Copenhagen slowly started easing restrictions. They were abolished at all venues on September 1, except in nightclubs, where they will … Read more

Air fares from Pakistan to UAE doubled

Israel, UAE ministers in US as Biden seeks to expand normalization

KARACHI: One-way air fare to the UAE from Karachi has surged to Rs90,000, which was around Rs35,000 in February 2021, before the restrictions were imposed. The air travel between the two countries recently resumed; following the implementation of rapid PCR test facilities at airports. “[The] airlines, including Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) have jacked up the … Read more

UAE travel: Pakistanis remain stranded due to unavailability of rapid PCR test facilities

Israel, UAE ministers in US as Biden seeks to expand normalization

Pakistani expatriates continue to remain stranded in their home country. They cannot fly to the UAE due to the unavailability of the rapid antigen test facilities at airports in the country, Khaleej Times reported. “There is no rapid antigen test facility at [the] Pakistani airports. Therefore, [the] passengers are not able to board flights. The UAE strictly … Read more

Shane Warne To Sit Out After Testing Positive for COVID-19

Shane Warne

Former Australian leg-break bowler Shane Warne had to sit out a match in the English Hundred tournament on Sunday after testing positive for COVID-19. Warne, 51, is the head coach of the London Spirit franchise, which was playing the Southern Brave at Lord’s. London Spirit men’s head coach Warne will be absent from today’s match … Read more

Expo 2020 participants, exhibitors will be allowed to fly into UAE

Expo 2020 Dubai Unveils the Ticket Prices, Event Kick starts From July 18

DUBAI: The participants, exhibitors and personnel of the Expo 2020 sponsored by the event organisers will be eligible to enter the country, The Gulf News quoted, the UAE’s aviation regulator, as saying. Diplomatic personnel between the UAE and applicable countries, including the administrative workers in the embassies of the UAE in these countries and the … Read more