New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern calls off her wedding after new Covid rules amid Omicron rise
Wellington/IBNS: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern called off her own wedding on Sunday as she tightened Covid-19 restrictions in the country amid the outbreak of the Omicron variant.
Toronto/IBNS: The Beijing Olympic Committee's use of reportedly stricter than usual testing for COVID-19 has made it harder for Canadian athletes to pass tests upon arriving in China, especially those who have recently recovered from the virus.
'Nobody told me drinks party was against rules': UK PM Boris Johnson
London/UNI: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday denied that he had been warned that holding a drinks party in the No 10 garden amounted to breaking lockdown rules.
Ontario/IBNS: Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, has said during a news conference that it is unclear if businesses ordered to close by the government last week will reopen on Jan 26.
COVID-19 pandemic stalls global economic recovery: UN report
The UN’s key report on the global economy, released on Thursday, shows that the rapid spread of the Omicron COVID-19 variant has put the brakes on a rapid recovery, counteracting signs of solid growth at the end of last year.
UK PM Boris Johnson apologizes for attending Downing Street garden party during lockdown
London/UNI/Xinhua: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson apologized on Wednesday for attending a Downing Street garden party in London during the country's first lockdown in 2020.
US group asks Elon Musk to shut down Tesla showroom in Xinjiang
Washington: The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) on Tuesday called on industrialist Elon Musk to close a recently-opened Tesla showroom in China’s Xinjiang region, where Chinese authorities are carrying out a campaign of genocide targeting the Uyghur Muslim minority.
Over 4,000 Chinese students sent to quarantine
Beijing: More than 4,000 students in China's Anyang city have been sent to quarantine after several cases were detected in their school.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador tests positive for COVID-19
Mexico City/UNI/Sputnik: Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said he contracted COVID-19 again and will be isolated with mild symptoms.
US: Mother held for locking son in car boot in Texas
Texas/UNI: A mother in the US was arrested after she reportedly locked her Covid positive son in a car boot to protect herself from the virus while going to a testing site, media reports said.
Pakistan President Alvi tests COVID19 positive
Islamabad: Pakistan President Arif Alvi has tested positive for COVID-19.
President Macron vows to 'hassle' France's unvaccinated
Paris/UNI: French President Emmanuel Macron has threatened to "piss off" people until everyone is vaccinated against Covid-19.
Pakistan: Punjab Health Minister tests COVID-19 positive
Islamabad: Pakistan's Punjab region Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid on Tuesday tested positive for COVID-19.
Canada: Quebec's imposition of curfew to protect healthcare system faces criticism
Montreal/IBNS: Quebec Premier François Legault alongside Health Minister Christian Dubé and public health director Horacio Arruda have announced in a news conference to impose a night curfew between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. effective Dec 31 amid rising COVID-19 cases.
COVID-19, aging population disrupting China's attempt to stabilise market in 2022
Beijing: COVID-19 spike and fast aging population have emerged as the new threat for China to fight the task of stabilising employment next year, media reports said.