Pakistan: Massive irregularities in COVID-19 found in audit
An audit report on Covid-19 expenditures has disclosed irregularities of up to Rs5.24 billion in purchases of sugar, ghee and wheat flour by the Utility Stores Corporation (USC), including procurement of unfit ghee and edible oil worth Rs1.40bn, media reports said on Tuesday.
US hails South Africa for quick, transparent response to emergence of Omicron strain
Washington/UNI/Sputnik: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has thanked South Africa for a swift and transparent approach to the emergence of the new, Omicron, variant of the coronavirus, US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said.
Israel temporarily closes borders to prevent spread of Omicron strain: Prime Minister
Tel Aviv/UNI/Sputnik: Israel is banning the entry of foreigners for two weeks in order to prevent the spread of the new Omicron coronavirus strain, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett informs.
'Being punished for detecting new Covid strain': South Africa
Johannesburg: South Africa complained Saturday that it is being "punished" for detecting a new Covid-19 variant Omicron, media reports said.
Two cases of COVID-19 variant Omicron detected in UK
London/IBNS: Two people have been infected with Omicron, the new COVID-19 variant first found in South Africa, in the United Kingdom.
France suspends flights from 7 southern African nations amid fears of new COVID variant
Paris/UNI/Xinhua: The French government announced on Friday to immediately suspend flights coming from the southern parts of Africa following the detection of a new Covid-19 variant in South Africa.
Bangladesh registers three fresh COVID-19 deaths in past 24 hours
Dhaka: As many as three people died due to COVID-19 in Bangladesh in the past 24 hours, media reports said.
French Prime Minister Jean Castex tests positive for coronavirus: Reports
Paris/UNI/Sputnik: French Prime Minister Jean Castex has tested positive for Covid-19, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported, citing the official residence of the Prime Minister, Hotel de Matignon.
US court suspends order for mandatory vaccination of staff in large companies
Washington/UNI/Sputnik: The US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled to suspend the decision on compulsory vaccination against COVID-19 for employees of large companies in the country.
Prisoned Chinese COVID-19 Wuhan journalist Zhang Zhan is now 'close to death': Reports
Beijing: A Chinese journalist, who was jailed for her coverage of China’s initial response to Covid in Wuhan, is close to death following months of intermittent hunger strikes in protest at her jailing, reports Radio Free Asia.
Germany detects highest number of New Covid infections since start of Pandemic
Berlin/UNI/Sputnik: Germany recorded 33,949 new Covid-19 infections on Thursday, which marks the highest daily number since the beginning of the pandemic, according to the Robert Koch Institute, the country's health body in charge of coronavirus statistics.
UN chief Guterres calls for vaccine equity as global Covid-19 deaths exceed 5 million
United Nations/UNI/Xinhua: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called for vaccine equity and continued vigilance against the coronavirus as global Covid-19 deaths exceeded 5 million.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki tests COVID-19 positive
Washington: White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Monday announced she has tested COVID-19 positive.
G20 leaders committed to strive to resume global travel in safe, orderly manner amid Covid
Rome/Sputnik: The leaders of the G20 countries committed on Sunday for making efforts to restart international travel in a safe and ordered manner amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to the final communique obtained by Sputnik.
G20 leaders agree to take steps to boost Covid vaccine supply to developing nations
Rome/UNI/Sputnik: The leaders of the G20 countries agreed on Sunday to take action to help boost the supply of vaccines and essential medical products and inputs in developing countries, according to the Rome summit's declaration obtained by Sputnik.