WELLINGTON: New Zealand’s first case of coronavirus in the community for more than two months has been identified as the more contagious South African variant, prompting Australia to suspend quarantine-free travel from the neighbouring country for at least 72 hours. A 56-year-old New Zealander, who recently returned from Europe, tested positive
WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden will re-impose a Covid-19 travel ban on most non-US citizens who have been in Britain, Brazil, Ireland and much of Europe, a White House official said Sunday, as the new administration ramps up its pandemic response. Biden will also on Monday extend the ban to travellers who
LOS ANGELES: The iconic TV and radio broadcaster Larry King, who interviewed anyone worth interviewing over a career spanning six decades, died Saturday at the age of 87. The company he co-founded, Ora Media, did not state a cause of death but media reports said King had been battling Covid-19
ISLAMABAD: A young man was hit and killed by a train in Pakistan while being filmed walking along the tracks for a TikTok stunt, police and rescue officials said Saturday. The accident happened on Friday in the Shah Khalid neighbourhood of Rawalpindi city, near the capital Islamabad. Hamza Naveed, 18,
GENEVA: The World Health Organisation said Friday it had no plans to change its guidance recommending fabric face masks as new coronavirus variants spread, because the mutated strains are transmitted in the same way. Germany and Austria have made medical masks mandatory on public transport and in shops — allowing
Democracy has prevailed Together we shall write an American story of hope, not fear, of unity, not division, of light, not darkness. A story of decency and dignity, love and healing and goodness. Joe Biden WASHINGTON: Joe Biden took charge as the 46th president of the United States on Wednesday with
A new chapter begins today. Let’s get to work. Kamela Harris WASHINGTON: Kamala Harris smashed through one of America’s highest glass ceilings Wednesday, becoming the first woman, first Black American and first person of Asian heritage to be appointed vice president, blazing a trail in the most diverse White House
PARIS: World leaders said they were looking forward to Wednesday’s transfer of power in the United States, where Democrat Joe Biden will be sworn in as president after four turbulent years under Donald Trump. European Union Top EU officials voiced relief that they would soon have a friend in the
JOINT BASE ANDREWS, United States: Donald Trump wanted a hero’s send-off Wednesday and the ceremony arranged for him at an Air Force Base outside Washington looked just like one. But one thing was missing: the big crowd he loves. With less than four hours left before Joe Biden took over,
BANGKOK: A Thai woman accused of insulting the royal family was jailed Tuesday for more than 43 years, a legal rights group said, the harshest punishment ever handed out under the country’s strict lese majeste laws. The verdict comes as Thailand ramps up its use of the controversial legislation against