World

Some airline officials hoped the addition of new testing requirements could help suspend the entry restrictions

Experts said there was no evidence that vaccines would not protect against this variant

US has the world's highest absolute number of cases as well as the most deaths related to the virus

Dry conditions blamed on climate change have seen yields halved in the past two decades

WHO officials say no evidence that variant made people sicker or was more deadly than existing strains

Rahmatullah Nekzad was gunned down as he left his home in Ghazni city

Market optimism over vaccine-fuelled rebound in economic growth comes under threat

Flight from Tel Aviv to Rabat is seen as highly symbolic after Morocco announced 'resumption of relations' with Israel

'Great conjunction' – happening after almost 400-year hiatus – is visible in many countries including Pakistan

Use of such vaccines permitted as long as there were no alternatives, Vatican tells Roman Catholics

Strain is said to be up to 70% more transmissible than the previously dominant strain in UK

New strain prompts Britain’s neighbours, several countries to close doors to travellers from the country

It’s very difficult to camp out in this weather, but we aren’t scared, says one farmer

British govt faces criticism for abruptly scrapping plans to ease restrictions for Christmas

Vaccination programme would start off with the most vulnerable members of the population, such as the elderly

Sowing chaos for families and companies just days before exiting the EU’s orbit

US media report says closure will render 431 employees jobless

The package would be the second-largest economic stimulus in US history

FM terms UAE visa ban temporary; asks opposition to resign immediately

After oil prices marked seven straight weeks of gains as investors focused on the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines

Prime Minister Oli's government has weathered accusations of corruption and criticism for its handling of pandemic

Trudeau has said he will take the coronavirus vaccine publicly, once those in his age group are in line for it

At the moment, he said, no strain of the virus appears to be resistant to the vaccines

World Health Organization has also asked European countries to redouble their health measures

South American countries follow move by European nations amid concerns over new fast-moving variant of Covid-19

Flights from UK suspended indefinitely as of midnight, says Canadian Transport Ministry

Australia has recorded just under 28,200 cases and 908 deaths since the pandemic began

All passengers’ contact details were taken and they are required to self-isolate

Germany, Italy and the Netherlands ordered a suspension of flights from Britain

The rule is intended to prevent the entry of foods that could spread diseases

Twitter frenzy after social media star filmed picking up pet dog's poop with face mask, then putting it back on

Move plunges Himalayan country into political turmoil as it battles the coronavirus pandemic

Says the agency's services are a crucial guarantee of Russia’s sovereign, democratic, independent development

Emirati FM appreciates contribution of 1.5m Pakistani diaspora in country's prosperity, says FO

French president’s statement affected Muslim community living around the world, says Aman Project chief

The boys were held for six days before security services rescued them on Thursday from Rugu forest

Says RSS-BJP government planning to stage ‘false flag’ attack to divert attention from its domestic difficulties

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan says Pakistan and UAE's close ties continued to strengthen over past decades

So far no one claimed responsibility for the blast

“I felt extremely blessed,” Modi said on Twitter

Several nations around the world begin vaccinating against the virus

Imposes lockdown on over 16 million people amid a new virus strain up to 70% more transmissible than the original

Around 207 natural disasters were recorded globally during the year

Major events of 2020

Europe is once again seeing growing cases with officials fearing an explosion in infections Christmas holidays

'Urgent work is under way to confirm that it does not cause a higher mortality rate'

The opposition accuses PM Nikol Pashinyan of mishandling conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region with Azerbaijan

He presents similar Covid-19 symptoms which do not prevent him from fulfilling his obligations

No group immediately claimed responsibility for attack, and the Taliban denied any involvement

US President-elect has promised to make tackling climate change one of the pillars of his Democratic administration