Thailand detects first case of Omicron variant
Thailand has detected its first case of the Omicron coronavirus variant in a US citizen who had traveled to the country from Spain late last month, a health official said on Monday.
UK trade minister to seek closer ties on US trip, deal remains distant
Britain will seek to strengthen its trading relationship with the United States this week when trade minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan visits New York and Washington, but a full free-trade agreement remains a distant prospect.
Fauci says he hopes US travel ban from southern Africa can be lifted in 'reasonable period'
Anthony Fauci, the top US infectious disease official, said on Sunday he hopes the ban on travelers from southern African countries can be lifted in a "reasonable period of time" as more information is gathered on the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
World News in Brief: December 5
Higher hospital admissions among children during a fourth wave of COVID-19 infections in South Africa that has been driven by the Omicron coronavirus variant should not prompt panic as infections have been mild, a health official said on Saturday.
Leaders of Laos, China pledge to bolster ties
NDO/VNA – Leaders of Laos and China pledged to further boost bilateral ties at their online meeting on December 3, according to the Lao Foreign Ministry.
World News in Brief: December 3
Asia-Pacific countries should boost their healthcare capacity and fully vaccinate their people to prepare for a surge in COVID-19 cases fuelled by the Omicron variant, officials at the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday.
To fight Omicron, Biden sets new travel rules and adds free COVID tests
US President Joe Biden on Thursday laid out his strategy to fight the Omicron and Delta coronavirus variants over the winter, including free and insurer-funded at-home COVID-19 testing and new requirements for international travelers.
Beijing easing travel rules for US business execs - China's envoy to US
China will reduce the time needed for approval of travel by US business executives to no more than 10 days, China's ambassador to the United States, Qin Gang, said on Thursday.
Italy, ASEAN eye stronger trade ties
NDO/VNA - A business forum themed “To ASEAN Business Days” took place in Torino city in the northern Piedmont region of Italy on November 29-30, discussing solutions to expand trade ties between the European nation and ASEAN member nations.
OPEC+ agrees to go ahead with planned January oil output hike
OPEC and its allies agreed on Thursday to stick to their existing policy of monthly oil output increases despite fears that a US release from crude reserves and the new coronavirus variant would lead to a new oil price rout.
Omicron rapidly dominating in South Africa; US reports first case
Heavily mutated Omicron is rapidly becoming the dominant variant of the coronavirus in South Africa less than four weeks after it was first detected there, and the United States on Wednesday became the latest country to identify an Omicron case within its borders.
RoK hits new COVID-19 record, halts quarantine exemptions to block Omicron
The Republic of Korea (RoK)'s daily coronavirus case numbers rose to a new high on Thursday, as authorities halted quarantine exemptions for fully vaccinated inbound travellers for two weeks in a bid to fend off the Omicron variant.