By Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The International Monetary Fund is likely to lower its global economic growth estimates due to the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus, the global lender’s chief said at the Reuters Next conference on Friday in another sign of the turmoil unleashed by the ever-changing pandemic. Omicron has spread rapidly to …
IMF chief says Omicron could dent global economic growth Read More »
By Parisa Hafezi, Francois Murphy and John Irish VIENNA (Reuters) – Indirect U.S.-Iranian talks on saving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal broke off until next week as European officials voiced dismay on Friday at sweeping demands by Iran’s new, hardline government. The seventh round of talks in Vienna is the first with delegates sent by …
Iran nuclear talks break, Europe, U.S. dismayed by Iranian stance Read More »
By Alistair Smout LONDON (Reuters) -COVID-19 vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna that use mRNA technology provide the biggest boost to antibody levels when given 10-12 weeks after the second dose, a new British study has found. The “COV-Boost” study was cited by British officials when they announced that Pfizer and Moderna were preferred for …
UK study finds mRNA COVID-19 vaccines provide biggest booster impact Read More »
By Deena Beasley (Reuters) – The Omicron variant, spreading now in southern Africa and detected in over 30 other countries, has prompted fears it could significantly undermine the effectiveness of vaccines against COVID-19. Yet as scientists race to understand the full consequences of Omicron, some are also asking whether this new version of coronavirus might …
Explainer-Could the Omicron variant bring milder illness? Read More »
By Ludwig Burger FRANKFURT (Reuters) -BioNTech should be able to adapt its coronavirus vaccine relatively quickly in response to the Omicron variant, and the next few weeks will show how urgently an upgrade is needed, its CEO Ugur Sahin told the Reuters Next conference on Friday. Sahin said people should continue to seek the established …
BioNTech CEO says vaccine upgrade on the cards, ready to move quickly Read More »
By John Irish DUBAI (Reuters) -The United Arab Emirates ordered 80 Rafale fighter jets and 12 military helicopters on Friday, deepening economic and political ties with France through an arms contract worth 17 billion euros ($19.20 billion). The largest ever overseas sale of the French warplane was sealed as French President Emmanuel Macron began a …
Cementing ties with France, UAE places $19 billion order for warplanes, helicopters Read More »
By Francesco Guarascio and Stephanie Nebehay (Reuters) -The World Health Organization’s chief scientist told the Reuters Next conference on Friday the Omicron variant could become dominant because it is highly transmissible, but that a different vaccine may not be needed. Soumya Swaminathan also said it was too early to say whether Omicron is milder than …
WHO’s top scientist says Omicron could displace Delta Read More »
GENEVA (Reuters) – It is “commendable” that makers of COVID-19 vaccines are planning for the “likelihood” of needing to adjust their products to protect against the Omicron variant, a World Health Organization (WHO) spokesperson said on Friday. Christian Lindmeier, speaking at a U.N. briefing in Geneva, said the agency was still studying the transmissibility and …
Vaccine makers doing right to look to adjust COVID-19 jabs – WHO Read More »
By Natalia Zinets KYIV (Reuters) – Russia has massed more than 94,000 troops near Ukraine’s borders and may be gearing up for a large-scale military offensive at the end of January, Ukraine’s defence minister told parliament on Friday, citing intelligence reports. Oleksii Reznikov said Ukraine would not do anything to provoke the situation but was …
Large scale Russian offensive possible in January, Ukraine says Read More »
