Pfizer and BioNTech have said a booster jab of their coronavirus vaccine promises to be an effective defence against the new Omicron variant. Three doses provide a similar level of antibodies against Omicron to that of two doses against other variants, the companies said after a small

Tributes have poured in from around the world for India's top military commander, who died in a helicopter crash on Wednesday. Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 others died after the Mi-17V5 helicopter crashed in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. An inquiry

The parents of a teenager suspected of a deadly school shooting have been arrested in a Detroit basement hours after going on the run, police say. James and Jennifer Crumbley were found unarmed hiding in a warehouse after a tip-off from someone who saw their car. The couple had

Joe Biden has warned that he will not accept "red lines" set by Moscow as fears mount that Russia is planning an imminent invasion of Ukraine. The US president said he will make it "very, very difficult" for Russia to invade its neighbour. Meanwhile, US media has

The EU has revealed details of a €300bn (£255bn; $340bn) global investment plan, described as a "true alternative" to China's Belt and Road strategy, reports BBC. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the Global Gateway scheme should become a

Saudi Arabia confirmed its first case of the new Omicron COVID-19 variant as countries tightened restrictions on international travel in an attempt to slow its spread. Saudi’s state-run SPA quoted a source from the health ministry as saying the infected individual – a Saudi

Three students have been killed and eight others injured, including a teacher, in a high school shooting in the US state of Michigan. Officials say a 16-year-old boy and two girls aged 14 and 17 died. Police allege the suspect, a pupil at the school, used a handgun that his father

US President Joe Biden has called the Omicron Covid-19 variant a "cause for concern, not a cause for panic" a day after it was detected in North America. He said he saw no need for a new lockdown "for now... if people are vaccinated and wear their masks". Cases

Barbados has officially removed Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state and become the world's newest republic. In an overnight ceremony in the capital, Bridgetown, Dame Sandra Mason was sworn in as president. The Prince of Wales and Barbadian singer Rihanna attended the event,

In the past week a heavily mutated Covid variant has been identified, rapidly labelled a "variant of concern" by the World Health Organization and named Omicron. It has been detected in countries including the UK. It is a rapidly evolving situation. Omicron's genetic

The US will restrict travel from South Africa and seven other southern African countries to try to contain a new coronavirus variant spreading there. From Monday, only US citizens and residents will be allowed to travel from the region. This follows a similar flight ban imposed by

Net immigration to the United Kingdom fell by almost 90 percent last year to its lowest level since 1993 due to the impact of COVID-19 and Brexit, official figures showed on Thursday. The Office for National Statistics released a first provisional estimate showing that 34,000 more

The UK and France will keep "all options on the table" as they try to stop migrants crossing the Channel. The UK prime minister and French president said trafficking gangs were risking lives, after 27 people died on Wednesday in the worst-recorded migrant tragedy in the

At least 45 people, including 12 children, have died after a bus crashed and caught fire in western Bulgaria, officials say. The incident happened on a motorway at about 02:00 local time (00:00 GMT) near the village of Bosnek, south-west of the capital Sofia. The bus was registered

Five people have been killed and more than 40 injured after a car ploughed into a parade in the US state of Wisconsin, police say. Footage shows a red SUV driving through a Christmas parade in the city of Waukesha, west of Milwaukee, at around 16:40 local time (22:40 GMT). Police

Sudan's ousted Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok is to be reinstated, after being placed under house arrest during a sudden military coup last month. All political detainees will be released as part of a new agreement between the military, civilian leaders and ex-rebel groups,

Israeli occupation forces shot dead a Palestinian man after he carried out a shooting and stabbing attack that killed an Israeli settler and wounded three others, including two police officers. The violence occurred on Sunday morning in the Old City, at the Bab al-Silsila (Chain Gate)

Fresh unrest has erupted in the Netherlands against new lockdown rules amid rising Covid-19 cases in Europe. People hurled fireworks at police and set fire to bicycles in The Hague, one night after protests in Rotterdam turned violent and police opened fire. Thousands of

US President Joe Biden has said he is angry after a teenager who shot dead two men during racial unrest last year in Wisconsin was cleared. The president expressed dismay at the verdict in a written statement after earlier telling reporters he supported the jury's decision. Kyle

US Vice-President Kamala Harris became the first woman to - briefly - be given presidential powers while Joe Biden underwent a regular health check. Ms Harris, 57, was in control for 85 minutes, while Mr Biden was placed under anaesthesia for a routine colonoscopy on Friday. Mr