Indian businesses hurting as Omicron wave nears peak

Israel's Health Ministry has recommended removing all the countries currently on an omicron no-fly list. The ministry also said Israelis should not travel to places with higher infection rates "without a good reason."

There's concern among European authorities about the impact the omicron variant could have on public life in the coming weeks. New measures are being discussed and put in place. But there's also some cautious hope.

Across Europe, there are fears the omicron variant will cause case numbers to climb to record highs, increasing pressure on hospitals and other workplaces. In Germany, health officials are warning that the true scale of the crisis is not yet known.

The number of people who have died after being infected by the coronavirus in Britain has topped 150,000. It's the highest death toll in any European nation. As the total of omicron cases in the UK surges ever higher, the health care system is at its limits.

Refugees in Ivory Coast are starting to rebuild businesses affected by the economic slowdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, through initiatives sponsored by the United Nation refugee agency (UNHCR), to help integrate refugees in the West African country.

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Authorities in Europe are being very cautious, but it seems the record-breaking infection rate of the Omicron variant could soon be followed by a sharp decline in Covid-19 cases. This scenario still leaves the most vulnerable at risk, such as the elderly, those with pre-existing conditions and the unvaccinated.

Indian authorities have ordered an investigation into a deadly train accident in eastern India where 12 rail cars derailed. The express train had more than 1,000 people on board.

Hundreds of thousands of devotees have congregated on the banks of the Ganges to mark Makar Sankranti, amid soaring COVID-19 infections.

The new wave of coronavirus infections in Germany has now surpassed numbers last seen in November. Experts are warning of the threat this poses to the unvaccinated.

A Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine booster shot is 84% effective in protecting against being hospitalised by the Omicron variant for 1-2 months after it is received, the head of South Africa's Medical Research Council (SAMRC), Glenda Gray, said on Friday.

As Germany battles a fifth coronavirus wave, people took to the street to rail against COVID-19 restrictions and a possible vaccine mandate. Others marched for "solidarity instead of conspiracy theories."