Pfizer and BioNTech have begun enrolment for a clinical trial to test the safety and immune response of their Omicron-specific COVID-19 vaccine in adults aged up to 55, the companies said in a statement Tuesday.Pfizer's CEO Albert Bourla has previously said that the pharmaceutical giant could be ready to file for regulatory approval of the shot by March.The company's head of vaccine research Kathrin Jansen said in a statement that while current data showed that boosters against the

Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:Police Probe Partygate British Prime Minister Boris Johnson vows to cooperate with police on any formal probe into coronavirus lockdown-breaking parties at Downing Street, which has deepened the threat to his position.IMF Slashes Growth Estimate The Omicron variant of COVID-19 is creating an obstacle course for the global economy, which will slow growth this year, notably in the world's two largest economies the

India’s COVID-19 infections led by the Omicron variant may see a sharp rise in the coming weeks, some top experts say, noting that the variant is already in community transmission and hospitals are seeing more patients despite a decline in cases in major cities.India on Monday reported 306,064 new infections over the last 24 hours, the health ministry said, about an eight percent decline from the average daily cases reported in the last four days.

Tensions between Ukraine and Russia, which has massed troops along their border, has drawn Washington and Moscow into a Cold War-style stand-off.Here is a timeline of the spiralling situation.Troop Movements On 10 November, 2021 NATO warns Moscow about taking "aggressive action" after Washington reports unusual troops movements near the Ukrainian border.Russian President Vladimir Putin accuses the West of "supplying modern weapons to Kyiv" and staging provocative

Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:Could Omicron End Europe Pandemic? The Omicron variant may bring the pandemic to an end in Europe, says the World Health Organization's (WHO) regional director Hans Kluge, exclusively telling AFP that "it's plausible that the region is moving towards a kind of pandemic endgame."It Could End Within Year: WHO The COVID emergency could end this year, the global head of the WHO says, even though last

COVAX aims to break the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022 by ensuring a steady supply of vaccines at last for the world's poorest countries – and swiftly getting them into arms.The global scheme, aimed at procuring donor-funded jabs for the 91 weakest economies, delivered its one billionth dose last weekend – a major milestone that came far later than anticipated after a year of setbacks.The battle for COVAX in 2021 was getting hold of doses – besides rich countries cornering most of the vaccine

Hong Kong authorities said Sunday that one of 77 hamsters handed in by pet owners for a COVID cull has tested positive, as thousands of city residents remain under lockdown to combat an outbreak.The financial services hub adheres to mainland China's strict "zero-COVID" policy under which even the slightest sign of the virus is stamped out with contact tracing, targeted lockdowns and long quarantines.More than 2,000 hamsters have been culled after some imported from the Netherla

Scientists are keeping a close watch on a recently-discovered sub-variant of the Omicron version of the COVID-19 virus to determine how its emergence could affect future pandemic spread.The initial Omicron variant has become the dominant virus strain in recent months but British health authorities have notably identified hundreds of cases of the latest version, dubbed BA.2, while international data suggest it could spread relatively quickly.The United Kingdom (UK) Health Security Agency (UKHS

Hundreds of Malaysians rallied in the capital Saturday, demanding the country's powerful anti-graft chief resign over a stock trading controversy where he owned millions of shares.Wearing masks and shouting "reject corruption", the mostly black-clad crowd of about two hundred called for immediate action against Azam Baki, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) top official.Protests in the Southeast Asian nation have been rare since the beginning of the pandemic

Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:Russia Tops COVID Daily Record The Russian government reports a record number of new coronavirus cases after the Kremlin warned of a looming surge in cases driven by the Omicron variant.Virus Lands In Pacific Island Nations Kiribati and Samoa enter lockdowns after overseas arrivals brought COVID to the Pacific Island nations that had avoided the worst of the pandemic for two years.Scientists Track Omicron 'Sub-V