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December
International banks in UAE to switch to Mon-Fri work week
Written by nuke
FILE PHOTO: A logo of Deutsche Bank AG is seen in Tokyo July 16, 2014. REUTERS/Toru Hanai -
Deutsche Bank AG, JPMorgan Chase & Co and Societe Generale SA are changing to a Saturday-Sunday weekend from the New Year in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) which is aligning its working week with most global markets.
The German bank will from Jan. 3 operate Monday-Friday in the Sunni Muslim-ruled country, instead of the current Sunday-Thursday as is common around the Middle East, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.
Wall Street-based JPMorgan is also adapting the same week in UAE https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/uae-announces-move-saturday-sunday-weekend-state-news-agency-2021-12-07, along with flexible practices such as a break for Muslim prayers on Fridays, the bank said in a statement.
France-based Societe Generale's spokesperson said it is implementing Saturday-Sunday weekend from Jan. 2 in its Dubai and Abu Dhabi entities, according to an emailed statement.
Bloomberg News was the first to report https://bloom.bg/3GXvwrq on Sunday that JPMorgan, Deutsche Bank, Bank of America Corp and Societe Generale will switch to a Saturday-Sunday weekend in the UAE.
Representatives of Bank of America did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
The banks' move comes after the UAE said on Dec. 7 that it would shift to a four-and-a-half day week with a Saturday-Sunday weekend from the start of next year.
Private companies are, however, free to choose their own working week in the oil-producing Gulf state which is the region's commercial, trade and tourism hub.
Over the past year, the UAE has taken measures to make its economy more attractive to foreign investment and talent at a time of growing economic rivalry with Saudi Arabia//CNA
December
Despite rainy weather and COVID-19 rules for retailers, Dusseldorf's city centre is well frequented shortly before Christmas on Dec 18, 2021. (File photo: AP/Malte Krudewig, dpa) -
Germany is tightening travel restrictions for people coming from Britain in response to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant there.
The country’s national disease control centre, the Robert Koch Institute, added Britain to its list of “virus variant areas” late on Saturday (Dec 18). This means that anyone travelling from the United Kingdom to Germany must enter a mandatory quarantine for 14 days, regardless of vaccination status.
The new restrictions, which will go into effect at midnight on Sunday, come as the UK reports a record high number of new coronavirus infections. On Saturday, the country saw 90,418 new cases.
The UK joins eight African countries, including South Africa, on Germany’s list of “virus variant areas”.
The Robert Koch Institute’s announcement comes in the wake of tightened restrictions for other countries across Europe as the continent faces a fourth wave of infections.
Starting on Sunday, France and Denmark are considered “high-risk areas,” meaning that those who are not vaccinated or recovered from the virus must quarantine for 10 days. Dozens of countries, including nearly all of Germany’s direct neighbours, have now been added to this category//CNA
December
Malaysia detects 11 more Omicron COVID-19 cases, all imported
Written by nuke
A passenger wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) stands by his luggage at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang on Nov 29, 2021. (Photo: Mohd RASFAN / AFP) -
Malaysia reported 11 more Omicron COVID-19 cases on Saturday (Dec 18), taking the total to 13.
All 11 infections are imported, comprising three who travelled from the United Kingdom, three from the United States, two from Nigeria, two from Saudi Arabia and one from Australia.
Nine of the cases are Malaysians, while two are Nigerians, said Malaysia’s health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.
He added that the 11 cases are among the 18 samples that showed a suspected presence of the Omicron variant, as announced by Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin on Thursday.
“The other seven samples, however, (we) could not confirm the presence of the Omicron variant because the whole genome sequencing could not be done due to the low level of viral load in the samples,” Dr Noor Hisham said.
With more imported Omicron cases in Malaysia, health authorities said COVID-19 measures have been stepped up at all international entry points and in the community.
Nigeria, for instance, has been added to the list of high-risk countries. Mr Khairy said earlier this week that travellers from these countries have to wear digital tracking devices throughout their mandatory quarantine period.
Travellers arriving from the UK must self-test daily throughout their quarantine and report the results on the MySejahtera app.
While large-scale New Year’s Eve celebrations are not allowed, people attending small-scale, private festive events must do self-tests before attending them, Mr Khairy had said.
Malaysia’s health ministry is also urging people to get their COVID-19 vaccine booster shots//CNA
December
Beijing city calls for less holiday travel to reduce COVID-19 risks during Olympics
Written by nuke
A man stands in front of a base relief containing the Olympic Rings in a park in Beijing as the city prepares for the 2022 Olympics, in Beijing, China, December 7, 2021. REUTERS/Thomas Peter -
Beijing city said on Saturday (Dec 18) that it is advising residents not to leave town during a major holiday season in early 2022, part of efforts to limit coronavirus risks while the Winter Olympics Games are being held.
China's capital is keen "to ensure zero local infection, the successful hosting of the Winter Olympic Games and the Winter Paralympic Games, and that the public have joyful, peaceful and tranquil holidays", it said in a statement.
In addition to encouraging people not to take unnecessary trips outside the city, it will also call for some gatherings to be held online, according to the statement.
The northern Hebei province that will co-host the Games with Beijing as well as several other cities have issued similar advisories.
Wu Shiping, an official at China State Railway Group, told a briefing on Saturday he expects a "relatively huge" increase in the number of train passengers during the 40-day travel season for the Lunar New Year holiday compared to 2021 levels which will challenge COVID-19 prevention work.
In pre-pandemic times, the travel period was often described as the world's biggest annual migration, with hundreds of millions of China's migrant workers returning to home towns.
Liang Wannian, an official at the National Health Commission, said there shouldn't be a one-size-fits-all rule across China and local governments should balance the need for people to reunite with their families with COVID-19 control.
But Beijing city as well as regions with higher virus risks such as those with border cities and ports should have stricter rules, he said. Higher risk groups such as the elderly should also avoid unnecessary trips and gatherings, Liang added.
China's recent COVID-19 cases count is low compared with many countries, with daily cases trending at less than a hundred locally transmitted cases with confirmed symptoms//CNA
December
Laos was receiving about 4.7 million foreign tourists each year before the pandemic. (File photo: AFP/Mladen ANTONOV) -
Laos has announced plans to partially reopen to foreign travellers in the new year, throwing a lifeline to the tourism industry after borders were sealed for more than 18 months to keep out COVID-19.
Fully vaccinated visitors on pre-booked tours will be able to enter from Jan 1 and visit the capital Vientiane, eco-tourism hotspot Vang Vieng and UNESCO World Heritage-listed Luang Prabang, state media reported on Friday (Dec 17).
Further destinations will be opened up in April and July as vaccination rates in Laos increase.
But entry will only be available to tourists from 17 nations, mostly Southeast Asian and European countries as well as China, the United States, Australia and Canada.
All visitors will also need to test negative for COVID-19 before arriving.
The reclusive communist nation this month opened a US$6 billion Beijing-built railway that connects its capital to the south-western Chinese city of Kunming.
Health authorities are now rushing to deliver COVID-19 booster shots to people living in tourist spots along the train line in anticipation of an influx of travellers.
Laos was receiving about 4.7 million foreign tourists each year before the pandemic.
But COVID-19 led to an 80 per cent downturn in international visitor numbers in 2020, with the economy in the doldrums despite very few coronavirus cases in Laos in the early stages of the pandemic.
Economic growth declined to 0.4 per cent in 2020, the lowest in three decades, according to the World Bank.
Hopes for a rebound in 2021 were dashed after infection numbers skyrocketed in recent months.
Above Laos Ballooning Adventures, based in Vang Vieng, said it used to run two hot-air balloon flights a day during the high season.
But these days the small business is lucky to receive a single booking even at the weekend, manager La Noy told AFP.
Alex Tran, owner of the Camellia Hotel in Vang Vieng, said revenue was down 95 per cent because of the border closures.
"Many hotels in Vang Vieng are empty and have closed temporarily for around two years because there are no tourists," he told AFP.
There were not enough domestic travellers to sustain the sector, he added.
"After New Year, things are hoped to be better," Tran said//CNA
December
Omicron cases doubling in 1.5 to 3 days in areas with local spread: WHO
Written by nuke
FILE PHOTO: People pose with syringe and needle in front of displayed World Health Organization (WHO) logo, in this illustration taken December 11, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration -
The Omicron coronavirus variant has been reported in 89 countries and the number of cases is doubling in one-and-a-half to three days in areas with community transmission, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Saturday (Dec 18).
Omicron is spreading rapidly in countries with high levels of population immunity, but it is unclear if this is due to the virus' ability to evade immunity, its inherent increased transmissibility or a combination of both, the WHO said in an update.
The agency designated Omicron a variant of concern on Nov 26, soon after it was first detected, and much is still not known about it, including the severity of the illness it causes.
"There are still limited data on the clinical severity of Omicron," the WHO said. "More data are needed to understand the severity profile and how severity is impacted by vaccination and pre-existing immunity."
It added: "There are still limited available data, and no peer-reviewed evidence, on vaccine efficacy or effectiveness to date for Omicron."
The WHO warned that with cases rising so rapidly, hospitals could be overwhelmed in some places.
"Hospitalisations in the UK and South Africa continue to rise, and given rapidly increasing case counts, it is possible that many healthcare systems may become quickly overwhelmed."//CNA
December
Taliban government resumes issuing Afghan passports in Kabul
Written by nuke
Mualvi Alam Gull Haqqani (centre), head of the passport office, checks documents after the Taliban announced its reopening. (Photo: AFP) -
Afghanistan's Taliban authorities said on Saturday (Dec 18) that they will resume issuing passports in Kabul, giving hope to citizens who feel threatened living under the Islamists' rule.
Thousands of Afghans have applied for new travel documents to escape a growing economic and humanitarian crisis described by the United Nations as an "avalanche of hunger".
Authorities will start issuing the documents from Sunday at Kabul's passport office, Alam Gul Haqqani, the head of the passport department in the interior ministry, told reporters.
The Taliban stopped issuing passports shortly after their Aug 15 return to power, as tens of thousands of people scrambled to Kabul's only airport in a bid to catch any international flight that could evacuate them.
In October authorities reopened the passport office in Kabul only to suspend work days later as a flood of applications caused the biometric equipment used there to break down.
"All the technical issues have now been resolved," Haqqani said, adding that initially travel documents will be given to those who had already applied before the office suspended work.
New applications will be accepted from Jan 10, he said.
Many Afghans who wanted to visit neighbouring Pakistan for medical treatment have been blocked for months in the absence of valid passports.
"My mother has some health issues and we needed to go to Pakistan a long time ago, but we could not because the passport department was closed," said Jamshid, who like many Afghans goes by only one name.
"We are happy now that ... we can get our passports and go to Pakistan."
Issuing passports is also seen as a test of the Taliban's commitment to the international community to allow eligible people to leave amid the growing humanitarian crisis.
The Taliban are pressing donors to restore billions of dollars in aid that was suspended when the previous Western-backed regime imploded in the final stages of a US military withdrawal.
The abrupt withholding of aid has amounted to an "unprecedented" fiscal shock for an economy already battered by drought and decades of war, according to the United Nations Development Programme.
The crisis has forced many in the capital to sell household possessions to buy food for their families.
International flights, mainly to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, have slowly resumed at Kabul airport after the facility was trashed in August when crowds of people scrambled to evacuate//CNA
December
French PM says Omicron to be 'dominant' in the country from start of 2022
Written by nuke
People wearing face masks to protect against COVID-19 cross the Trocadero Plaza in Paris, on Dec 15, 2021. (Photo: AP Photo/Michel Euler) -
French Prime Minister Jean Castex on Friday (Dec 17) likened the spread of the Omicron variant in Europe to "lightning", adding that it would be the dominant strain in France from the start of 2022.
Castex added that while much remains unknown about the variant "it does not seem to be more dangerous than the Delta variant and the data available to us indicate that complete vaccination coverage with the booster dose protects well against severe forms of the disease".
Nearly 3,000 people are in intensive care with COVID-19 in France according to the latest figures.
Meanwhile, eligibility for booster jabs will be reduced from five months from the date of the second vaccination to four, Castex added.
The prime minister said that big public parties and fireworks would be banned on New Year's Eve and recommended that people - even if vaccinated - test themselves before attending year-end parties.
To increase pressure on people to get vaccinated, the government will present a Bill early next year to change the French health pass into a vaccination pass.
That means people will have to be vaccinated to enter restaurants or use long-distance public transport.
Under current rules, a recent negative test can serve as a health pass even without vaccination.
"While we have given time, a lot of time for those French people who were hesitant and had doubts, in January we will strengthen the incentive for vaccination, because it is not acceptable that the refusal of a few million French people to be vaccinated, puts the life of an entire country at risk," he said.
The Omicron variant is now suspected to be responsible for up to 10 per cent of new confirmed COVID-19 cases in France and is the main reason behind plans for stricter health requirements for entering some venues, Health Minister Olivier Veran said on Saturday.
The rapid spread of the Omicron variant was also behind restrictions being imposed on travel from Britain to France from Saturday, said the prime minister//CNA
December
Dutch health experts advise a full lockdown to slow Omicron: Reports
Written by nuke
FILE PHOTO: People protest against new measures to fight a record surge of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections, in Utrecht, Netherlands, December 4, 2021. REUTERS/Eva Plevier -
The health experts advising the Netherlands' government on its COVID-19 strategy have recommended the country go into a "strict" lockdown, Dutch media reported on Friday (Dec 17), just days after a partial lockdown was extended through January.
Broadcaster RTL Nieuws and newspaper NRC Handelsblad cited sources within the panel of experts, whose recommendations are not made public until after the government has taken a decision, that they have advised the closure of all but essential stores.
Health Minister Hugo de Jonge told journalists outside a Cabinet meeting earlier on Friday he had "big worries" about the quick spread of Omicron, which appeared just as a previous wave of infections in the Netherlands had crested.
"I won't say what extra measures may be needed," De Jonge said, adding that the government would follow the health experts' advice.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte's government is due to meet with the health advisers on Saturday ahead of a decision on new measures.
On Tuesday, the government had ordered that the 5pm to 5am closure of bars, restaurants and most stores, introduced in late November, would continue until Jan 14.
In addition, primary schools were ordered to close early for the winter holidays, due to high infection rates among children.
Rutte said then that Omicron could be the dominant coronavirus strain in the Netherlands by January.
On Friday the National Institute for Health (RIVM) reported 15,433 new COVID-19 cases, down around 25 per cent from a week earlier - but still above the peak of any previous wave.
The country's strained healthcare system is postponing most routine care and cancelling all but urgent operations in order to cope with COVID-19 patients//CNA
December
Pedestrians walk through a shopping plaza in the city centre in Sydney, Australia, on Nov 9, 2021. (File Photo: Reuters/Loren Elliott) -
Australia reported record-high new COVID-19 cases on Saturday for a third day, with outbreaks growing in the two most populous states, however Prime Minister Scott Morrison continued to downplay the risks as the country eases pandemic curbs.
New South Wales state reported 2,482 new cases, Victoria state reported 1,504 new cases and Queensland state reported 31 new cases on Saturday (Dec 18), together topping Austalia's previous high of 3,820 cases a day earlier.
Morrison reiterated on Saturday the focus should be on hospitalisations and cases in intensive care and on ventilators rather than actual case numbers as the country learns to live with the virus.
So far, he said the rising case numbers in New South Wales were not translating into pressure on hospitals, with only 26 people in intensive care.
"I wouldn't agree that Australians are complacent about it. We take this incredibly seriously. It's best addressed with a calm head and a clear plan," Morrison said at a media conference in Hobart in the island state of Tasmania.
He said Australia was not in the same situation as the United Kingdom, Europe or North America, where cases are soaring.
In the latest easing of pandemic curbs, fully vaccinated international travelers arriving in Sydney and Melbourne will no longer need to isolate for 72 hours, the governments of New South Wales and Victoria said on Friday.
Incoming travelers will still need to get a PCR test within 24 hours of arriving, but only need to isolate until they receive a negative test result.
"We know it has been a challenging time for international travel with new rules and the emergence of the Omicron variant, but this announcement is about simplifying the process and making sure Australia's two biggest cities have a consistent approach," New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet said in a statement.
Australia slammed its borders shut soon after the pandemic hit in 2020, which kept COVID-19 cases down relative to other rich nations. The country has so far recorded about 239,000 cases and about 2,130 deaths//CNA