European Union

Disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic did not particularly rattle markets, and cocaine trafficking by sea continued at pre-2019 levels.

Russia says it will respond in kind.

While it could take weeks to prove how infectious and resistant to current vaccines Omicron is, many countries have rushed to ramp up existing programmes.

Countries can be included on the white list if they have recorded fewer than 75 cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 inhabitants over the past 14 days.

A survey by the anti-graft watchdog found that 29% had relied on favours or connections to access public sector health services last year while 6% paid outright bribes.

EU leaders also warn they will adopt further 'targeted economic sanctions' against the Belarusian authorities.

The current green list only has seven countries: Australia, Israel, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, plus China if Beijing agrees to reciprocate.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen says all 27 member states will accept those who are vaccinated with vaccines that are approved by the European Medicines Agency.

French Industry Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher says talks have begun with Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna, but not with Johnson & Johnson or AstraZeneca.

The EU's top diplomat says Russia wants to break away from Europe and divide the West.

While the EU has given exemptions to 92 countries, Malaysia, which has ordered vaccines from Pfizer and AstraZeneca, is not considered 'too poor' to fit the list.