Herald section
The latest reporting from across the Belfast Herald news desks.
Gas prices in the United Kingdom and European Union rose by 17% following Germany's suspension of approval for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. The German energy regulator stated the pipeline's operating company must comply with German law before certification.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson states that the west will have to choose between reliance on Russian gas and supporting Ukraine amid reported buildups of the Russian military near the border with Ukraine.
New Zealand reported a record 222 new cases of COVID-19 within a single day, with 163 cases in Auckland and 173 cases reported the previous day.
AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford report that over two billion doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine have been supplied worldwide. The milestone reflects a global manufacturing strategy developed in response to pandemic demands.
South Korea reported 495 critically ill COVID-19 patients, a new daily record, as the caseload remained above 2,000 for seven consecutive days.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation approved extending booster doses to people aged 40 to 49 and second doses to 16 to 17-year-olds in the UK.
Berlin implements 2G rule restricting access to venues to vaccinated or recovered individuals as case numbers rise across Germany.
India resumed international travel for fully vaccinated foreign tourists on commercial flights after 18 months, requiring negative tests within 72 hours and adherence to health protocols, with exemptions for countries having mutual vaccine recognition agreements.