Nobel Peace Prize laureate, famed for his efforts against the racist regime in South Africa, compared Israel's treatment of Palestinians to apartheid and backed boycott, sanctions

Findings said to show that those who fall ill with the highly contagious new strain are less likely to become severely sick than those who caught its predecessor

Experts caution that findings are not yet conclusive, but noticeable decline in recent days offers hope that coronavirus variant's spread may recede quickly after a ferocious spike

New variant appears to cause less severe illness than previous versions of coronavirus, but seems to be more easily transmitted and is better at evading vaccines

Cyril Ramaphosa self-isolating and has delegated responsibilities to the deputy president; no indication if he was infected with Omicron variant first identified in South Africa

Only 30% of hospitalizations in recent weeks serious, about half the rate of previous waves; just 3% of patients die, unlike 20% in earlier outbreaks; meanwhile UK predictions dire

Cases surge by 140% on average in the southern part of the continent, where new COVID-19 strain was first discovered

South African researchers say people who recovered and were vaccinated are largely protected against the new variant, vaccination alone still likely to prevent severe disease

Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim, who was imprisoned in his home country before eventually rising to become a deputy minister, pressed his government to cut ties with Israel

Top South African scientist says reinfections on the rise, but initial research shows being immunized protects carriers of new variant from severe illness or death