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S. Korea drops vaunted 'test and trace' strategy as Omicron surges
South Korea said Wednesday it was dropping its vaunted "trace, test and treat" programme as a surge in Omicron cases threatens to overwhelm the country's healthcare system.
Why has a Chinese city's lockdown sent aluminium prices surging?
The Covid lockdown this week of a relatively unknown Chinese city sent global prices of aluminium rocketing to a 14-year high.
Deja vu in Hong Kong as virus restrictions spark panic buying
Shoppers thronged Hong Kong's markets fearing a shortage of food Wednesday, familiar scenes in a city that is back under gruelling Covid restrictions in contrast to much of the world.
WHO urges rich countries to pay up for Covid plan
The WHO Wednesday urged rich countries to pay their fair share of the money needed for its plan to conquer Covid-19 by contributing $16 billion as a matter of urgency.
Canada provinces move to ease Covid rules as trucker protest hardens
Truckers paralyzing the Canadian capital in anger at Covid rules showed no sign of backing down Tuesday, as several of the nation's provinces announced it was time to roll back restrictions that count among the world's toughest.
Child illiteracy booms in Brazil with Covid-19
The number of Brazilian children aged six and seven who do not know how to read or write has risen by 66 percent during the coronavirus pandemic, a report found Tuesday.
Amazon expands health care push in United States
Amazon on Tuesday announced its telemedicine service has expanded nationwide in the United States, a new extension of the firm's empire that has steadily gone far beyond e-commerce.
Canada province lifts all Covid restrictions amid protests
Canada's Saskatchewan province announced Tuesday the lifting of all Covid restrictions including wearing of masks and proof of vaccination for indoor dining -- as truckers continued occupying Ottawa with similar demands.
Johnson & Johnson temporarily halts Covid-19 vaccine output: report
Johnson & Johnson has temporarily suspended production at a key plant manufacturing the Covid-19 vaccine, the New York Times reported Tuesday.
Trudeau vows to end spreading trucker protest
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has vowed to bring an end to a trucker protest still paralyzing the Canadian capital Tuesday -- in a movement against Covid restrictions fast becoming a rallying cry for far-right and anti-vaccine groups.
Africa's 'most reliable partner' is Europe, says EU chief
As China and Russia court impoverished and fragile African states with offers of security or loans, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen says Europe offers the continent the "most reliable" partnership.
Democratic-led US states roll back mask mandates
Several Democratic-run US states have announced plans to lift mask mandates in indoor places and schools as coronavirus infections decline in America.
Hong Kong imposes its strictest Covid curbs to date as cases soar
Hong Kong on Tuesday imposed its strictest social distancing measures yet as it struggles to maintain a "zero-Covid" policy amid an Omicron-fuelled spike in cases.
Taiwan eases nuclear-accident food import ban from Japan
Taiwan said on Tuesday it would relax a food imports ban from areas in Japan around the site of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, as it pushes for support from Tokyo in its bid to join a major trans-Pacific trade pact.
Chinese scientists say new highly accurate virus test gives results within minutes
Chinese scientists say they have developed a new coronavirus test that is accurate as a PCR lab test but gives results within four minutes.
Trudeau says Canada trucker protest 'has to stop'
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau demanded an end Monday to a protest by hundreds of truckers against Covid-19 restrictions that has paralyzed the capital, as Ottawa's mayor called on federal authorities for support.
Hong Kongers picnic to avoid Covid-tracing app
When Hong Kong made a Covid check-in app mandatory at restaurants, friends Birdy and Bu -- wary of government tracking -- decided to avoid eateries entirely and go for picnics instead.
New Zealand Covid protest convoy jams streets near parliament
A convoy of trucks and campervans blocked streets near New Zealand's parliament in Wellington Tuesday to protest against Covid restrictions and vaccinations, inspired by a similar demonstration in Canada.
Anger rises over Canada truckers' 'siege'
Overwhelmed by hundreds of trucks laying siege to Canada's capital, Ottawa's mayor called Monday on federal authorities to help end the show of force against Covid restrictions which has paralyzed the city for days and threatens to snowball into a full-blown political crisis for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Spinal cord implant helps paralysed patients walk again
In 2017, Michel Roccati was in a motorbike accident that left his lower body completely paralysed. In 2020, he walked again, thanks to a breakthrough new spinal cord implant.
Impasse at Canada truckers' protest as mayor seeks mediator
Canadian authorities struggled Monday to tackle a truckers' protest against Covid restrictions which has paralyzed the national capital for days and threatens to snowball into a full-blown political crisis for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
France centre Danty out of Ireland game
France centre Jonathan Danty will miss this weekend's Six Nations match with Ireland due to an ankle injury, the French Rugby Federation announced on Monday.
US ski stars 'heartbroken' after team-mate's nasty Olympic crash
US skiing rallied around team-mate Nina O'Brien after she was badly injured in a nasty fall in Monday's Beijing Olympics giant slalom.
Morocco reopens airspace after 2-month virus shutdown
Morocco reopened its airspace on Monday in a bid to breathe life into its crisis-hit tourism sector, two months after it cancelled commercial flights over coronavirus fears.
'Fortress Australia' reopens borders to tourists on February 21
Australia will reopen its borders to tourists from February 21, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced Monday, ending some of the world's strictest and longest-running pandemic travel restrictions.
China locks down city of 3.5 million near Vietnam border
A Chinese city of 3.5 million near the border with Vietnam was on lockdown Monday after more than 70 coronavirus cases were discovered there over the past three days.
'Global Dream' turns into nightmare for German port town
The unfinished "Global Dream" rests quietly in a dock as the Covid-19 pandemic has turned the cruise ship into a nightmare for the shipyard in Wismar along Germany's windswept Baltic coast.
Canada protests against Covid measures gain steam
An occupation of Canada's capital by truckers opposed to vaccine mandates gained steam as it entered its second week on Saturday, with more demonstrators piling onto the clogged streets of Ottawa, while protests kicked off in several other cities.
More protesters against Covid measures enter Canada capital
Protesters again poured into Canada's capital early Saturday to join a convoy of truckers whose occupation of Ottawa to denounce Covid vaccine mandates is now in its second week.
Tuchel tests positive for coronavirus, doubt for Club World Cup trip
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel could miss his side's trip to Abu Dhabi for the Club World Cup after testing positive for Covid-19.
New Covid infections in Hong Kong reach record high
Hong Kong's "zero-Covid" policy was on the ropes Saturday as authorities announced a record number of new infections, sending officials scrambling to ramp up testing capacity and warning that a tightening of virus-control measures could be needed.
Canada protests against Covid measures set to ramp up
A week-long occupation of Canada's capital by truckers opposed to vaccine mandates was set to ramp up Saturday with thousands of demonstrators expected to pile into Ottawa while other cities also braced for protests.