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South Korea drops most Covid restrictions as cases fall
South Korea will lift almost all social distancing measures, the government said Friday, citing a dramatic fall in reported cases of Covid-19 after an Omicron-fuelled surge, but the mask mandate will remain.
Germany arrests Covid protesters for kidnap plot
German investigators on Thursday said they had arrested four members of a far-right anti-lockdown group with pro-Russian leanings for planning violent attacks, including a plot to kidnap the country's health minister.
Pfizer to seek US authorization for third Covid shot in children
Pfizer and BioNTech on Thursday announced positive results from a clinical trial on the safety and immune response of a third dose of their Covid vaccine in children aged five through 11, adding they would soon seek regulatory authorization.
New hope to help advanced Parkinson's patients walk, sleep again
People with advanced Parkinson's disease often struggle to walk more than a few steps or sleep through the night, but new research offers hope of relief from these two debilitating symptoms.
Bolsonaro downplays Brazil army's Viagra order
President Jair Bolsonaro on Wednesday downplayed the Brazilian military's recent purchase of Viagra, which drew scrutiny from opposition lawmakers and a flurry of jokes online.
World treats crises affecting black, white lives unequally: WHO chief
The WHO chief said Wednesday that the world was treating humanitarian crises affecting black and white lives unequally, with only a "fraction" of the attention on Ukraine given elsewhere.
French prosecutors raid pizza plant after E.coli outbreak
Prosecutors on Wednesday searched a Buitoni frozen pizza factory in northern France, the suspected source of an E.coli outbreak that has left dozens of children sick, police said.
China's imports fall as Covid outbreaks, lockdowns hit demand
China's imports shrank on-year in March for the first time in nearly two years, official data showed Wednesday, hit by coronavirus lockdowns and weakening consumer demand.
Covid pandemic exacerbated rise in STDs in United States: study
Reported cases of many types of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) went up in the United States during the Covid-19 pandemic, as the frequency of screenings decreased, an official report said Tuesday.
Shanghai locals sleep at work and ration food as lockdown bites
By day it's Romeo's workplace, by night it's his home. Like many other finance sector workers in Shanghai, he has moved into the office to keep the wheels of commerce turning during a harsh Covid lockdown of the megacity.
Shanghai starts easing lockdown in some neighbourhoods
Shanghai eased restrictions on some neighbourhoods Monday after mounting outcry over inflexible Covid-19 rules that have locked down 25 million people, caused food shortages and left thousands in quarantine.
Speeding west, Ukraine hospital train ferries patients to safety
As the hospital train sped away from the frontline in war-torn Ukraine, electrician Evhen Perepelytsia was grateful he would soon see his children again after almost losing his life.
China slams US virus 'accusations' as Shanghai lockdown drags on
China blasted the United States for making "groundless accusations" about its Covid-19 policy, after surging cases in Shanghai prompted the American consulate to let some staff leave the locked-down megacity.
US warns of 'arbitrary' Covid measures in China
The United States on Saturday warned of "arbitrary" Covid-19 measures in China and said it would let some staff leave its Shanghai consulate amid a surge of infections in the locked-down megacity.
China's health system faces raft of challenges as Omicron hits
China is battling its biggest spike in coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic, with millions under lockdown and the healthcare system feeling the pressure.
Vaccine supply outstrips demand, access inequity remains
After two years of racing to vaccinate the world against Covid-19, the number of available doses now surpasses demand in many areas.
Ferrero recalls Kinder chocolates in US over Salmonella fears
Italian confectionery giant Ferrero said on Thursday that it had recalled certain varieties of its Kinder chocolates from retailers in the United States over a possible salmonella contamination.
Xi praises China's virus handling as Shanghai prepares 130,000 Covid beds
China's President Xi Jinping praised the country's "tested" zero-Covid strategy on Friday, even as Shanghai authorities prepared nearly 130,000 beds for Covid-19 patients amid surging cases and mounting public anger.
Shanghai lockdown snarls world's busiest port and China supply chains
Shanghai's grinding coronavirus lockdown is slowly clogging China's supply chains, as delays hit the world's busiest container port where staff are tangled in a morass of Covid controls.
Taiwan to move away from zero-Covid strategy: minister
Taiwan will move away from a zero-Covid policy and instead focus on tackling the most severe infections in an effort to live with the coronavirus, its health minister said Thursday.
Shanghai social media unpicks China's virus lockdown story
Videos of a pet dog killed in the name of Covid controls, expletive-strewn songs aimed at Communist authorities and scuffles with hazmat-suited officials –- seething, locked-down Shanghai residents are pouring scorn on China's hardline virus measures via social media.
Arab Israelis flock to West Bank to choose babies' sex
Palestinian fertility clinics in the West Bank are a magnet for would-be Arab Israeli parents seeking boys -- even when risky procedures can endanger the lives of both mother and child.
Covid increases risk of blood clots for up to six months: study
People who have had Covid-19 have an increased risk of developing serious blood clots for up to six months after getting infected, even in mild cases, a study said Thursday.
US warns of 'mass overdoses' from fentanyl-spiked drugs
The top US agency combatting drug trafficking warned on Wednesday of a surge of "mass overdose" cases involving drugs like cocaine spiked with deadly amounts of fentanyl.
US cabinet members, lawmakers positive for Covid after gala dinner
Jokes were apparently not the only thing flying at last weekend's exclusive annual comedy gala, the Gridiron Club dinner, in Washington.
Is this the end of the zero-Covid strategy?
Jenny Leung, who lost her job as a waitress last month due to Hong Kong's zero-Covid strategy, has one question: "What was it all for?"
China reports most virus cases since pandemic start
China reported more than 20,000 Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, the highest daily tally given since the start of the pandemic, as millions in locked-down Shanghai began a new round of testing.
China reports 20,000 daily Covid cases, most since start of pandemic
China reported over 20,000 Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, the highest daily tally given since the start of the pandemic, with Shanghai the heart of the virus surge despite being in lockdown.
Kinder recalls chocolate eggs after salmonella cases
Italian confectionary group Ferrero said Tuesday it has recalled Kinder chocolate eggs in several European countries over possible links to dozens of salmonella cases less than two weeks before Easter.
The suffering of those who cannot feel pain
Patrice Abela first knew something was wrong when his eldest daughter was learning to walk and her feet left trails of blood behind her, yet she showed no sign of distress.
Viruses that could save millions of lives
It may seem strange after a pandemic that has killed millions and turned the world upside down, but viruses could save just as many lives.
Shanghai defends policy of separating Covid-positive kids from parents
Shanghai health officials on Monday defended a policy of separating babies and young children from their parents if they test positive for Covid-19, as frustration at the city's tough virus controls builds.