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Philippines limits mobility, business in capital area over Omicron threat

31 Dec 2021

By Neil Jerome Morales MANILA (Reuters) -The Philippines will impose tighter curbs in the capital region for the next two weeks, the acting presidential spokesperson said on Friday, to try to limit infections by the Omicron coronavirus variant that is spreading globally. The health ministry on Friday recorded 2,961 new coronavirus infections, a two-month high, …

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Look to the future and stay focused, Xi tells China in New Year’s address

31 Dec 2021

BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed the importance of maintaining a “strategic focus” in his 2022 New Year address and of being mindful of “potential risks” in the Communist Party’s long-term vision to turn China into a global power. Xi in 2021 declared that China had achieved its aim of building a so-called …

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Factbox-Countries weigh need for COVID-19 booster shots

31 Dec 2021

(Reuters) – Many countries are expanding COVID-19 vaccine booster programmes or shortening the gap between shots as governments scramble to shore up protection against the new Omicron variant which emerged a month ago in southern Africa and Hong Kong. Studies have shown that an initial course of COVID-19 vaccines – typically given in two doses …

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Philippines to tighten coronavirus curbs after domestic Omicron detection

31 Dec 2021

MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines will impose tighter coronavirus curbs on Jan. 3 to 15 after the confirmation of three domestic cases of the Omicron variant, the acting presidential spokesperson said on Friday. “In the coming days, we might see an increase in active cases,” Karlo Nograles said. (Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales; Editing by …

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Hong Kong says Omicron has breached its strict COVID-19 restrictions

31 Dec 2021

By Marius Zaharia and Donny Kwok HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong’s health officials said on Friday the Omicron variant of the coronavirus has made its way past some of the world’s toughest COVID 19 restrictions, with the city reporting its first cases outside its strict quarantine system. The findings raise risks that the global …

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Chinese cities on COVID alert as New Year holiday looms

31 Dec 2021

BEIJING (Reuters) – China is on high alert against COVID-19 as the New Year holiday looms, with the city of Xian under lockdown while several New Year’s Eve events in other cities have been cancelled and some provinces urged restraint in travel during the festive season. China reported 166 locally transmitted infections with confirmed symptoms …

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S.Korea’s disgraced ex-president Park freed after nearly 5 years in prison

31 Dec 2021

(Corrects to Park remains in hospital and has not left it, paragraphs 5-6) By Hyonhee Shin SEOUL (Reuters) – Former South Korean President Park Geun-hye was released from prison on Friday nearly five years after being convicted of corruption, fuelling debate over whether she would play any role ahead of a March presidential election. Park, …

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Stricken boat with over 100 Rohingya allowed to dock in Indonesia

31 Dec 2021

By Hidayatullah Tahjuddin KRUENG GEUKUH, Indonesia (Reuters) – More than 100 Rohingya refugees who had been adrift on a sinking boat off the western coast of Indonesia were allowed to disembark early on Friday, after authorities relented following international pressure to give them refuge. In a video seen by Reuters, the group, consisting of mainly …

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Philippine death toll from its strongest typhoon of year tops 400

31 Dec 2021

MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippine death toll from Typhoon Rai has crossed the 400 mark, the disaster agency said on Friday, as officials in some hard-hit provinces appealed for more supplies of food, water and shelter materials about two weeks after the storm struck. Rai was the 15th and deadliest typhoon to hit the Southeast …

Philippine death toll from its strongest typhoon of year tops 400 Read More »

South Korea to extend curbs amid Omicron surge, serious COVID-19 cases

31 Dec 2021

By Hyonhee Shin SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea said on Friday it will extend stricter social distancing rules for two weeks amid a persistent surge in serious coronavirus infections and concerns over the spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant. The government reinstated the curbs on Dec. 18, six weeks after easing them under a …

South Korea to extend curbs amid Omicron surge, serious COVID-19 cases Read More »

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