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NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India reported 141,986 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, the most since the end of May, as the Omicron variant of the coronavirus overtakes the Delta version in the cities. The health ministry also reported 285 new deaths, taking the total to 483,463. Total infections stand at 35.37 million. (Reporting by Nidhi …

India’s new COVID-19 cases hit seven-month high of 141,986 Read More »

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Top-seeded Naomi Osaka pulled out of her Melbourne Summer Set 1 WTA event semi-final against Veronika Kudermetova on Saturday, citing the intensity of recent games as cause for her withdrawal. “Sad to withdraw due to injury from my match today, my body got a shock from playing back to back intense matches …

Tennis-Osaka pulls out of Melbourne semi-final Read More »

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States said on Friday it had approved the voluntary departure of non-emergency U.S. government employees and family members from the consulate general in the Kazakh city of Almaty, amid an ongoing state of emergency in the country. “U.S. citizens in Kazakhstan should be aware that violent protests may severely impact …

U.S. approves voluntary departure of some consulate staff from Kazakhstan Read More »

SHANGHAI (Reuters) – China reported 159 confirmed coronavirus cases for Jan. 7, down from 174 a day earlier, its health authority said on Saturday. Of the new infections, 95 were locally transmitted,according to a statement by the National Health Commission, from116 a day earlier. Most of the new local cases were in Henan and Shaanxiprovinces. …

China reports 159 new COVID-19 cases for Jan 7 vs 174 day earlier Read More »

HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has ordered an inquiry into the behaviour of 13 senior government officials who attended the birthday bash of a delegate to China’s legislature, where two of the 170 guests tested positive for the coronavirus. The officials, along with 19 members of Hong Kong’s new “patriots-only” legislative …

Hong Kong leader orders probe of 13 officials who went to COVID-hit party Read More »

By Anna Mehler Paperny TORONTO (Reuters) – A bail hearing for Canadian fashion designer Peter Nygard, who faces charges of sexual assault and forcible confinement, continued for a second day Friday before being adjourned to late next week. Nygard, born in Finland, faces charges in both Canada and the United States in connection with incidents …

Bail hearing continues for Canadian fashion designer Peter Nygard Read More »

THAI-MYANMAR BORDER (Reuters) – Thousands of Myanmar villagers are living under makeshift tents alongside a river that borders Thailand, fearful of returning to homes which they said had been bombarded by military air strikes but reluctant to seek refuge across the frontier. Heavy fighting between the Myanmar military, which seized power in a coup last …

Fleeing violence in Myanmar, thousands camp along Thai border river Read More »

By Syed Raza Hassan KARACHI, Pakistan (Reuters) – Pakistan’s largest city Karachi is launching a door-to-door campaign to vaccinate women, who are lagging behind men in rates of coronavirus inoculation as the country enters a fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, a senior official said on Friday. Pakistan on Friday reported nearly 1,300 cases in …

Karachi launches door-to-door COVID-19 vaccination for women Read More »