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SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea’s new daily COVID-19 cases topped 100,000 for the first time amid its Omicron outbreak, with authorities saying social distancing measures would be only slightly eased ahead of the March 9 presidential election. Authorities announced on Friday they would move a curfew on restaurants and cafes from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., …

S.Korea daily COVID-19 cases top 100,000, curfew eased ahead of election Read More »

SHANGHAI (Reuters) – China’s “dynamic clearance” strategy aimed at minimising COVID-19 infections is boosting the economy, not undermining it, the country’s top anti-corruption body said on Friday in response to concerns about the prospects for growth this year. As other countries relax restrictions, China has maintained a zero-tolerance approach, shutting down transmission routes whenever they …

China’s ‘dynamic’ zero-COVID strategy will boost economy – watchdog Read More »

BEIJING (Reuters) – The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee said on Friday that one new COVID-19 case was detected among games-related personnel on Feb. 17. The one case was found among new airport arrivals, according to a notice on the Beijing 2022 official website. (Reporting by Albee Zhang and Ryan Woo; Editing by Shri …

Olympics-Beijing 2022 Olympics Organiser reports 1 new COVID-19 case on Feb 17 Read More »

BANGKOK (Reuters) – Dozens of live monkeys tied up in small sacks have been found in an abandoned building in central Thailand, national media reported on Thursday, in what authorities believe was a failed operation by illicit wildlife traffickers. Footage from broadcaster Nation TV showed police and wildlife protection officers in the building in Saraburi …

Live monkeys found stashed in bags in Thailand Read More »

(Reuters) – The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday shortened the recommended quarantine duration for people exposed to the coronavirus, saying those who test negative can now end quarantine after seven days instead of 14 previously. Where testing to shorten quarantine is not possible, quarantine may be ended after day 10 without testing if the …

WHO recommends seven day quarantine for COVID-19 exposed after negative test Read More »

By Charlotte Greenfield ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Microsoft Corp co-founder turned philanthropist Bill Gates visited Pakistan on Thursday, meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan and saying polio eradication could be possible in coming years in one of the last two countries of the world where the virus is endemic. “We’re not done but we’re certainly in …

Bill Gates visits Pakistan, says polio eradication possible in a few years Read More »

By Elaine Lies and Kiyoshi Takenaka TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan will ease border controls imposed to counter the pandemic, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Thursday, softening measures that have been among the strictest imposed by wealthy nations and have been slammed by business and educators. About 150,000 foreign students have been kept out of Japan, …

Japan eases strict border controls criticised by business, educators Read More »