Reuters US Top

By Guy Faulconbridge and Michael Holden LONDON (Reuters) -At least one person has died in the United Kingdom after contracting the Omicron coronavirus variant, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday, the first publicly confirmed death globally from the swiftly spreading strain. Since the first Omicron cases were detected on Nov. 27 in Britain, Johnson …

Britain reports first death with Omicron coronavirus variant Read More »

By Robin Emmott and Sabine Siebold BRUSSELS (Reuters) – European Union foreign ministers agreed on Monday that any Russia aggression against Ukraine would trigger economic sanctions on Moscow, trying to keep up the pressure after similar statements by NATO and the Group of Seven nations. “The European Union stands united in support of Ukrainian sovereignty …

European Union stands united on Russia sanctions, top diplomat says Read More »

(Reuters) -Two-dose COVID-19 vaccine regimens do not induce enough neutralising antibodies against the Omicron coronavirus variant, British scientists found, indicating that increased infections in those previously infected or vaccinated may be likely. Researchers from the University of Oxford published results on Monday from a study yet to be peer-reviewed, where they analysed blood samples from …

Two-dose vaccines induce lower antibodies against Omicron, study finds Read More »

(This Dec. 12 story’s headline and first paragraph have been corrected to show that the 500 million figure includes people who were already experiencing extreme poverty) By Manas Mishra (Reuters) – More than half a billion people globally were pushed or sent further into extreme poverty last year as they paid for health costs out …

Health costs pushed or worsened poverty for over 500 million Read More »

By Lisa Shumaker and Andrea Januta (Reuters) – Extreme weather events in 2021 shattered records around the globe. Hundreds died in storms and heatwaves. Farmers struggled with drought, and in some cases with locust plagues. Wildfires set new records for carbon emissions, while swallowing forests, towns and homes. Many of these events were exacerbated by …

From killer heatwaves to floods, climate change worsened weather extremes in 2021 Read More »

By Humeyra Pamuk and Stanley Widianto JAKARTA (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a strong commitment to Indonesia on Monday, a senior official said, as he kicked off a Southeast Asia trip aimed at strengthening ties with a region that has become a strategic arena for Washington and Beijing. In his first …

Indonesia cites strong U.S. commitment as Blinken starts Southeast Asia tour Read More »

By Sabine Siebold and Robin Emmott BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Lithuania’s foreign minister said on Monday he would not attend the 2022 Olympic Games in China as France and the Netherlands sought a common position on a European Union response to highlight Chinese human rights abuses. The bloc is torn over whether to join the United States, …

EU hesitates over possible Olympic boycott in China Read More »

(Reuters) – California Governor Gavin Newsom said he plans to use a controversial U.S. Supreme Court ruling on strict abortion curbs in Texas to design a law that would allow private citizens to sue some gun manufacturers, distributors and sellers. The Supreme Court on Friday left in effect the Texas law that enables private citizens …

California governor pushes for gun laws modeled on Texas abortion ban Read More »

NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India reported its lowest tally of active COVID-19 cases in 18 months on Monday, but a sharp drop in the use of protective face masks is causing concern after a rise in the number of infections with the Omicron variant. Many people have been standing or sitting close to each other …

Masks come off, rallies begin as India’s COVID-19 patient load falls Read More »