Reuters

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Pfizer, BioNTech vaccine neutralises Omicron with three shots

Published On: December 9, 2021 08:29 AM NPT By: Reuters

Dec 9: BioNTech and Pfizer (PFE.N) said on Wednesday a three-shot course of their COVID-19 vaccine was able to neutralise the new Omicron variant in a laboratory test, an early signal that booster shots could be key to protection against infection from the newly identified variant.

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U.S. Senate passes Republican bill to overturn Biden vaccine mandate

Published On: December 9, 2021 08:15 AM NPT By: Reuters

WASHINGTON, Dec 9: The Democratic-controlled U.S. Senate on Wednesday approved a Republican measure that would overturn President Joe Biden's COVID-19 vaccine-or-test mandate for private businesses, with two Democrats joining Republicans to back the initiative.

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Studies suggest Pfizer shot may protect only partially against Omicron

Published On: December 8, 2021 05:20 PM NPT By: Reuters

Dec 8: The Omicron variant can partially evade protection from two doses of Pfizer (PFE.N) and partner BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine, the research head of a laboratory at the Africa Health Research Institute in South Africa said on Tuesday.

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Meta to ban all Myanmar-army controlled businesses from platforms

Published On: December 8, 2021 04:54 PM NPT By: Reuters

Dec 8: Meta Platforms Inc (FB.O), formerly known as Facebook, said on Wednesday it would ban all Myanmar-military controlled businesses from having a presence on its platforms in an expansion of its earlier curbs on the country's security forces.

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Mixing Pfizer, AstraZ COVID-19 shots with Moderna gives better immune response -UK study

Published On: December 7, 2021 07:24 PM NPT By: Reuters

Dec 7: A major British study into mixing COVID-19 vaccines has found that people had a better immune response when they received a first dose of AstraZeneca or Pfizer-BioNTech shots followed by Moderna nine weeks later, according to the results on Monday.

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New data shows GSK-Vir drug works against all Omicron mutations

Published On: December 7, 2021 03:47 PM NPT By: Reuters

Dec 7: British drugmaker GSK (GSK.L) said on Tuesday its antibody-based COVID-19 therapy with U.S. partner Vir Biotechnology (VIR.O) is effective against all mutations of the new Omicron coronavirus variant, citing new data from early-stage studies.

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Rohingya refugees sue Facebook for $150 billion over Myanmar violence

Published On: December 7, 2021 03:41 PM NPT By: Reuters

Dec 7: Rohingya refugees from Myanmar are suing Meta Platforms Inc (FB.O), formerly known as Facebook, for $150 billion over allegations that the social media company did not take action against anti-Rohingya hate speech that contributed to violence.

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The trials of Aung San Suu Kyi, from heroine to villain to convict

Published On: December 7, 2021 07:05 AM NPT By: Reuters

Dec 7: Put on trial by the generals who overthrew her elected government in a coup that cut short democratic reforms she had fought for decades to bring about, Myanmar's ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi was sentenced on Monday to four years in prison.

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Malaria deaths rise by 69,000 in 2020 due to COVID-19 disruptions, says WHO

Published On: December 7, 2021 06:45 AM NPT By: Reuters

DAKAR, Dec 7: Healthcare disruptions linked to the coronavirus pandemic helped malaria kill 69,000 more people in 2020 than the previous year, but a worst-case scenario was averted, the World Health Organization said on Monday.

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S.African official says children sick with COVID-19 have mild infections

Published On: December 6, 2021 09:18 AM NPT By: Reuters

JOHANNESBURG, Dec 6: Higher hospital admissions among children during a fourth wave of COVID-19 infections in South Africa that has been driven by the Omicron coronavirus variant should not prompt panic as infections have been mild, a health official said on Saturday.

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Indonesia Semeru volcanic eruption kills 14; dozens injured

Published On: December 6, 2021 08:06 AM NPT By: Reuters

SUMBERWULUH, Indonesia Dec 6: The eruption of Semeru volcano has killed at least 14 people and injured dozens on Java island, Indonesia's disaster agency said on Sunday, as rescue teams searched for victims under layers of ash, sometimes digging with their bare hands.

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Two hippos in Belgian zoo test positive for COVID-19

Published On: December 5, 2021 08:47 AM NPT By: Reuters

BRUSSELS, Dec 5: Two hippos have tested positive for COVID-19 at Antwerp Zoo in Belgium in what could be the first reported cases in the species, zoo staff said.

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Omicron variant may have picked up a piece of common-cold virus

Published On: December 4, 2021 07:45 AM NPT By: Reuters

NEW YORK, Dec 4: The Omicron variant of the virus that causes COVID-19 likely acquired at least one of its mutations by picking up a snippet of genetic material from another virus - possibly one that causes the common cold - present in the same infected cells, according to researchers.

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France evacuates more than 300 people from Afghanistan

Published On: December 4, 2021 07:23 AM NPT By: Reuters

PARIS, Dec 4: France has carried out an evacuation mission in Afghanistan, taking 258 Afghans as well as 11 French, some 60 Dutch nationals and an unspecified number of people linked to them out of the country, a French foreign ministry spokeswoman said on Friday.

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India reports first Omicron cases, no plan to authorise boosters

Published On: December 3, 2021 08:01 AM NPT By: Reuters

BENGALURU, Dec 3: India reported its first two cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant on Thursday but the government said it had no immediate plan to authorise booster vaccine shots despite demands from lawmakers.

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First Omicron case in U.S. adds to global alarm over virus variant

Published On: December 2, 2021 11:17 AM NPT By: Reuters

TOKYO/WASHINGTON, Dec 2: Fears over the impact of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus rose on Thursday after the first case was reported in the United States and the Japanese central bank warned of economic pain as countries respond with tighter containment measures.

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Brain problems found in 1% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients; real-world data shows Moderna vaccine highly effective

Published On: December 2, 2021 08:45 AM NPT By: Reuters

Dec 2: The following is a summary of some recent studies on COVID-19. They include research that warrants further study to corroborate the findings and that has yet to be certified by peer review.

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U.S. tightens travel rules as more countries secure borders to quell Omicron

Published On: December 1, 2021 06:46 PM NPT By: Reuters

WASHINGTON/TOKYO, Dec 1: Air travelers to the United States will face tougher COVID-19 testing rules and other countries tightened border controls on Wednesday to try to slow the spread of the Omicron variant that Nigeria said had been circulating weeks earlier than thought.

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How South African scientists spotted the Omicron COVID variant

Published On: December 1, 2021 09:20 AM NPT By: Reuters

JOHANNESBURG, Dec 1: On Friday Nov. 19, Raquel Viana, Head of Science at one of South Africa's biggest private testing labs, sequenced the genes on eight coronavirus samples - and got the shock of her life.

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Omicron variant could outcompete Delta, South African disease expert says

Published On: December 1, 2021 07:53 AM NPT By: Reuters

JOHANNESBURG, Dec 1: The Omicron coronavirus variant detected in southern Africa could be the most likely candidate to displace the highly contagious Delta variant, the director of South Africa's communicable disease institute said on Tuesday.

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