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Half of Shanghai in lockdown to Covid-19 outbreak
Millions of people in China's financial hub were confined to their homes on Monday as the eastern half of Shanghai went into lockdown to curb the nation's biggest Covid outbreak.

Shanghai to lock down in phases to rein in Covid-19 outbreak
Shanghai will launch a phased lockdown to curb an Omicron-fuelled Covid-19 outbreak that has hit China with its highest caseloads since the early days of the pandemic, the city government said Sunday.

Shanghai to impose phased Covid-19 lockdown: government
Shanghai will launch a phased lockdown to curb an Omicron-fuelled Covid-19 outbreak that has hit China with its highest caseloads since the early days of the pandemic, the city government said Sunday.

Hong Kong halves flight suspensions triggered by Covid cases
Hong Kong announced Sunday it will halve the period for which it suspends international flights that bring in passengers infected with Covid-19, as the aviation industry increasingly voices alarm over the continued difficulty of operating in the city.

Meat off the menu in crisis-hit Lebanon as poverty bites
Layla Ibrahim has cut down on her daily meat consumption, not because of a health fad but forced by Lebanon's bruising economic crisis.

After Covid, India tries to get on top of tuberculosis
When Covid-19 ripped through India in 2020-21, several million people are thought to have died. Desperate efforts to stem the pandemic hurt the battle against another huge killer: tuberculosis.

Shanghai won't lock down despite Covid spike: official
Shanghai on Saturday recorded a sharp rise in Covid-19 cases, but a member of the city's pandemic task force said officials were determined to avoid a full lockdown over the damage it would do to the economy.

Scientists find microplastics in blood for first time
Scientists have discovered microplastics in human blood for the first time, warning that the ubiquitous particles could also be making their way into organs.

EU drug watchdog approves AstraZeneca Covid prevention jab
The EU's drug watchdog on Thursday recommended for approval AstraZeneca's Covid-19 prevention cocktail, which can be used for patients with immune system problems or severe reactions to other coronavirus vaccines.

Double lung transplant saves US man with terminal cancer
US doctors announced Thursday they had successfully performed a double lung transplant on a patient with terminal lung cancer, giving new hope to others who also have advanced stages of the deadly disease.

'China's Fauci' calls for protecting 'normal life' in Omicron fight
A top doctor in China's pandemic fight who came under pressure last year for questioning the country’s zero-Covid policy has called again for balancing anti-virus measures with maintenance of normal life as China struggles with an Omicron surge.

Covid comeback seen in parts of US as funding runs dry
Covid is making its latest comeback in parts of the northeastern United States as the BA.2 coronavirus variant becomes dominant in the country, officials said Wednesday, while urging Congress to pass new funding or risk the supply of future treatments and vaccines.

Kenya says over 800,000 Covid jabs have expired, blames hesitancy
Kenya announced on Wednesday that nearly 840,000 Covid-19 vaccines received through donations had expired, blaming hesitancy and a short shelf life for jabs going unused.

Moderna says infant Covid vaccine succeeded in trial
US biotech firm Moderna on Wednesday said it was pursuing regulatory approval for its Covid vaccine in children aged six months to six years after the two-shot regimen was found to be safe and produced a strong immune response.

First cruise ship in three years docks in Tunisia
A cruise ship docked in a Tunisian port on Wednesday for the first time since 2019, carrying over 700 passengers and rare good news for tourism operators battered by the Covid pandemic.

Shanghai warns against 'panic' as Covid cases mount
Shanghai authorities on Wednesday called for calm as worried citizens swamped online grocery platforms to stock up on food over fears of impending lockdowns in a city struggling to halt a Covid spike.

Ukraine's tuberculosis progress 'stopped in one day'
As Ukraine struggles to cope with the immediate casualties of Russia's invasion, there are fears the war will also ruin the country's progress in its fight against tuberculosis.

The scientists helping farmers kick the chemical habit
In a field in western France, the small purple and white flowers quivering among tender shoots of wheat are a clue that this is not conventional single-crop farmland.

New Zealand to ease domestic virus restrictions
New Zealand will relax its strict Covid-19 rules this week because case numbers have peaked and the population has high levels of immunity, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Wednesday.

Hong Kong's top scientsts urge shift from Beijing's zero-Covid strategy
Hong Kong's top scientists urged the government on Tuesday to transition from China's zero-Covid strategy before the next outbreak unless the financial hub wants to be a "closed port forever".

Hong Kong's top scientsts urge shift from Beijing's zero-Covid
Hong Kong's top scientists urged the government on Tuesday to transition from China's zero-Covid strategy before the next outbreak unless the financial hub wants to be a "closed port forever".

China locks down city of 9 million as virus ripples across country
China locked down an industrial city of nine million people overnight and reported more than 4,000 virus cases on Tuesday, as the nation's "zero-Covid" strategy is confronted by an Omicron wave.

'Perfect storm': Europe Covid rise due to fewer curbs, subvariant
Covid-19 is again surging in Western Europe due to a "perfect storm" of governments lifting restrictions, waning immunity and the more contagious BA.2 Omicron subvariant, experts said Monday.

Socceroos coach fined for breaching Covid-19 isolation
Football Australia said Monday they have fined coach Graham Arnold Aus$25,000 (US$18,500) for breaking self-isolation rules after testing positive for Covid-19.
Hong Kong to lift ban on flights from nine countries
Hong Kong will resume international flights from the United States, Britain and seven other countries, the government said Monday as it announced a loosening of some of the world's toughest Covid-19 restrictions.

Hong Kong to lift ban on flights from nine countries in April
Hong Kong will resume international flights from nine countries including the United States and Britain in April, city leader Carrie Lam said Monday.

China reports two Covid-19 deaths, first in more than a year
China reported two Covid-19 deaths on Saturday, its first in more than a year, underlining the threat posed by an Omicron outbreak that has triggered the country's highest case counts since the pandemic's outset.

China reports first two Covid-19 deaths in more than a year
China reported its first two Covid-19 deaths in more than a year on Saturday, the National Health Commission said, both coming in the northeastern province of Jilin as the country faces its worst case upsurge since the pandemic's outset.

Myanmar to reopen to international tourists
Myanmar will resume international passenger flights from April 17, the military said Saturday, lifting a two-year ban on foreign tourists.

Kyiv psychiatric home puts brave face on war
Sometimes, when war makes the walls of her Kyiv psychiatric hospital shudder, head nurse Oksana Padalka hides so she can cry.

Shenzhen eases lockdown as pandemic gnaws at China economy
China's southern tech powerhouse Shenzhen has partially eased lockdown measures, after President Xi Jinping stressed the need to "minimise the impact" of the coronavirus pandemic on the nation's economy.

Irish PM's White House meeting goes virtual after positive Covid test
President Joe Biden and Ireland's prime minister Micheal Martin canceled plans to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day together in the White House on Thursday and switched to a virtual meeting after Martin tested positive for Covid-19, although the US president was said to be in no danger.