Friday, December 31, 2021

Hong Kong's statues are disappearing, but their symbolism may prove harder to erase

Depicting a heap of screaming faces and contorted torsos, the "Pillar of Shame" was not just a reminder of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre -- it was, for many, an emblem of free speech in Hong Kong.

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Biden told Putin there will be a 'heavy price to pay' if Russia invades Ukraine

President Joe Biden will speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday, several days after Biden urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to ease an unremitting military crisis on Ukraine's border.

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New Year Honours: Whitty, Van-Tam and Blair knighted, Lumley and Redgrave made dames

Athletes, actresses, campaigners, Tony Blair, a Spice Girl, and an 11-year-old boy are also honoured.

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Covid booster 88% effective against hospital treatment with Omicron

UK health officials said the latest data reinforces the importance of getting a third dose.

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Paxlovid: UK medicines regulator approves second Covid antiviral pill

Paxlovid can cut the risk of hospitalisation in vulnerable adults by 89%, a clinical trial suggests.

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South Africa says Omicron wave may have peaked

Officials relax restrictions noting lower hospital admissions from the Omicron variant than feared.

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Thursday, December 30, 2021

Covid-19: Calls to give NHS staff priority access to lateral flow tests

Supplies of lateral flow tests may need to be "constrained" amid rising demand, Sajid Javid says.

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Biden to speak with Putin today at Russian leader's request

President Joe Biden will hold a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday afternoon "to discuss a range of topics, including upcoming diplomatic engagements with Russia," National Security Council spokesperson Emily Horne told CNN.

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Former Afghan President was given 'no more than two minutes' to get ready to flee Kabul

The former President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani said he was given "no more than two minutes" to get ready to flee Kabul in August, during the Taliban's rapid takeover of the country's capital.

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Lebanon's soul has been eviscerated by its financial crisis. Not even children want to play

I'm crouched down in front of a 10-year-old boy sitting hunched over himself in the Beirut office of my charity INARA, the International Network for Aid, Relief and Assistance. His dark brown eyes, fringed with impossibly long eyelashes, peer over his facemask.

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Hong Kong authorities insist newsroom raids and arrests have 'nothing to do with media work'

Hong Kong authorities are defending the arrests of seven people linked to a pro-democracy publication in the face of growing international condemnation, with the city's leader insisting the police raids had "nothing to do with journalistic or media work."

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MND: Northampton mum determined to beat the odds

Emma Moss is determined to beat the odds, having been diagnosed with a fatal disease three years ago.

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As Omicron spreads in India, mass gatherings spark fears of another wave

Doctors in India are bracing for a potential third wave driven by the highly contagious Omicron variant, as cases rise and political leaders hold mass gatherings ahead of key elections.

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Alleged Chinese smugglers publicly shamed for breaching Covid rules

Police in southern China paraded four suspects through the streets for allegedly smuggling people across sealed borders in breach of pandemic control measures -- a controversial act of public shaming that triggered backlash on Chinese social media.

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Wednesday, December 29, 2021

Covid: Daily UK case numbers hit record of 183,037

The spike in reported cases comes as frustration grows over a lack of available lateral flow tests.

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Covid: Omicron and Delta driving tsunami of cases - WHO

The warning comes as record cases are once again reported across the US and Europe.

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The beautiful hidden valley in the heart of Europe

It's less than an hour's drive from Slovenia's capital, Ljubljana, yet the Vipava Valley hasn't really registered on the tourist radar.

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Russian court shuts down Memorial Human Rights Center, day after sister group ordered closed

A court in Moscow ordered the closure of the Memorial Human Rights Center on Wednesday, in the latest blow to Russian civil society groups.

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This year saw divisions on democracy, vaccines and climate. 2022 is unlikely to be an oasis of calm

A year that began with a chaotic attack on democracy in Washington, DC -- the "insurrection" at the US Capitol -- ended with a more dignified defense of it, President Joe Biden's "Summit for Democracy."

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Hong Kong pop star Denise Ho arrested by national security police

Cantopop star and prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Denise Ho was arrested at her home on Wednesday morning by the city's national security police.

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Tuesday, December 28, 2021

Russian court shuts down human rights group Memorial International

Memorial International, a prominent human rights organization, said Tuesday that Russia's Supreme Court has ruled it must cease all its operations, in the latest blow to the country's shrinking civil society.

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Covid: Enjoy new year but be cautious, care minister says

People should take a rapid test before going out for new year's eve, Gillian Keegan says.

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English Premier League hit by record 103 Covid-19 cases between Dec 20-26

The English Premier League has reported a record 103 Covid-19 cases in the week leading up to Boxing Day.

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Japan and China agree to set up defense hotline amid territorial tensions

The defense ministers of Japan and China on Monday agreed to set up a joint communication hotline by the end of 2022, a news release from Japan's Defense Ministry said, amid tensions between the East Asian neighbors.

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Drugs, violence and racism are creating a 'cocktail of neglect' in Marseille

The southern French port city of Marseille has made headlines in recent months over the deaths of several young people in drug-related shootouts, in what is often referred to as a "settling of scores."

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Monday, December 27, 2021

Smoking: Children of parents who smoke are four times more likely to take up habit, study says

The Better Health Smoking campaign highlights research on the inter-generational impact of smoking.

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'Massive tragedy' as heavy floods killed more than a dozen in Brazil

Heavy flooding has left at least a dozen people dead and more than 280 injured in the northeast region of Brazil, officials say. Journalist Stefano Pozzebon reports.

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No new Covid rules to be announced in England on Monday

The PM is being briefed on the latest Covid data, after two days without published figures.

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China's industrial profit growth tumbles as raw material prices fall

Profits at China's industrial firms grew at a much slower pace in November, the statistics bureau said on Monday, pressured by tumbling prices of some raw materials, a faltering property market and weaker consumer demand.

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China will tighten rules on overseas IPOs, but won't ban them entirely

China is planning to tighten restrictions for Chinese companies that want to list overseas, but the government won't ban them from trading abroad altogether.

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Sunday, December 26, 2021

Prostate screening could be ready in five years

One of the UK's leading cancer scientists said medical advances were making it possible.

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Deadly flooding in Brazil displaces thousands

Heavy flooding has left at least 18 people dead and more than 280 injured in the northeast region of Brazil, officials say.

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Japan cancels dozens of flights due to snow

More than 100 domestic flights in Japan were grounded on Sunday due to heavy snow in the northern and western parts of the country, Japan's two biggest airlines said.

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Desmond Tutu, anti-apartheid leader and voice of justice, dead at 90

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Anglican cleric whose good humor, inspiring message and conscientious work for civil and human rights made him a revered leader during the struggle to end apartheid in his native South Africa, has died. He was 90.

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As the Taliban swept Kabul, one friend escaped. The other was trapped.



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Long Covid: 'I have to choose between walking and talking'

People say their lives have been ruined by long Covid, amid fears the number of sufferers is rising.

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Saturday, December 25, 2021

First and second Covid jabs surge in England

Vaccinations continue during the festive period as the UK's daily Covid cases hit an all-time high.

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Pope reflects on relationships in pandemic times

Pope Francis has dedicated a large part of his traditional Christmas message on Saturday to reflect on the pandemic and its impact on relationships.

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At least 16 people dead in Greek shipwreck

At least 16 people died when their boat overturned off the Greek island of Paros in the central Aegean Sea on Friday, in the third maritime disaster involving migrants this week, the country's coastguard said.

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Friday, December 24, 2021

Covid: Volunteers prepare for Christmas Day booster jabs push

Vaccinations continue over the festive period after UK Covid cases hit a record on Christmas Eve.

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Tencent is giving away $16 billion of its stake in JD.com

Tencent is dramatically cutting its stake in JD.com, China's second largest e-commerce company, as it seeks to stay on the right side of Beijing, which has been cracking down on tech giants to rein in their growing power and influence.

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The Turkish lira swings wildly as Erdogan's big gamble continues

Turkey's experiment in cutting interest rates to fight inflation has sent its currency crashing to record lows this year. Now, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is trying to prop up the lira with a raft of new unorthodox economic measures.

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OnlyFans founder Tim Stokely steps down as CEO

OnlyFans is getting a new CEO after a tumultuous year.

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The huge luxury hotel in the middle of nowhere

Nothing much lies on Qatar's border with Saudi Arabia. A few sunbaked outposts and miles and miles of vast, empty desert in all directions.

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Covid in Wales: No early release from self-isolation

Wales will not follow England in reducing the time in self-isolation by providing negative tests.

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Thursday, December 23, 2021

South Korea pardons disgraced former President Park Geun-hye

The South Korean government has pardoned former President Park Geun-hye, who was serving 22 years in prison for corruption, the country's Justice Ministry said on Friday.

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Japan says it won't send government officials to Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics

Japan will not send any senior officials or Cabinet ministers to the Beijing Winter Olympics in February, the government said Friday -- but stopped short of calling the decision a diplomatic boycott.

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Qatar's ambitions to become 'the art Mecca of the Middle East'

The Middle East nation of Qatar has announced an ambitious plan to expand its public art program as it prepares to play host to the 2022 Fifa World Cup.

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Thailand seizes $30 million of crystal meth hidden in boxing punch bags

Thai authorities have seized crystal methamphetamine with a street value of almost $30 million stuffed inside boxing punch bags bound for Australia, officials said on Thursday.

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Omicron: Good news, bad news and what it all means

There are many things in our favour, but Omicron is spreading fast. What have we learned this week?

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13 million put into lockdown in Chinese city

On Tuesday, the central Chinese city of Xi'an recorded 52 new Covid-19 cases. By Wednesday, authorities had imposed strict lockdown measures on its estimated 13 million residents. CNN's Selina Wang has more.

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Covid: Ministers watch data as studies say Omicron risk lower

Scientists say early signs are good news but a big wave of infections could still overwhelm the NHS.

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Global Covid vaccine rollout a stain on our soul - Brown

The former PM says Covid will come back to haunt us without a push to vaccinate the whole world.

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Wednesday, December 22, 2021

She's nearly 3 but as small as an infant. This is the face of Afghanistan's hunger crisis

Kamila is almost 3 years old, but she weighs just 11 pounds (5 kilograms). Her wrinkled skin sags off her skeletal limbs and stretches around her distended belly.

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Women's health ambassador appointment to improve care

Some of the revelations in a recent consultation on women's health were shocking, an MP says.

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Tunisia's former President sentenced to prison in absentia, state media reports

A Tunisian court has found former President Moncef Marzouki guilty of "undermining the external security of the State" and sentenced him in absentia to four years in prison, the state news agency TAP reported Wednesday.

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Russia aims for January talks with NATO, US on security guarantees

Russia hopes to hold bilateral talks with NATO and the United States in January over security guarantees it is seeking from both, state media RIA Novosti reported Wednesday, citing Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

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Alleged 'koala massacre' prompts hundreds of animal cruelty charges

Australian authorities on Wednesday charged a landowner and two companies with more than 250 counts of animal cruelty over the deaths of dozens of koalas during a clearance operation last year.

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Tuesday, December 21, 2021

Covid-19: Israel could become the first country to give four vaccine doses

A fourth booster would be offered to over-60s and health workers as Israel prepares for Omicron wave.

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Cruelty debate over zoo exhibition highlights complexities of elephant tourism in Thailand

An Asian elephant struts into the pool and dips its head beneath the surface, using the tip of its trunk like a snorkel.

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Covid Omicron: European nations reinstate restrictions

As the Omicron variant spreads across the continent, countries tighten curbs to brace for another wave.

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Malaysia warns of more floods as Prime Minister admits lapse in rescue efforts

Malaysia on Tuesday warned of more storms and heavy rainfall in the coming days as Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob admitted to weaknesses in the government's response to flooding that has led to more than a dozen deaths and the displacement of over 60,000 people.

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Court orders Dubai ruler to pay his ex-wife $728M to cover security for the rest of her life

The ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum has been ordered to pay his ex-wife Princess Haya bint al-Hussein more than $728 million (£500 million), in one of the largest divorce settlements ever handed down by a UK court.

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UK Supreme Court backs Venezuela's Guaidó, bringing him closer to gold reserves

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó is one step closer to securing control of more than $1 billion dollars in gold reserves stored at the Bank of England, after Britain's Supreme Court unequivocally recognized him as President of Venezuela on Monday evening.

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Covid: Barts Hospital warns operations may be cancelled in new year

The NHS trust which runs five London hospitals stresses services are currently running as normal.

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English Premier League sees surge in Covid-19 cases with 77% of players double jabbed

The English Premier League has seen a sharp rise in new Covid-19 cases among players as the Omicron variant continues its rapid spread through Britain.

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WHO urges cancelling some holiday events over Omicron fears

"An event cancelled is better than a life cancelled," warns the World Health Organization's head.

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Immensa: Month delay before incorrect Covid tests halted

Court papers show discrepancies at Immensa's laboratory were flagged as early as mid September.

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Tony Hickmott: Autistic man was 'loneliest man in the hospital'

An ex-hospital support worker says he feels complicit in the "neglect" of Tony Hickmott.

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Ambulances: The paramedics keeping patients out of hospital

Meet the Welsh Ambulance Service's growing team who work to keep people out of hospital.

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Christmas Day guidance in Scotland 'will not change'

Nicola Sturgeon says people should reduce their contacts but not cancel their Christmas plans.

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Miscarriage: 'My body wasn't working the way it should have'

Former Miss World Rosanna Davison opens up about fertility struggles in a bid to break the stigma.

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Monday, December 20, 2021

Omicron: South African scientists probe link between variants and untreated HIV

Covid variants may be mutating inside people with suppressed immunity.

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'The world's best place to be a woman' is being sued for misogyny

The bruises on Maria Árnadóttir's body were numerous, ranging in color from pale yellow to deep purple.

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Covid: Vulnerable NHS patients to be offered new drug

The drug - sotrovimab - is given as an infusion to high-risk patients who have caught the virus.

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Analysis: Xi Jinping has been taking on China's capitalists. That will change in 2022

One year ago, Chinese leader Xi Jinping pledged to spend 2021 reining in "disorderly" private businesses that were growing too powerful and taking on too much risk.

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Sunday, December 19, 2021

Fearing torture and possible execution, Iranian powerlifter quit team in Norway and ran for his life

Athletes who are good enough to compete in the world championships are among the very best in their field. They dedicate their lives to the pursuit of their craft, they are proud to represent their countries, and they all dream of returning home with medals around their necks.

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Hong Kong sees record low voter turnout

Hong Kong's first "patriots only" legislative election witnessed a record low turnout on Sunday, reflecting a steep decline in civic and political engagement following Beijing's overhaul of the city's electoral processes.

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Watch: Spider interrupts Australian news conference

A huntsman spider interrupted Queensland's health minister as she held a briefing on the Covid-19 situation across the state.

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Death toll from Super Typhoon Rai climbs to at least 75 people in the Philippines

The death toll from Super Typhoon Rai has climbed to at least 75 people, local officials reported Saturday, after the storm wreaked havoc across the Philippines late last week.

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Saturday, December 18, 2021

'We were cheated, framed, and scammed': Five suspected assassins say they're innocent



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Retiring Boomers, not lazy Millennials, are driving the labor shortage

Editor's Note: A version of this story appeared in CNN Business' Nightcap newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free, here.

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The market may be ignoring risk of Omicron shutdowns

Wall Street is getting nervous about what will happen to the economy next year.

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Friday, December 17, 2021

Flash floods in northern Iraq kill 12 people

At least 12 people have died in flash floods caused by heavy rains overnight in northern and northeastern Iraq, Erbil mayor Nabz Abdulhamid told CNN Friday.

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Inflation is bad enough. One country is making it even worse

Unnerved by surging prices, the Bank of England on Thursday became the first major central bank to hike interest rates since the pandemic began. The US Federal Reserve will follow in the coming months, with three rate hikes expected next year.

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Electric cars have given a jolt to Ford's stock price

In early May of 2020, Jim Farley bought $1 million worth of Ford stock, 195,000 shares at a little over $5 a share. It was a surprising move for an executive who normally gets plenty of stock and stock options as part of his compensation to be buying some of that same stock outright with his own money. At the time, Farley was Ford's chief operating officer, having been named to that position three months before by then-CEO Jim Hackett.

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The pandemic forced Kim Jong Un into retreat. The world should brace for his resurgence

Ten years ago, the world watched as a young Kim Jong Un solemnly walked beside his father's hearse on a snowy morning in Pyongyang as distraught North Koreans wailed in grief.

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Alzheimer's drug aducanumab not approved for use in EU

Charities are disappointed but regulators say there is still little evidence of the drug's benefit.

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Covid patient waited 40 hours in Cardiff hospital A&E

Ian Cottrell said he had to sit on the floor because of bed shortage with little help from staff.

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Up to 27 feared dead in building fire in Japan

Up to 27 people are feared dead after a fire broke out in a building in a shopping district in Osaka, Japan, according to the Osaka Fire department.

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Covid: Cases hit new record as booster drive continues

Omicron could peak fast but subside sooner than past strains, England's chief medical officer says.

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US panel recommends J&J shots be sidelined after clot deaths

Nine people have died from extremely rare side effects linked to Johnson & Johnson's jab.

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Covid: How to manage it at home

When is it fine to ride it out on the sofa or in bed?

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'Extremely rare' 17th-century painting of Black woman with White companion placed under export bar

A 17th-century painting showing a Black woman with her White companion has been placed under a temporary export bar to reduce the risk of the artwork leaving the United Kingdom.

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Thursday, December 16, 2021

Black tech entrepreneurs struggle to find funding in the UK. Now they're looking abroad

Black tech entrepreneurs in the United Kingdom say they have to rely on foreign investors to get their businesses off the ground.

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Quarter of ambulances getting stuck in A&E queues

Staff warning patients being put at risk because of handover delays at hospital.

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Peterborough City Hospital doctor accused of hastening patient deaths

Dr Andrew Gregg denies his actions, related to drug amounts, hastened the deaths of two patients.

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Super Typhoon Rai slams into the Philippines as tens of thousands evacuate

Tens of thousands of people have evacuated their homes in the Philippines as the archipelago braces for Super Typhoon Rai, known locally as Odette, which is expected to pass through the southern and central portions of the country on Thursday afternoon.

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Omicron: What can we learn from South Africa's experience so far?

We can learn some things from what's happening in South Africa, but there are also uncertainties.

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Top editor at nationalist Chinese state tabloid retires

The longtime editor of one of China's most outspoken and nationalistic state media outlets says he's stepping down.

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Wednesday, December 15, 2021

Bali only received 45 international tourists in 2021 despite reopening

Destinations around the world have faced significant tourist reductions amid the coronavirus pandemic. But few have taken a harder hit than Bali, the Indonesian island long beloved of global travelers.

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Covid: Socialise carefully warns PM, amid record UK cases

Pubs and restaurants are not closing, the PM insists - but he and Prof Chris Whitty urge caution.

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Family finds deadly snake in Christmas tree

The venomous boomslang was first spotted by the Wild family's cats and stayed there for two hours until a professional catcher removed it.

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Covid: Pregnant women angry at long waits for boosters

Midwives and doctors say they should be given priority because of the potential harm to women and babies.

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These 5 stocks are driving the market

Despite anxiety about inflation and the Omicron variant, the stock market is on track for another banner year. That's in large part thanks to stellar gains from just a handful of stocks.

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Jobs have never been so secure. Bosses have stopped firing people

If you have a job today, chances have never been better that you can keep it as long as you want.

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Tuesday, December 14, 2021

Philippines' Duterte quits senate race in new election twist

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday withdrew his bid to become a senator, the same day his preferred successor quit the presidential race, adding to uncertainty about the mercurial leader's political future and the scope of his influence.

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Dissident journalist jailed in Vietnam for 9 years for 'anti-state' acts

A court in Vietnam jailed a journalist and prominent dissident for nine years on Tuesday for anti-state activities, her lawyers and state media said, in a case that attracted the attention of international human rights groups.

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At least 62 dead after gas tanker explodes in Haiti's second largest city

At least 62 people have been killed and dozens left injured after a tanker transporting gasoline exploded in Cap-Haitien, Haiti's second largest city on Monday, authorities said.

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UAE suspends multi-billion dollar weapons deal in sign of growing frustration with US-China showdown

The United Arab Emirates has suspended a multi-billion dollar deal to buy US-made F-35 fighter jets, in a sign of Abu Dhabi's growing frustration with Washington's attempts to limit Chinese technology sales to the oil-rich Gulf state.

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Malta to become first country in Europe to legalize cannabis for recreational use

Malta is set to become the first European Union country to legalize cannabis for recreational use.

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UN sounds alarm over extrajudicial killings in the Taliban's Afghanistan

The United Nations (UN) said Tuesday that it was alarmed by continuing reports of extrajudicial killings across Afghanistan, including hangings, beheadings and public displays of corpses.

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Belarusian opposition figure sentenced to 18 years at high-security penal colony

Siarhei Tsikhanouski, the husband of Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison at a high-security penal colony, Belarusian state media BelTA reported on Tuesday.

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Covid-19: High demand blamed for shortage of PCR appointments in England

Appointments for in-person PCR tests were temporarily unavailable across the whole of England earlier.

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Sex and cancer: 'I was ashamed to ask for help'

Cait didn't know why it hurt to masturbate after her treatment - and didn't know who to ask.

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Poems written by a computer light up the UK Pavilion at Expo Dubai

"In time, we will put our eyes to this light and see that these people are the peers of nature. And forgivingly, when they appear we will lift up our song and sing, and say we cannot praise too much of any single thing." It may read like poetry, but these lines weren't composed by a poet -- they were written by an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm.

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7.6 magnitude earthquake hits off coast of Indonesia

A 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck off eastern Indonesia on Tuesday, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).

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Chinese social media giant Weibo fined by regulator for publishing illegal information

Chinese social media platform Weibo Corp has been slapped with a 3 million yuan ($470,000) fine by China's internet regulator for repeatedly publishing illegal information.

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Covid: PM faces big rebellion as MPs vote on new restrictions

Around 70 Tory MPs are expected to vote against some new rules - but Labour will vote in favour.

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Monday, December 13, 2021

Covid: First UK death recorded with Omicron variant

People should set aside the idea Omicron is a milder variant and get their booster jab, the PM says.

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Covid: Bedford residents say booster jabs are worth queueing for

People explain why they're happy to wait in line for their third Covid vaccination.

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2 missing after cargo ship crash in Baltic Sea

Two people are missing after two cargo ships crashed into each other early Monday morning in the Baltic Sea, Swedish authorities said.

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Covid: UK in a 'race between virus and vaccine' over Omicron, says Sajid Javid

Health Secretary Sajid Javid says 10 people are in hospital in England with the Omicron variant.

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Israeli Prime Minister meets UAE Crown Prince at palace in Abu Dhabi

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has met with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed at his private palace in Abu Dhabi, according to Bennett's office.

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Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai and 7 others sentenced to prison over banned Tiananmen vigil

A Hong Kong court has sentenced media tycoon Jimmy Lai and seven other pro-democracy figures to up to 14 months behind bars for participating in an unauthorized assembly last year to commemorate the Tiananmen Square crackdown.

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Walking from your bed to home office now counts as commuting in Germany

A man who slipped down the stairs and broke his back while walking from his bed to home office can file a claim on his employer's insurance after a court in Germany ruled that he was commuting at the time.

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Covid: Work-from-home guidance reintroduced in England

People should now work from home if they can to help curb the spread of Omicron, the government says.

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Sunday, December 12, 2021

Covid: Boris Johnson sets new booster target over 'Omicron tidal wave'

The UK is facing an Omicron emergency, says Boris Johnson, as boosters are offered to all over-18s in England.

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Hong Kong has kept out Covid, but exhausted and depressed pilots are paying the price

Before the pandemic, Hong Kong was an aviation hub attracting pilots from around the world.

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Crypto heists are only getting bigger. Here's what you should know

Over the summer, an anonymous hacker stole roughly $600 million in cryptocurrency from Poly Network, a decentralized finance network many outside the crypto world had likely never heard of. Then the hacker gave it back.

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Breathe easy with 0% APR until 2023



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Covid: First people in UK hospitals with Omicron variant

As of Saturday there have been 1,898 confirmed cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant in the UK.

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People fleeing economic wreckage in the Middle East say they'd do it 100 times over

Four-year-old Azhi hobbles across a makeshift migrant center on the Polish-Belarusian border. Grabbing his mother's hand for support, he carefully tucks his legs under piles of donated blankets.

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Saturday, December 11, 2021

What happened after a bishop told kids Santa doesn't exist

The bishop of Noto in Sicily stunned schoolchildren last week when he dropped a bombshell during an arts festival -- telling them Father Christmas wasn't real.

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Mary, Queen of Scots used 'spiral locking' technique to preserve secrecy of last letter before execution

Mary, Queen of Scots used a "spiral locking" technique to seal the last letter she wrote before her execution, indicating that she wanted the contents to remain secret, according to research published in the Electronic British Library Journal.

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Covid booster jabs extended to over-30s from Monday

The move comes as experts say the UK faces a substantial wave of Omicron without further restrictions.

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Covid: Omicron study suggests major wave in January

More stringent restrictions may be needed to prevent coronavirus from overwhelming hospitals, scientists say.

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Covid: Care home visitors cut to three to slow Omicron spread

Residents will be allowed three visitors and one care worker from Wednesday under updated guidance.

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Friday, December 10, 2021

CNN Heroes celebrates 15 years of inspiring the world

For 15 years, CNN Heroes has been honoring everyday people changing the world. Since 2007, we have recognized more than 350 Heroes from all 50 states and more than 110 countries. While their missions are diverse, they all are dedicated to helping others. The impact of their work is staggering.

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Tigrayan forces summarily executed dozens of civilians in Ethiopia's Amhara region, HRW says

Tigrayan forces summarily executed dozens of civilians in two towns they controlled in Ethiopia's northern Amhara region between August 31 and September 9, 2021, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Thursday.

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US authorities win their latest bid to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange

US authorities have won their bid to overturn a British judge's ruling that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should not be extradited to face charges in the United States, on the basis of assurances given about his treatment there.

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Evergrande can't pay its debts. China is scrambling to contain the fallout

Evergrande has defaulted on its debt. Now Beijing is intervening to prevent a disorderly collapse of the indebted real estate group that could wreak havoc on the world's second biggest economy.

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Space sleeping bag to solve astronauts' squashed eyeball disorder

Scientists hope the hi-tech sleeping bag will stop eyeballs being squashed by zero-gravity in space.

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Dozens killed in Mexico road accident as truck carrying more than 100 migrants crashes

At least 54 people were killed and more than 100 injured when a truck overturned in southern Mexico on Thursday, with most of the victims believed to be migrants from Central America, according to local authorities.

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West Suffolk Hospital hunt for whistleblower 'incendiary' says report

Doctors had to provide handwriting samples as hospital bosses hunted for the author of a letter.

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India pays tribute to helicopter crash victims ahead of funerals with military honors

India was mourning the victims of a helicopter crash that killed 13 people including the country's top military official, as their funerals got underway on Friday.

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It's not quite the metaverse, but Meta is launching its virtual world

Meta is bringing its vision of a so-called metaverse closer to (virtual) reality.

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SenseTime's public debut may be spoiled by US-China tensions

SenseTime's big public debut may be hitting a snag because of brewing tensions between the United States and China.

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Volkswagen increases spending on EVs to $100 billion

More than half the money Volkswagen Group spends in the next five years will go towards electric vehicles and other high-technology efforts, the German automaker announced Thursday.

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Thursday, December 9, 2021

UN suspends food distribution in two towns in Ethiopia after looting

The World Food Programme (WFP) has suspended food distribution in Ethiopia's Kombolcha and Dessie towns after looting of supplies that staff were unable to stop due to intimidation, including being held at gunpoint, the United Nations said on Wednesday.

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Australian lawmakers blast Murdoch's 'troubling media monopoly' in new report

An Australian Senate committee on Thursday issued a scathing indictment of media mogul Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, calling it the country's "clearest example of a troubling media monopoly."

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NHS Tracker: How is the NHS in your area coping?

Waits for emergency care are worsening - use the BBC lookup to find out how busy your local service is.

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Lego is building a new $1 billion factory in Vietnam

Toymaker Lego said on Wednesday it plans to build a new factory in Vietnam to keep up with rapidly growing demand for its colored plastic bricks among children across Asia.

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Costco has an innovative way to save 20%

Costco is searching for ways to make paying $60 for a membership every year worth more to online shoppers — and keep them away from Amazon.

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Children's mental health: 'The type of self-harm is the worst we have seen'

BBC North West Tonight is given exclusive access to the child mental health team in Liverpool.

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Covid: Bereaved family angry at No 10 lockdown party

Mavis Doreen D'Arcy died alone in hospital in Hull, with her family given a single hospital visit.

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New Zealand to ban cigarettes for future generations

No New Zealander born after 2008 will be able to buy tobacco under proposed new health laws.

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Nike will stop selling sneakers at one of America's largest shoe chains

You won't be able to buy Nike sneakers and apparel at one of America's largest shoe store chains in 2022.

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Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Scotland could return to past restrictions

The deputy first minister says lockdown measures could be reinstated if the Omicron variant spreads out of control.

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Japanese billionaire soars into space

Yusaku Maezawa, a Japanese billionaire, soared into outer space aboard a Russian-built Soyuz capsule and rocket Wednesday morning, kicking off the first self-funded tourism mission to the International Space Station in a decade.

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Scottish oysters were on the rocks. Now a whiskey distillery is throwing them a lifeline

Professor William Sanderson, or Bill as he likes to be known, wades into the shallows of the Dornoch Firth as the sun breaks over the ragged skyline of the Scottish Highlands, turning the waters gold. Something in the water catches his eye and he stoops to pick it up. "This is a European native oyster," he explains. "They used to be very abundant in this site thousands of years ago right up to the 1800s."

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American productivity fell by the largest amount since 1960

US labor market productivity tanked in the third quarter. Paychecks grew and the number of hours worked jumped, but workers' output increased only at a moderate pace.

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Elon Musk doubles down on ending 'subsidies' as competitors now reap more benefits

Elon Musk has described electric cars as critical to fighting climate change, which he's said he believes could cause more displacement and destruction than all the wars in history combined. So you might think he'd support the federal government funding electric vehicle charging stations.

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Bitcoin's self-proclaimed inventor wins trial over stash worth $54 billion

A computer scientist who has claimed to be the inventor of bitcoin largely prevailed on Monday in a Florida jury trial over whether the estate of a former business partner deserved half of a bitcoin cache worth about $54 billion.

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Australia joins US in diplomatic boycott of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics

Australia will join the United States in a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Wednesday.

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Malaysia court upholds guilty verdict for former PM Najib's 1MDB conviction

A Malaysian court on Wednesday upheld former Prime Minister Najib Razak's guilty verdict on corruption charges over a multi-billion dollar scandal at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), dealing a blow to his hopes of a political comeback.

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Tuesday, December 7, 2021

'Biblical' flooding in South Sudan displaces hundreds of thousands

The climate crisis has triggered 'biblical' flooding in South Sudan displacing hundreds of thousands of residents. CNN's Clarissa Ward reports.

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Covid: Early signs Omicron spreads more easily, says No 10

No 10 says it is too early to draw conclusions about the variant, with more than 300 cases in the UK.

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2022 is when investors will finally return to value stocks. Really

Stop us if you've heard this before: Market strategists are predicting that 2022 will finally be the year when investors choose value stocks -— like banking, oil, consumer, industrial and healthcare companies — over Big Techs, such as Apple, Amazon and Facebook owner Meta.

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Should retailers like Kohl's and Macy's break themselves up?

For years, the future of the department store has been in doubt, as shoppers abandon malls and instead opt to scoop up dresses, appliances and accessories online. But some investors believe they've found a clever way for these once-mighty brands to move forward.

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Federal regulators are investigating the Trump SPAC deal

The shell company that is facilitating former President Donald Trump's return to Wall Street disclosed Monday that federal regulators are investigating the deal.

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Ukraine's defense minister warns there will be a 'bloody massacre' if Russia invades

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov has told CNN there will be a "really bloody massacre" if Russia decides to invade Ukraine, and warned that "Russian guys also will come back in the coffins," amid heightened alarm about troop movements on the nations' border.

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Kenyan police officer kills six in shooting rampage, police say

A Kenyan police officer shot dead five people in a rampage through the capital Nairobi on Tuesday and then shot and killed himself, the police Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said.

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Covid vaccine: Why our black and South Asian friends and family still won't have a jab

Some black and South Asian people say conversations about the vaccine are "frustrating" and "tense".

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Monday, December 6, 2021

Covid: New Omicron travel rules come into force

Travellers to the UK need to take pre-departure tests in a bid to limit the spread of Omicron.

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India signs trade and arms deals with Russia during Putin's visit to New Delhi

Russia and India signed a flurry of trade and arms deals during President Vladimir Putin's visit to New Delhi for talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, including one that will see India produce more than 600,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles.

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Suspected car-ramming attack by Palestinian teen highlights rising tensions, amid questions over Israeli police actions

A 15-year old Palestinian boy suspected of deliberately ramming his car into an Israeli army checkpoint, injuring a security guard, has been shot dead, according to Israel's Defense Ministry. The security guard was taken to hospital where he was undergoing surgery. His condition is described as stable.

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3 more hostages released in Haiti, aid group says

Three more members of a group of 17 hostages kidnapped in Haiti in October were released Sunday night, according to a statement from the US-based Christian Aid Ministries.

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Soccer club's uniform features a QR code

It's a football uniform with a difference -- it has a QR code which, when scanned, will direct users to a web page to learn more about the issues of sportswashing and alleged human rights abuses that surround the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

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Viagra may be useful against Alzheimer's dementia

The impotence pill could have effects in the brain that may help fight dementia, say US researchers.

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Aung San Suu Kyi faces two years in jail after her sentence is halved

Myanmar's deposed civilian leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, faces two years in jail after her sentence was halved by the country's military, state media MRTV reported on Monday.

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Covid-19: Italy tightens restrictions for unvaccinated

A so-called Super Green Pass will be needed to access theatres, cinemas and restaurants.

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Drug strategy to tackle 300,000 problem users, says PM

A new drug strategy will mean more funding for treatment and a crackdown on gangs, ministers say.

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Suspected Omicron outbreak closes Paisley primary school

High numbers of staff in self-isolation prompted the closure of Todholm Primary in Paisley.

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Goldman Sachs cuts US GDP growth forecast for 2022 over Omicron fears

Goldman Sachs on Saturday cut its outlook for U.S. economic growth to 3.8% for 2022, citing risks and uncertainty around the emergence of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

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They bought a cheap house in Italy. Here's what they learned

Buying a cheap property in Italy is an attractive prospect for many travelers, particularly with the ever-growing number of towns offering up homes for next to nothing through regeneration schemes.

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All you need to know about the latest Omicron travel restrictions

Well. It was good while it lasted, eh?

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ITF 'does not want to punish a billion people' by suspending China tournaments in Peng Shuai row

The governing body of tennis, the International Tennis Foundation (ITF), has not suspended tournaments in China because it "does not want to punish a billion people," its president said Sunday.

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US reluctance to lift sanctions main hurdle to reviving 2015 pact, Iran official says

The reluctance of the United States to lift all sanctions on Iran is the main challenge to reviving a 2015 nuclear pact, a senior Iranian official said on Sunday, as Western powers questioned Tehran's determination to salvage the agreement.

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Stillborn baby's parents receive £2.8m from Nottingham hospital trust

Lawyers for Sarah and Jack Hawkins say it is the highest damages award in a stillbirth case.

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Volcano rescue workers dig through thick layers of hot ash in Indonesia after Mount Semeru erupts

Rescue workers in Indonesia continued to dig through thick layers of hot ash and debris Monday to find survivors of a volcanic eruption that left more than a dozen people dead and thousands displaced in the country's East Java province, even as the volcano continued to erupt ash.

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Covid in Scotland: Negative test to get into clubs, gigs and events

Evidence of a negative test for Covid-19 can now be used an alternative to a vaccine passport in Scotland.

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Sunday, December 5, 2021

Canada is having difficulty following through with strict vaccine mandates

Canada's tight labor market is forcing many companies to offer regular Covid-19 testing over vaccine mandates, while others are reversing previously announced inoculation requirements even as Omicron variant cases rise.

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Stolen yogini goddess statue, once on sale at Sotheby's, to be returned to India

A stolen yogini statue, which was once on sale at Sotheby's auction house in London, will be returned to the High Commission of India to be repatriated.

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World's second tallest building tops out in Malaysia

The spire of a soaring 118-story skyscraper has topped out at over 2,227 feet above Malaysia's capital, Kuala Lumpur.

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Sarah Gilbert: Next pandemic could be more lethal than Covid

More funding to prepare for pandemics is needed to prevent gains from being lost, Dame Sarah Gilbert says.

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Britain needs a 'booster for growth' as tax hikes threaten investment

Britain's economy needs much more investment. Business says it's unlikely to get it any time soon.

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UN and US condemn Myanmar military after protest reportedly turns deadly

At least five people were killed in Myanmar when a vehicle plowed into anti-junta protesters this weekend, according to local media. The attack took place in a Yangon township, news outlet Myanmar Now reported Sunday, citing protesters and eyewitnesses.

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See Indonesia's Semeru volcano erupt

Indonesia's Mount Semeru volcano in East Java Province has erupted. Authorities say thousands have been displaced due to the smoke and ash.

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Covid: Travel changes too late to halt potential new wave - scientist

The return of pre-departure Covid tests for travellers to the UK will come into force on Tuesday.

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Saturday, December 4, 2021

Top Space Force official: China is developing space capabilities at 'twice the rate' of US

Gen. David Thompson, vice chief of space operations for the US Space Force, said Saturday China is developing its space capabilities at "twice the rate" of the US.

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A museum sits between North and South Korea. The curator wears a bulletproof vest

Art has always had the power to be dangerous. But a newly opened art museum is taking that to another level.

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US and other countries 'deeply concerned by reports of summary killings' in Afghanistan

More than 20 countries, including the United States, issued a joint statement Saturday expressing deep concern over allegations of extra-judicial killings and disappearances of former member of former security forces in Afghanistan.

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Covid: Doctors' leaders back postponed health checks

A senior GP says the move would support the "national priority" to vaccinate people quickly.

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Banning US oil exports would be a 'gift to OPEC and Putin,' Big Oil CEO says

President Joe Biden has already launched the biggest intervention into energy markets in a decade. Big Oil is nervous he's not nearly done yet.

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Europe unveils its $340 billion answer to China's Belt and Road initiative

The European Union has unveiled its €300 billion ($340 billion) alternative to China's Belt and Road initiative — an investment program the bloc claims will create "links, not dependencies."

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We know who is attacking us and we know how to get even, says Israel's cyber defense chief

On a nondescript office park in the desert town of Be'er Sheva, a "war room" filled with screens showing various maps, rolling information, and graphics inform around a dozen or so staffers, manning computers at the central heart of Israel's civilian cyber defense system.

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Militants kill at least 31 in central Mali, say local authorities

Militants killed at least 31 people in central Mali on Friday when they fired on a bus ferrying people to a local market, local authorities said -- the latest deadly attack in a region racked by violent insurgency.

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Covid-19: Mums who were severely ill urge pregnant women to get jabs

In a video, one woman says her family were told she would not survive after giving birth with Covid.

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Friday, December 3, 2021

Covid: GPs can defer some services in booster jab push

Practices in England can postpone minor surgery and routine health checks for over-75s, NHS chiefs say.

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US, European allies sound a pessimistic note as Iran nuclear talks break in Vienna

US and European officials sounded a pessimistic note Friday as the latest round of talks to revive the Iran nuclear deal concluded, saying that Tehran's maximalist demands and push to unwind previously agreed upon points are leaving them disappointed and concerned.

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Rapist paramedic Andrew Wheeler struck off

Andrew Wheeler is serving 21 years for raping a female patient and sexually abusing another.

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Covid-19: Matt Hancock neighbour denies NHS cronyism claim

Alex Bourne says the former health secretary had no involvement is his company winning NHS work.

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US officials say humanitarian effort in Syria is another means to counter ISIS

United States special operations forces in northeastern Syria have been quietly visiting local villages to help provide medical care to communities which have seen little health care in the wake of years of war.

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Taliban decree on women's rights, which made no mention of school or work, dismissed by Afghan women and experts

The Taliban released a so-called "decree on women's rights" on Friday that failed to mention access to education or work and was immediately panned by Afghan women and experts, who said it was proof that the militant group was uninterested in upholding basic freedoms for millions of Afghan women who have largely been constrained to their homes in recent months.

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Pakistan PM calls mob killing 'day of shame' for the country

Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan has called a violent mob killing of a Sri Lankan national on Friday "a day of shame for Pakistan."

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'It is torture': Canada's lower house passes passes bill banning conversion therapy

CNN's Bianca Nobilo speaks with Marci Ien, Canada's Minister for Women and Gender Equality, after lawmakers in the country's House of Commons unanimously passed a bill banning conversion therapy practices.

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9-year-old Afghan girl who was sold into marriage rescued after CNN report

Last month, CNN reported that Parwana and several other underage girls were being sold by their fathers so other members of their families could eat. After an international outcry as a result of CNN's story, Parwana was returned to her family due to the backlash from the community against the buyer. CNN's Anna Coren has the update.

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Didi's delisting could spell the end for Chinese stocks on Wall Street

The era of big Chinese companies heading to the United States to raise money may have just come to an end.

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Grab plunges 21% in biggest Wall Street debut by a Southeast Asian company

The Southeast Asian unicorn Grab had a rough first day on Wall Street.

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Facebook sold ads comparing vaccine to Holocaust

Facebook has sold ads promoting anti-vaccine messages, comparing the US government's response to Covid-19 to Nazi Germany, casting doubt on the result of the 2020 election, and even pushing political violence.

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Covid: First data points to Omicron re-infection risk

Scientists in South Africa have identified a spike in the numbers catching Covid again.

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Thursday, December 2, 2021

Colombia seizes hundreds of tarantulas and insects bound for Germany

Hundreds of wild spiders and insects were seized by Colombian authorities on Thursday as they foiled an alleged attempt to smuggle the bugs to Europe, officials said.

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Covid: Pfizer and Moderna jabs give best overall boost, UK trial finds

Researchers say there are signs the boosters would still offer protection against new variant Omicron.

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Covid risk remains higher for some ethnic groups

A major report reveals who in society has been hit hardest by each wave of Covid in the UK.

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The rescue of Parwana: 9-year-old child bride is taken to safety in Afghanistan

Driving through a snow-capped mountain pass, the young mother huddles together with her six children in the backseat of a car after leaving their makeshift camp in northwestern Afghanistan.

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Sword-wielding man dressed as a ninja shot by French police

A man dressed like a ninja was shot by French police after he attempted to attack two officers with a sword in the western city of Cherbourg on Thursday, authorities said.

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Archbishop allegedly involved in 'intimate relationship' with woman resigns

Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Michel Aupetit from the position of Archbishop of Paris following reports that Aupetit had a consensual "intimate relationship" with a woman.

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Abuse directed at London Hanukkah party bus investigated as a hate crime, police say

London Metropolitan Police are investigating a video that appeared to show a group of men spitting at group of Jewish people celebrating Hanukkah earlier this week.

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OPEC and Russia will pump more oil in January despite price plunge

Saudi Arabia, Russia and other leading oil producers have decided to stick with plans to increase supply in January despite a recent plunge in prices driven by fears of a new glut.

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A battle is brewing at the WTO. Here's why it matters for a global Covid-19 response

For the past year, member nations of the World Trade Organization have been deadlocked over a proposal made by India and South Africa to temporarily suspend intellectual property rights to boost production of Covid-19 vaccines and therapeutics for low-income nations.

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Covid: South Africa new cases double in 24 hours as Omicron spreads

The new Omicron variant has now become dominant, the country's top medical scientists say.

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Sexual violence and abortion restrictions in Paraguay are fueling an epidemic of childhood pregnancy: Amnesty

An epidemic of childhood pregnancy in Paraguay is being fueled by widespread sexual abuse and restrictive abortion laws, according to a new Amnesty International report.

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Suspected Chinese hackers breach more US defense and tech firms

A suspected Chinese hacking campaign has breached four more US defense and technology companies in the last month, and hundreds more US organizations are running the type of vulnerable software that the attackers have exploited, according to research shared with CNN.

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Blinken and Lavrov meet amid tensions over Russia's intentions in Ukraine

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met Thursday in Stockholm, Sweden, amid growing concern among Western powers that Russia is seeking to destabilize Ukraine.

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This city was named the world's most expensive for the first time ever

All over the world, it's been a tough year on wallets.

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Peng Shuai 'reconfirms' she is safe and well in second call with IOC, says Olympic organization

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) held a second call with Peng Shuai on Wednesday and said that the Chinese tennis star "reconfirmed" that she was safe and well given the "difficult situation" she is in, the sporting organization said on Thursday.

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Pfizer boss: Annual Covid jabs for years to come

In an exclusive interview, Dr Albert Bourla says jabs have saved millions of lives.

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Covid in Scotland: New Scottish Omicron case not linked to others

Another case of the new variant of Covid-19 has been reported in Scotland, bringing the total to 10.

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Covid Omicron: Time to consider mandatory jabs, EU chief says

EU countries should discuss forced vaccinations to combat the Omicron variant, says Ursula von der Leyen.

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Asbestos exposure from 20 years ago killed IT worker

Jason Williams was given months to live when he became ill due to asbestos exposure 20 years ago.

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Uber partners with Meta to launch ride-booking via WhatsApp in India

Uber wants to make booking a ride in India as easy as sending a WhatsApp message.

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UK approves another antibody treatment for Covid

It's called sotrovimab and should cuts the risk of severe illness, even for new variants such as Omicron, say scientists.

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Wednesday, December 1, 2021

India formally repeals controversial farm laws after year of protests

India has formally repealed three contentious farm laws that sparked more than a year of protests, nearly two weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi was pushed into a rare policy reversal that saw the legislation withdrawn.

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Covid: Don't kiss strangers under mistletoe - minister

People should try to reduce Covid transmission so we can all enjoy Christmas "knees up", Therese Coffey says.

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Covid: Trigger of rare blood clots with AstraZeneca jab found by scientists

Researchers in Cardiff and the US discover how the Covid jab may be linked to the extremely rare clots.

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US and South Korea to develop new war plan to address North Korean military advancements

The US and South Korea will develop a new operational war plan to address the threat from North Korea, senior defense officials said Tuesday, as the Pentagon shifts its focus to the Indo-Pacific region following its recently completed global force posture review.

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Harris condemns Russian test of anti-satellite weapon at Biden administration's first space council meeting

Leaders from all corners of the US government condemned Russia's recent test of an anti-satellite weapon on Wednesday at the inaugural meeting of the National Space Council under the Biden administration, calling for accelerating the development of rules and norms in space.

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WTA announces suspension of tournaments in China amid concern for Peng Shuai

The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) chairman and CEO Steve Simon has announced an immediate suspension of all WTA tournaments in China, including Hong Kong.

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Four injured as old aircraft bomb explodes near Munich train station

An explosion has occurred near a busy train station in the German city of Munich, police said Wednesday.

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4 golfers test positive ahead of South African Open

Four golfers scheduled to play in the South African Open have been forced to withdraw after testing positive for Covid-19, the tournament announced on Thursday.

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Ethiopia says it recaptured UN World Heritage site

Ethiopian government forces and their regional allies have recaptured the town of Lalibela -- a United Nations World Heritage Site -- from Tigrayan forces, the prime minister's office said on Wednesday.

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Here's how Omicron could make the supply chain mess worse

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo is concerned the Omicron coronavirus variant will exacerbate pressure on the already stressed-out global supply chain.

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Biden should quickly revisit Omicron travel ban, says this CEO

Roger Dow, CEO of the US Travel Association, is questioning the logic of President Joe Biden's travel restrictions, imposed on South Africa and seven neighboring countries following the emergence of the Omicron coronavirus variant.

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Analysis: China's birthrate just hit another record low. But the worst is yet to come

China's birthrate in 2020 has hit another record low -- and there's no indication things are about to pick up anytime soon.

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Infected blood inquiry: Doctor's 1983 Aids statement 'unfortunate'

Dr Anthony Napier said there was no link between Aids and blood transfusions in a newspaper article.

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Pre-departure Covid tests would be valuable, say Sage scientists

Labour has called for the reintroduction of pre-departure tests for travellers bound for the UK.

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HIV: People with virus or taking PReP to be allowed to join armed forces

Until now, having HIV or taking preventative medication meant you weren't considered "fully fit".

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'Unanimous conclusion' that Peng Shuai is 'fine,' says IOC member Dick Pound

Long-time International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Dick Pound has said that the "unanimous conclusion" by those on a call with Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai is that she is "fine."

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Nigeria on high alert as it confirms three cases of Omicron variant

Africa's most populous nation is on high alert as three people in the country have the newly identified coronavirus variant Omicron, a statement from The Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) confirmed.

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Poorly controlled asthma 'increases Covid risk for children'

Children in the category are much more likely to end up in hospital with Covid, a study finds.

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Morning-after pill: Call for Boots to cut price of emergency contraception

Boots reduced the price of the pill on Black Friday and now faces calls to reduce it permanently.

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Covid: WHO urges those at risk from disease to delay travel if not fully vaccinated

It urges those who are unwell and the over-60s to delay international travel to areas with community transmission.

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Covid: GPs have 'no capacity' to help with booster jabs

Because of the Omicron variant, a top-up jab will be offered three months after adults' second jab.

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Former Japan PM tells China, 'a Taiwan emergency is a Japanese emergency'

Japan and the United States could not stand by if China attacked Taiwan, and Beijing needs to understand this, former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Wednesday.

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