WORLD
Covid subvariant surging in China may be evolving to attack the brain
The study challenges previous assumptions that viruses usually evolve to become less dangerous, South China Morning Post reported. New research on the Omicron subvariant of the coronavirus has suggested the pathogen could be changing how it attacks the human body - shifting from infecting respiratory systems to increasingly targeting the brain.
Bodies piling up in people's homes for days awaiting cremation across China
Mortuaries and funeral homes in Beijing have been overwhelmed in recent days with weeks-long backlog of bodies awaiting cremation, RFA reported. There was anecdotal evidence on Tuesday that a similar bottleneck is occurring across the country, the report said.
US considering imposing new Covid restrictions on Chinese arrivals
American officials say this is due to a lack of transparency surrounding the virus in China, as cases surge, the BBC reported. Japan, Malaysia and Taiwan - worried at importing Covid cases - have already outlined tighter measures for Chinese travellers, including negative tests. Beijing has said Covid rules should be brought in on a "scientific" basis.
China's move to open up travel sparks concern over spread of new Covid variants
The decision on Monday to drop quarantine for overseas visitors from January 8 has prompted concerns about the potential for new variants beyond China's borders, The Guardian reported.
Pakistan to seek US help to secure $13bn loans at Geneva meet
Pakistan is preparing a document with details of the projects, Geo News reported. This special document having a picture of the US and Pakistani flags is being prepared and then it will be shared with US authorities on eve of the upcoming donors conference scheduled to be held in Geneva on January 9, 2023, for the reconstruction of flood-affected areas in Pakistan.
China Covid disruptions leave foreign investors worried: Report
"China is racing against time to stabilise its workforce and domestic production, as widespread Covid-19 infections test the country's capability to fulfil overseas orders and threaten its status as the world's pre-eminent manufacturing hub," the report mentioned. The country is now planning to reopen borders on January 8 and abandon quarantine after it downgrades its treatment of Covid-19.
Nearly 4,900 flights cancelled in US due to deadly winter storm
Southwest Airlines was the hardest hit as it cancelled over 60 per cent or 2,500 of its flights on Tuesday, reports the BBC. More than 3,500 flights scheduled to leave Wednesday have already been cancelled, according to flight tracking service FlightAware.
US SC keeps Trump-era border policy in place
Tuesday's 5-4 decision reversed lower court decisions that the so-called Title 42 policy, applied about 2.5 million times since March 2020, had to end December 21, reports Xinhua news agency.
China nudges Nepal to expedite BRI projects as Prachanda becomes new Premier
"As Nepal's traditional friend and neighbour, China deeply values its relations with Nepal. China stands ready to work with the new Nepalese government to expand and deepen friendly exchange and cooperation across the board, pursue high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, inject new impetus into our strategic cooperative partnership featuring ever-lasting friendship for development and prosperity and deliver more benefits for our two peoples," she told a regular press briefing at the ministry in Beijing on Monday.
Russia-led Eurasian region backs India's connectivity plan using Chabahar port
At a New Year's Eve meeting held in the historic Russian city of Saint Petersburg on Monday, the CIS leaders exchanged views on issues of further strengthening of multilateral cooperation of the member states and discussed issues related to regional and international cooperation of mutual interest.
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