Hundreds of Thai workers found dying in South Korea with numbers rising
BANGKOK/SEOUL — The deaths of hundreds of mainly undocumented Thai migrant workers in South Korea have been uncovered by the Thomson Reuters Foundation, prompting the United Nations (UN) to call for an inquiry into the fate of migrants known as “little ghosts.”
WHO says no need for major alarm over new coronavirus strain
GENEVA/ZURICH — The World Health Organization cautioned against major alarm over a new, highly infectious variant of the coronavirus that has emerged in Britain,...
Europe shuts door on Britain amid new COVID strain
LONDON — Britain’s European neighbors began closing their doors to travellers from the United Kingdom on Sunday amid alarm about a rapidly spreading strain of coronavirus that has caused cases to soar there.
China says aircraft carrier group on way to South China Sea for drills
BEIJING — An aircraft carrier group led by China’s newest carrier, the Shandong, has sailed through the Taiwan Strait on its way to routine drills in the South China Sea, China’s navy said on Monday, after Taiwan mobilized its forces to monitor the trip.
Singapore hotel used for quarantine may have spread infection
A SINGAPORE hotel suspected of spreading the virus among quarantined travelers has now found signs of past infection among three staffers, raising concern over pockets of undetected transmission in a country that’s largely managed to stamp out local cases.
Pope snubs Vatican’s sci-fi Nativity scene, directs visitors to others
By Philip Pullella
VATICAN CITY, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Sunday appeared to add his own thumbs-down to widespread criticism of an unorthodox nativity scene...
How to prepare and protect your gut health over Christmas and the silly season
It’s that time of year again, with Christmas parties, end-of-year get-togethers and holiday catch-ups on the horizon for many of us — all COVID-safe,...
Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine shots leave warehouses, widening U.S. push to immunize
By Carl O'Donnell
Dec 20 (Reuters) - Trucks and planes loaded with doses of Moderna Inc's COVID-19 vaccine are expected on Sunday to leave warehouses en route...
‘Powerful tradecraft’: How foreign cyber-spies compromised America
SPEAKING at a private dinner for tech security executives at the St. Regis Hotel in San Francisco in late February, America’s cyber defense chief boasted how well his organizations protect the country from spies.
UK gov’t imposes harsher lockdown on London
LONDON — Prime Minister Boris Johnson imposed an effective lockdown on over 16 million people in England and reversed plans to ease curbs over Christmas, saying Britain was dealing with a new coronavirus strain up to 70% more transmissible than the original.
Global COVID-19 cases surpass 75 million
GLOBAL coronavirus infections surpassed the 75 million mark on Saturday, according to a Reuters tally, as several nations around the world begin vaccinating against the virus.
Singapore probes 13 infections among quarantine cases at hotel
Singapore is investigating 13 cases of COVID-19 infections among people who served their quarantine at a hotel along the city’s Orchard Road shopping strip.
The...