Dec 26 France sees over 100,000 daily virus infections for 1st time By Angela Charlton, Associated Press More than 1 in 100 people in the Paris region have tested positive in the past week, according to the regional health service. Most new infections are linked to the omicron variant, which government experts predict will be dominant in… Continue reading
Dec 25 3 members of K-pop sensation BTS diagnosed with COVID-19 By Hyung-Jin Kim, Associated Press Three members of the K-pop superstar group BTS have been infected with the coronavirus after returning from abroad, their management agency said. RM and Jin were diagnosed with COVID-19 on Saturday evening, the Big Hit Music agency said in a… Continue reading
Dec 25 Flight cancellations drag on as airlines short-staffed By Tali Arbel, Associated Press FlightAware, a flight-tracking website, noted 875 flights entering, leaving or inside the U.S. canceled Saturday, up from 689 Friday. About 200 more flights were already canceled for Sunday. FlightAware does not say why flights are canceled. Continue reading
Dec 24 Pope celebrates Christmas Eve Mass as virus surges in Italy By Nicole Winfield, Associated Press A maskless Francis processed down the central aisle of the basilica as the Sistine Chapel choir sang “Noel,” kicking off the Vatican’s Christmas holiday that commemorates the birth of Jesus in a manger in Bethlehem. Continue reading
Dec 24 Watch 3:04 COVID-19 spreads holiday misery, as canceled flights strand thousands on Christmas Eve By Stephanie Sy, Dorothy Hastings The COVID-19 pandemic is once again upending holiday plans around the world, from halting air travel to scaling back festive celebrations. All this as new infections in the U.S. have spiked 55 percent in the last two weeks alone, largely… Continue watching
Dec 24 Watch 5:53 Why a judge rejected a settlement with the Sackler family for their role in opioid crisis By William Brangham, Courtney Norris Experts link a record number of overdoses this year from black market opioids back to the original marketing and distribution of legal opioids made by Purdue Pharma, the company owned by the Sackler family that made OxyContin. Last week, a… Continue watching
Dec 24 How will Biden's COVID-19 test giveaway work? By Darlene Superville, Associated Press President Joe Biden says the federal government will buy half a billion COVID-19 rapid test kits and distribute them free of charge to people to use at home. Continue reading
Dec 24 COVID puts a damper on Christmas Eve again around the world By Jack Jeffrey, David Crary, David McHugh, Associated Press Travel plans are being disrupted because of flight cancellations, as the pandemic once again casts a pall on celebrations around the world. Continue reading
Dec 24 Omicron deals fresh blow to pandemic-weary front-line workers By Philip Marcelo, Anne D'Innocenzio, Bobby Caina Calvan, Associated Press The surge in coronavirus cases driven by the new omicron variant is the latest blow to hospitals, police departments, supermarkets and other critical operations struggling to maintain staffing levels. Continue reading
Dec 24 U.S. to lift travel ban on 8 southern African countries By Ashraf Khalil, Associated Press The White House says the U.S. will lift travel restrictions to eight southern African countries on New Year's Eve. Continue reading