A Singaporean woman who was pregnant when she was infected with coronavirus in March has reportedly given birth to a baby with antibodies against the disease, offering a new clue as to whether the infection can be transferred from mother to child, the baby, who was was born this month, does not have COVID-19 but has the virus antibodies, the Straits Times newspaper reported on Sunday, citing the mother. “My doctor suspects I have transferred my COVID-19 antibodies to him during my pregnancy,” Celine Ng-Chan told the paper. Ng-Chan had been mildly ill from the disease and was discharged from … Continue reading Singaporean mother gives birth to baby with COVID-19 antibodies

Walt Disney Co says it plans to lay off 32,000 workers, primarily at it’s theme parks, an increase from the 28,000 it announced in September as the company struggles with limited customers due to the coronavirus pandemic, the layoffs will be in the first half of 2021, the company said in a filing late on Wednesday with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Disney did not respond to a request for comment by the Reuters news agency as to whether the 28,000 layoffs announced earlier were included in the latest figure, but a spokesperson for the company confirmed to Variety … Continue reading Disney to lay off 32,000 workers in 2021

A string of positive Covid-19 tests at Shanghai’s Pudong airport has sparked mass testing of thousands of people amid reportedly chaotic scenes, authorities requested all cargo staff come for testing on Sunday. Official pictures released of the testing appear to show an orderly, calm process, however other videos believed to be of the mass testing show officials in hazmat suits corralling large, yelling crowds into a restricted space. Many of the videos have since disappeared, and state media have not reported on any chaos, saying only that more than 16,000 people were tested overnight. According to China’s Global Times newspaper, … Continue reading Shanghai airport Covid-19 scare sparks chaotic mass testing

South Australia decided to enter a state-wide lockdown after learning a man with Covid-19 had lied about his link to a pizza shop, police say, the strict six-day lockdown began on Wednesday after the state detected 36 infections, including it’s first locally acquired cases since April, but the order would have been avoided if a man had told health officials he had worked “several” shifts at a pizza shop, authorities said. He had said he was a customer there. “To say I am fuming is an understatement,” state Premier Steven Marshall told reporters on Friday. Australia has relied on lockdowns, … Continue reading Pizza worker’s ‘lie’ forced South Australia lockdown

More than 200 Facebook workers from around the world have accused the firm of forcing its content moderators back to the office despite the risks of contracting coronavirus, the claims came in an open letter that said the firm was “needlessly risking” lives to maintain profits. They called on Facebook to make changes to allow more remote work and offer other benefits, such as hazard pay. Facebook said “a majority” of content reviewers are working from home. “While we believe in having an open internal dialogue, these discussions need to be honest,” a spokesperson for the company said. The majority of these … Continue reading Facebook accused of forcing staff back to offices

A Covid-19 vaccine developed in China has shown success in mid-stage trials, researchers say. There are several vaccines being developed in China, some of which are already being administered, according to the researchers, the Sinovac Biotech vaccine led to a quick immune response during trials with around 700 people. The announcement comes after European and US vaccines reported successful data from large late-stage trials. Three vaccines, developed in the US, Germany and Russia, have all released data suggesting efficiency of more than 90%, after trials with tens of thousands of people, like the rest of the world, China is racing … Continue reading Chinese vaccine successful in mid-stage trials

Asian stock markets have moved higher on good news about an effective vaccine for Covid-19 Japan’s Nikkei 225 index opened more than 1.5% higher, to reach its highest level in almost 30 years, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng opened 1.8% higher while in China, the Shanghai Composite, also saw gains in morning trading. Stock markets in Singapore, South Korea and Australia were also in positive territory. Japanese stocks are seen rallying for the sixth straight session, after the US market rocketed on news that a vaccine Pfizer and BioNTech are developing was 90% effective in protecting against Covid-19 infections, said a … Continue reading Asian markets rally on good Covid-19 vaccine news

In an effort to stem the tide of coronavirus, as many as 17 million minks are to be culled in Denmark after a mutated version of the coronavirus that can spread to humans was detected on mink farms, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the mutated virus posed a “risk to the effectiveness” of a future Covid-19 vaccine, Denmark is the world’s biggest producer of mink fur. Police said the culling should happen as soon as possible. Coronavirus cases have been detected in mink farms in Denmark’s northern Jutland region, and in other parts of Europe, for several months, but cases … Continue reading Denmark to cull up to 17 million mink amid coronavirus fears

The Indian stall owner, whose video went viral has filed a police complaint against a blogger who helped him get business. Gaurav Wasan’s viral video in early October showed Kanta Prasad crying over the lack of customers at his stall in Delhi because of the pandemic. The video moved people, including celebrities, and they responded to Mr Wasan’s call for donations. Mr Prasad has now accused the blogger of misappropriating funds collected in his name, Mr Wasan has denied the allegations, the latest event has soured what was a classic social media story that made Mr Prasad and his wife … Continue reading Update: The eatery owner angry with blogger who made him famous

The Marshall Islands, one of the last few places in the world untouched by Covid-19, has recorded its first two positive cases of the virus. The government of the remote Pacific archipelago said two workers at a US base had tested positive after arriving from Hawaii on Tuesday, the pair flew in on a military flight and have been isolated from the wider community since arriving. The Marshall Islands closed its borders in March to keep the virus out, authorities stressed the two were “strictly border cases” discovered while the 35-year-old woman and 46-year-old man were in quarantine” with no … Continue reading Remote Marshall Islands records first cases

HSBC said Tuesday it would accelerate its restructuring plan, slashing costs further than previously suggested. The bank made the announcement as it posted a quarterly profit before tax of $3.1bn (£2.3bn) – down 35% from the same period last year, the bank’s revenues were also down 11% to $11.9bn, with $3.2bn coming from its business in Asia. HSBC hasn’t yet said if its plan to accelerate its restructure will mean more jobs will go, the bank says it will provide a detailed plan with its full year results in February next year. HSBC first announced plans to cut 35,000 jobs … Continue reading HSBC to accelerate restructure plan to slash costs

Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Andrej Babiš has said he will dismiss the country’s health minister if he doesn’t resign over after a media report that he broke strict government restrictions and visited a Prague restaurant. More updates soon Continue reading BREAKING NEWS: Czech PM will dismiss health minister unless he resigns over ‘inexcusable’ restaurant visit