International

• US logs over 1 mn daily Covid cases again
  
  The US has witnessed new Covid-19 surge since mid December due to the highly infectious Omicron variant.
• Global Covid caseload tops 337.1 mn
  
  The US continues to be the worst-hit country with the world's highest number of cases and deaths at 68,508,181 and 857,672, according to the CSSE.
• U.S. Condemns Houthi Attack on Abu Dhabi: National Security Advisor
  
• Texas Hostage-taker Named as British Citizen, UK Police Arrest 2
  
• India, Britain Launch Talks on Free Trade Deal
  
• Pakistan's Central Bank Tells Court Cryptocurrency Should be Banned
  
• Cannabis compounds can stop Covid virus from entering human cells: Study
  
  A team from Oregon State University identified Hemp, known scientifically as Cannabis sativa, compounds via a chemical screening technique.
• Sri Lanka could go bankrupt this year
  
  Inflation has meanwhile been spurred by the government printing money to pay off domestic loans and foreign bonds.
• Covid cases in China highest in 20 months
  
  Among the 162 domestic cases, 150 were reported in Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi province.
• S.Korea approves Pfizer's oral Covid-19 pill
  
  Paxlovid is the antiviral pill for the treatment of mild to moderate Covid-19 in patients at increased risk of hospitalisation or death, according to Pfizer and the South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.
• US Army creates a single vaccine against all Covid variants
  
  The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research is the largest biomedical research facility administered by the US Department of Defense.
• Omicron to dominate Europe soon, booster dose important defence: WHO
  
  Detected barely a month ago, the fast spreading strain of Covid has so far spread to 106 countries, according to the WHO.
• Biden announces 500 mn free at-home Covid test kits to fight Omicron
  
  The at-home tests will be available for purchase online as well as at the local pharmacy from January, which will be "reimbursed".
• Pak human rights activist arrested for speaking out against military
  
  Rights activists suggest Khattak was arrested because he spoke out against the arbitrary detentions and forced disappearances committed by the military, which has an oversized role in domestic and foreign affairs, the report said.
• US State Dept nails Pakistan as terror sponsor
  
  Fulminating against Pakistan, the State Department said unequivocally that it has not taken steps to prosecute terrorist leaders such as Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) founder Masood Azhar and Lashkar-e-Toiba's (LeT) Sajid Mir, the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
• Some rapid antigen Covid tests may not detect Omicron: Fauci
  
  "We're getting preliminary information that not all of the diagnostic tests will be accurate with Omicron," Fauci said while addressing a virtual Chamber of Commerce Foundation audience on Thursday.
• Breakthrough infections generate super immunity to Covid-19: Study
  
  Breakthrough infections greatly enhance immune response to variants of the virus that causes Covid-19, according to a new study.
• Omicron spreading at unprecedented rate: WHO
  
  WHO Director General Tedros A. Ghebreyesus said that a total of 77 countries have reported Omicron cases so far but the reality is that this variant is probably yet to be detected in some countries.
• Pfizer Jabs Protect 70% against Hospitalization from Omicron
  
• Indonesia Lifts Tsunami Alert after Powerful Undersea Quake
  
• UK Looking at Vaccinating Children as Young as Five, Lim Says
  
• Four women stripped, dragged through Faisalabad market
  
  According to the FIR, the complainant, a garbage-picker, went to the Bawa Chak Market with three other women to collect garbage on Monday at around 10:30 am.
• Omicron more contagious, less dangerous than Delta: Israeli scientist
  
  According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Omicron has spread to nearly 38 countries, but no deaths have yet been reported.
• Early data on Omicron severity encouraging: Fauci
  
  While there has been reports of spike in hospitalisation due to Omicron in South Africa, according to President Cyril Ramaphosa, they are "not alarming".
• Critically ill Covid cases hit record high in S.Korea amid growing omicron fears
  
  The number of critically ill patients came to 736, up from the previous record high of 733 on Thursday.

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