Ireland imposes new virus curbs over Christmas
Ireland on Tuesday announced fresh coronavirus restrictions from Christmas until January 12 to curb the spread of new infections.
S.Korea to close ski resorts, tourist spots
South Korea says it will close ski resorts and other tourist attractions during the Christmas and New Year holidays as it grapples with a surge in coronavirus cases.
2 die in factory gas leak in northern India 
At least two people died and 15 injured after Ammonia gas leaked from a fertilizer manufacturing plant in India's northern Uttar Pradesh state, a local police official confirmed with Xinhua over phone on Wednesday.
Philippines bans flights from Britain over fears of new virus variant
The Philippines has imposed a ban on flights from Britain over fears of the transmission of a newly-detected coronavirus variant that is more infectious, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said on Wednesday.
Japan, India defense chiefs agree to cooperate
Japan's Defense Minister Kishi Nobuo has agreed with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh that the two countries will work together to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
BioNTech says can make mutation-beating vaccine in six weeks

22 December