While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, Dec 19
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Loh Kean Yew celebrates after defeating Anders Antonsen of Denmark in their semi final.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
Badminton: Loh first S'porean to reach world c'ships final
Loh Kean Yew is one victory away from becoming the Republic's first badminton world champion.
On Saturday, he beat Denmark's world No. 3 Anders Antonsen 23-21, 21-14 in the semi-final of the Badminton World Federation World Championships in Huelva, Spain, and is assured of winning at least an unprecedented silver medal for Singapore in just his second world championships after reaching the last 16 in 2019.
In Sunday's final, he will go for a historic gold against India's 14th-ranked Kidambi Srikanth, who outlasted compatriot and world No. 19 Lakshya Sen to win 17-21, 21-14, 21-17 in 69 minutes in the other last-four clash.
Omicron coronavirus cases surge in UK, seven deaths reported
Britain reported a surge in cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant on Saturday (Dec 18) which government advisers said could be just the tip of the iceberg, and London’s mayor declared a “major incident” to help the city’s hospitals cope.
The number of Omicron cases recorded across the country hit almost 25,000 as of 1800 GMT on Friday, up by more than 10,000 cases from 24 hours earlier, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said.
Seven people believed to have had the Omicron variant had died as of Thursday, up from one death in the UKHSA’s previous data which ran up to Tuesday. Admissions to hospital of people thought to have the variant increased to 85 from 65.
Netherlands to go into strict Christmas lockdown amid Omicron
The Netherlands will go into a strict lockdown over the Christmas and New Year period to try to contain the highly-contagious Omicron coronavirus variant, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Saturday.
All non-essential shops and services, including restaurants, hairdressers, museums and gyms will be closed from Sunday until Jan 14.
All schools will be shut until at least Jan 9.
Explosion at Pakistan bank branch kills at least 15
At least 15 people were killed and 16 others injured in an explosion on Saturday at a bank branch in Karachi's industrial area, police said.
A senior police officer said the blast at a branch of Habib Bank, Pakistan's largest lender, could have been caused by a gas leak.
Mr Sarfaraz Nawaz also told reporters that the building appeared to have been constructed over a sewage drain.
Rublev eases past Murray to win Abu Dhabi exhibition event
World number five Andrey Rublev outclassed Andy Murray 6-4 7-6(2) in the World Tennis Championship exhibition event final in Abu Dhabi on Saturday (Dec 18).
Both players held their opening two service games but Rublev edged ahead when he broke Murray in the fifth game after a series of fiercely-fought rallies from the back of the court.
The 24-year-old Russian ran Murray ragged with his powerful groundstrokes but the Briton managed to hold on before Rublev's pressure paid off and he took the set with a stunning forehand down the line.