New COVID-19 variant XE identified: What to know and why experts say not to be alarmed A new COVID-19 variant has been identified in the United Kingdom, but experts say there is no cause for alarm yet. ABC News ABC News

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The variant, known as XE, is a combination of the original BA.1 omicron variant and its subvariant BA.2. This type of combination is known as a "recombinant" variant.

Shanghai extends lockdown to entire city as tests show Covid spread New cases surged after 25 million residents were swabbed in 24 hours, and authorities showed no sign of lifting restrictions despite growing public frustration. NBC News

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UN warns Earth 'firmly on track toward an unlivable world' BERLIN (AP) — Temperatures on Earth will shoot past a key danger point unless greenhouse gas emissions fall faster than countries have committed, the world’s top body of climate scientists said Monday, warning of the consequences of inaction but also noting hopeful signs of progress. AP NEWS

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Here's what's in the $10 billion Covid-19 aid bill The Senate has reached a bipartisan deal to provide an additional $10 billion in Covid-19 assistance, less than half of what the White House originally requested. It would allow the Biden administration to purchase more vaccines and therapeutics, as well as maintain testing capacity and research. Katie Lobosco and Tami Luhby, CNN CNN

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Senators announce $10 billion COVID-19 deal, leave out global aid

Senators announced on Monday they had reached a deal to provide $10 billion for the fight against COVID-19, but the agreement leaves out funding for the global virus response. 

The agreement could clear the path for Congress to finally pass some new funding for the virus response, which the White House has been warning for weeks is urgently needed to allow it to purchase more vaccines, treatments and tests. 

The announcement comes after days of negotiations between a group of GOP senators and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), with negotiators signaling late last week that they were close to finalizing specifics. 

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/04/04/world/covid-19-mandates-cases-vaccine#some-states-in-the-us-are-seeing-new-cases-increase

Some U.S. states see new covid cases increase.

Across the United States, officials have dropped mask mandates and are closing mass vaccine and testing sites as new coronavirus cases have fallen nationally to about 27,000 a day on average. But several states — mostly in the Northeast — have had some increases in case numbers over the past two weeks, according to a New York Times database