The nation has seen a rapid surge in coronavirus deaths since November.
The official death toll update comes amid doubts over Beijing's data transparency and remains extremely low by global standards.
China said that nearly 60,000 people with Covid had died in hospitals between December 8 and January 12 - a roughly ten-fold increase from previous disclosures.
CEO Satya Nadella told employees the layoffs represent “less than 5 percent of our total employee base" and that while they are eliminating roles in some areas, Microsoft will continue to hire in "key strategic areas."
China records 59,938 Covid-related deaths between December 8, 2022 and January 12 this year.
Eight biggest unions call for protests after Macron government announces plans to raise retirement age.
Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq al Rabiah says all Hajj pilgrims are now welcome to Islam's holiest cities of Mecca and Medina this year after numbers were drastically curtailed in 2020 due to Covid-19.
Residents of the semi-autonomous city of Hong Kong stream into mainland China, many eager for long-awaited reunions, in the most visible sign of the country's dismantling of its zero-Covid strategy.
Hundreds of millions have started returning to their hometowns ahead of Lunar New Year period to spend holidays with their families and relatives amid a surging wave of infections across the country.
The bans targeted 1,120 accounts on the Sina Weibo social media platform as the Chinese New Year travel rush starts amid a surge in coronavirus cases and hospitalisations.
The report examines the crisis response measures governments and businesses used as the pandemic spread, aimed at keeping organisations functioning and workers employed.
In countries like the US, Canada, France and Japan travellers from China are now required to show negative Covid tests before arrival.
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