Rich nations likely to have 1.2 billion extra COVID vaccine doses by yearend
WEALTHY COUNTRIES face mounting pressure to divert coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine supplies to lower-income regions, with a new analysis showing they’ll likely have about 1.2 billion extra doses available by the end of the year.
Over 1 billion Asians will join global middle class by 2030
MORE THAN one billion Asians are set to join the global middle class by 2030, according to a new study that predicts the pandemic will prove just a temporary pause in the world economy’s great demographic shift.
Brazil health regulator suspends use of 12 million Sinovac vaccine shots
SAO PAULO — Brazil’s federal health regulator Anvisa on Saturday suspended the use of over 12 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine developed by China’s Sinovac Biotech Ltd. that were produced in an unauthorized plant, it said in a statement.
Trash to treasure: Thailand makes COVID-19 protective gear out of upcycled bottles
By Juarawee Kittisilpa
SAMUT PRAKAN, Thailand - With an abundance of plastic waste but a scarcity of personal protective equipment (PPE), Thailand is turning trash into treasure...
Japan’s struggling PM Suga steps down, sets stage for new leader
By Antoni Slodkowski and Tetsushi Kajimoto
TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said on Friday he would step down, setting the stage for a new premier after a one-year...
U.S. has no plans to release billions in Afghan assets, Treasury says
By Andrea Shalal and Daphne Psaledakis
WASHINGTON - The Biden administration has no plans to release billions in Afghan gold, investments and foreign currency reserves parked in the United States...
U.S. labor agency probes two complaints from Apple workers
By Julia Love
SAN FRANCISCO - A U.S. national labor agency is investigating two charges against tech giant Apple Inc filed by employees, records on its website...
Billions paid in fraudulent virus aid, according to pandemic response watchdog
FRAUD OR IMPROPER payments accounted for more than $90 billion of the government’s emergency pandemic aid for the unemployed and small businesses, according to a report from a federal watchdog.
New York City mayor declares state of emergency after record-breaking rain
NEW YORK CITY MAYOR Bill de Blasio declared a state of emergency on Wednesday night due to what he called a “historic weather event” with record-breaking rain across the city leading to flooding and dangerous conditions on the roads.
Food prices expected to rise as world runs short of workers
ACROSS the world, a dearth of workers is shaking up food supply chains.
Briton charged in Singapore as police probe Wirecard-linked firm
SINGAPORE — A British man has been charged in Singapore with involvement in alleged fraud by a company linked to the collapsed German payments firm Wirecard, according to police.
China warns US climate cooperation at risk on political tensions
SHANGHAI — Senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi has warned the United States that political tensions between Beijing and Washington could undermine efforts by the world’s top two sources of greenhouse gas to cooperate in the fight against climate change.
