Australia’s Sydney posts record daily rise in COVID-19 cases, seeks military help
By Colin Packham and Renju Jose
SYDNEY, July 29 (Reuters) - Australia's biggest city Sydney posted a record one-day rise in local COVID-19 cases on Thursday and warned the outbreak...
Pentagon chief in Vietnam to advance ties but rights concerns linger
By Idrees Ali
HANOI - U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin sought on Thursday to nudge forward security ties with Vietnam that have been slowly deepening as both...
Biden to ask federal workers to get vaccinated or face testing – source
By David Shepardson and Nandita Bose
WASHINGTON - U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to announce on Thursday that all civilian federal workers will need to be vaccinated against the...
Fiscal stimulus, vaccines likely fueled U.S. economic growth in the second quarter
By Lucia Mutikani
WASHINGTON - The U.S. economy likely gained steam in the second quarter, with the pace of growth probably the second fastest in 38 years,...
Cambodia to impose COVID-19 lockdowns in areas bordering Thailand
PHNOM PENH - Cambodia is set to launch a lockdown in eight provinces bordering Thailand from midnight on Thursday, in a bid to prevent...
Pfizer says 2021 COVID-19 vaccine sales to top $33.5 bln, sees need for boosters
By Manas Mishra and Michael Erman
Pfizer Inc on Wednesday raised its 2021 sales forecast for its COVID-19 vaccine by 29% to $33.5 billion, and said it believes people will...
Biden’s ‘summer of joy’ turns grim as Delta infections skyrocket
PRESIDENT Joseph R. Biden promised a “summer of joy” on July 4 as he declared America’s independence from Covid-19. Three weeks later that sense of victory is evaporating in the face of a resurgent pandemic.
Vatican starts corruption trial with cardinal among defendants
THE VATICAN started a corruption trial with alleged offenders including a previously powerful cardinal as Pope Francis ramps up a campaign to overhaul the city state’s scandal-plagued finances.
Kuwait bans unvaccinated citizens from traveling abroad
CAIRO — Kuwait on Tuesday said only citizens who have been vaccinated for the coronavirus will be allowed to travel abroad starting on Aug. 1.
Sydney adds four weeks to lockdown as Australia COVID-19 cases grow
SYDNEY — Australia’s biggest city, Sydney, extended a lockdown by four weeks on Wednesday after an already protracted stay-at-home order failed to douse a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, with authorities warning of tougher policing to stamp out non-compliance.
US concern over China nukes buildup after new silos report
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon and Republican congressmen on Tuesday aired fresh concerns about China’s buildup of its nuclear forces after a new report saying Beijing was building 110 more missile silos.
US urges vaccinated Americans to wear masks indoors in many places
WASHINGTON — Americans fully vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) should go back to wearing masks in indoor public places in regions where the...