African Death Toll From COVID-19 Increasing
NAIROBI – The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the continent’s death toll from COVID-19 has jumped 17 percent in the past month. In a media briefing Thursday, the Africa CDC said the infection rate has also increased and war…
As COVID Vaccine Disparity Widens, Fears Mount Over Economic Impact
Vaccines are allowing richer nations to reopen for trade and tourism. But despite G-7 pledges to help developing nations inoculate by the end of 2022, most public health experts and World Health Organization officers predict it will be well into 2023 a…
Monsoon flooding affects thousands in lower part of Myanmar
Monsoon flooding has hit the lower part of Myanmar following heavy rainfall since the third week of July, according to state-run media reports on Thursday.The floods have affected thousands of residents in the country’s Kayin, Mon, Rakhine states, and …
US Federal Workers Again Are Masking Up
WHITE HOUSE – Federal workers in Washington and some other cities Wednesday began wearing masks again at work amid a spread of the delta variant of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Government employees are expected to be told Thursday that they wi…
Merchant Sailor Shortage Possible in Five Years
A shipping industry report released Wednesday warns there could be a shortage of merchant sailors to crew commercial ships in five years if action is not taken to boost numbers, posing a potential threat to global supply chains.The 2021 Seafarer Workfo…
Australian Police Warn of Mass Arrests if Anti-Lockdown Protesters Return to Sydney
SYDNEY – Police in Australia have warned that more anti-lockdown protests won’t be tolerated after thousands of people defied COVID-19 public health orders in Sydney Saturday. Health officials fear the illegal demonstration could become a super-spreade…
World Bank: Coup and Coronavirus Shrink Myanmar’s Economy by 18%
BANGKOK – Myanmar’s economy is forecast to shrink by 18% as it grapples with the coronavirus and the political turmoil unleashed by a coup, the World Bank said Monday. The contracting economy threatens millions with poverty, joblessness and hunger. A d…
Only Tokyo Could Pull Off These Games? Not Everyone Agrees
TOKYO – Staging an Olympics during the worst pandemic in a century? There’s a widespread perception that it couldn’t happen in a better place than Japan.A vibrant, open democracy with deep pockets, the host nation is known for its diligent execution of…
Zimbabwe Receives COVID-19 Vaccines from China Amid Fears of Third Wave
HARARE – Zimbabwe on Sunday received one million SINOVAC vaccines it bought from China as the African country battles to meet the demand for the COVID-19 jabs. Zimbabweans want to get vaccinated to beat a third wave facing the country. After the arri…