The World Health Organization is
reviewing a report urging it to update guidance on the novel
coronavirus after more than 200 scientists, in a letter to the
health agency, outlined evidence the virus can spread in tiny
airborne particles.
EUROPE
* Germany has only a few hundred doses of Covid-19 antiviral
remdesivir, the country's health minister told European Union
lawmakers, urging to move production of the drug to Europe.
* France is creating three beefed-up ministries to spearhead
its recovery from coronavirus turmoil.
ASIA-PACIFIC
* India's death toll from the coronavirus pandemic surpassed
20 000 on Tuesday and case numbers surged as the south Asian
nation pushed ahead with relaxations to its almost two-month
lockdown amid grim economic forecasts.
* Hundreds of police officers and army troops are being
deployed to enforce the closure of the busy border between
Australia's two most populous states as officials grapple to
contain a fresh coronavirus outbreak.
* New Zealand said its national airline will not take new
bookings for three weeks as the country looks to limit the
number of citizens returning home to reduce the burden on
overflowing quarantine facilities.
AMERICAS
* President Donald Trump said US schools must open in the
fall - a decision over which he has limited power - as cases
surged nationwide by the tens of thousands and the death toll
topped 130 000.
* Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said she has tested
positive for COovid-19, but has not shown symptoms of the
illness.
* Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said he had undergone
another test for the novel coronavirus and his lungs were
"clean," after local media reported he had symptoms associated
with the disease.
MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA
* Israel reimposed a series of restrictions to fight a spike
in infections, including the immediate closure of bars, gyms and
event halls.
* The number of confirmed cases in Qatar exceeded 100 000
and Kuwait surpassed 50 000 on Monday.
* Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta announced a phased
reopening of the country from a COVID-19 lockdown, lifting
restrictions on travel in and out of the capital Nairobi and
allowing air travel to resume.
MEDICAL DEVELOPMENTS
* China's Sinovac Biotech is starting Phase III
trials of its potential coronavirus vaccine in Brazil.
* The US FDA has granted emergency use authorization to
Becton Dickinson and Co for a Covid-19 antigen test that
can be administered at the point of care and produce results
within 15 minutes.
ECONOMIC FALLOUT
* A high-profile pandemic aid program protected about 51.1
million American jobs, the Trump administration said, as it
revealed how $521.4 billion in taxpayer cash was injected into
small businesses but also into the pockets of the rich and
famous.
* Japan's household spending fell at the fastest pace on
record in May, pushing the world's third-largest economy deeper
into decline.
* Philippine inflation picked up faster than expected in
June as economic activity gradually resumed with the easing of
one of the world's longest lockdowns.
* New Zealand business confidence improved slightly in the
June quarter but businesses remain pessimistic about general
economic conditions over the coming months, a private think tank
said.