WORLD
US state Illinois fully reopens
By fully reopening, it means going outside without a mask or gathering in small groups with other vaccinated friends, increasing social interactions and dropping restrictions incrementally, reports Xinhua news agency. While some people are hailing a return to near-normalcy and planning various celebrations, some others express the concern that Covid-19 safety measures might be dropping too quickly, Chicago Tribune reported on Friday.
Masks no longer required in US Senate for vaccinated people
The Capitol Hill complex is now at 85 per cent vaccination rate, Xinhua news agency quoted the CNN report as saying on Friday. "The guideline document reflects that fully vaccinated individuals may discontinue mask wear and 6-foot social distance separations in most situations consistent with the CDC revision regarding fully vaccinated individuals of May 13, 2021," said a statement from the office of the Attending Physician, Brian Monahan.
111 militants killed in 24 hrs in Afghanistan
At least 111 Taliban militants were killed in the last 24 hours across Afghanistan, the Ministry of Interior said in a statement. The forces also detected and foiled 12 explosive devices in different parts of the country, the statement added.
China's Mars rover sends 1st selfie, 'touring' group photos
The first batch of scientific images of the rover, the panoramic view of the landing site, the topography of Mars were released by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) on Friday, calling it "tour group photos".
Indonesia's Mt. Merapi spews hot clouds up to 2 km
The first hot clouds were erupted at 8.11 a.m. on Friday to as high as 2,000 metres for 167 seconds and the next hot clouds were flowing at 8.18 a.m. to 1,500 metres high for 99 seconds, reports Xinhua news agency.
Indian-origin journalist wins Pulitzer for exposing China's Muslim detention camps
The award in the international reporting category that she shared with two colleagues from an internet media, BuzzFeed News, was announced on Friday by the Pulitzer Board. Megha Rajagopalan has won the US' top journalism award, the Pulitzer Prize, for innovative investigative reports harnessing satellite technology that exposed China's mass detention camps for Muslim Uighurs and other minority ethnicites.
Italy suspends AstraZeneca vaccine for under-60s
Italy on Friday suspended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine for people under 60 years old. The move came after an 18-year-old woman died of a blood clot Thursday after receiving an initial dose of AstraZeneca on May 25, Xinhua reported.
G7 leaders to unveil anti-pandemic action plan
The leaders are at the Cornish seaside resort of Carbis Bay for the three-day G7 Summit which kicked-off on Friday, marking the first in person meeting since the onset of the pandemic early last year. Following a special session on Saturday, the leaders will issue the Carbis Bay Declaration, "which will set out a plan to try to prevent any repeat of the human and economic devastation wreaked by Covid-19", the BBC reported.
Global Covid-19 caseload tops 175mn
In its latest update on Saturday morning, the University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed that the current global caseload and death toll stood at 175,181,504 and 3,780,592, respectively.
Kashmiri Pandit Kevin Kishore Kaul readying for California Guv race
Kaul, an electrical engineer from Regional Engineering College in Warangal, Andhra Pradesh, who made his millions as an entrepreneur in the US West Coast, is upbeat about his chances - if the recall election happens.
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