Internet users in a record number of countries have faced arrest and physical attacks for their posts over the past year, a report said on Tuesday, painting a grim picture of digital freedoms in 2021.The annual "Freedom on the Net" report said internet shutdowns in Myanmar and Belarus had proved particular low points as online rights declined globally for the 11th year in a row.Compiled by United States (US) think-tank Freedom House, the survey gives countries a score out of 100 for

Despite all the scientific and medical advances of the past 103 years, the COVID-19 pandemic has now killed more Americans than the 1918 flu pandemic did.More than 675,000 people in the United States (US) have died from COVID-19, according to Johns Hopkins University.

India will resume exporting COVID-19 vaccines from October, five months after it stopped sending supplies abroad in the face of a deadly wave of infections, the health minister said Monday.The South Asian giant, dubbed the "pharmacy of the world", was a major supplier to the COVAX programme aimed at ensuring poor countries can access doses.Exports stopped in April, according to foreign ministry data, when a virus surge in India pushed the healthcare system to breaking point and ther

Pfizer and BioNTech on Monday said trial results showed their coronavirus vaccine is safe and produces a robust immune response in children aged five to 11, adding that they would seek regulatory approval shortly.The vaccine would be administered at a lower dosage than for people over 12, they said."In participants five to 11 years of age, the vaccine was safe, well tolerated and showed robust neutralising antibody responses," United States (US) giant Pfizer and its German partner s

Lao has locked down its capital Vientiane and barred travel between COVID-hit provinces, as cases soared to a record high.The communist country appeared to have escaped the brunt of the pandemic in 2020, and by March this year had reported fewer than 60 cases – though the low number was due in part to limited testing.But a surge since mid-April has seen its caseload steadily increase, and on Saturday the country reported 467 new cases of community infection, its highest ever single-day tally.

While COVID-19's origin story is currently defined by a lack of hard evidence and data, scientists around the world continue their search for answers to how the pandemic began.As the world approaches the two-year mark since this novel coronavirus was first detected, there have been many twists and turns in the investigation into the origins of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that caused the pandemic.

Hundreds of protesters drove through Bangkok's streets on Sunday to mark the 15th anniversary of a military coup that ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.The billionaire ex-premier – now living in self-exile – has remained a prominent figure in the country's politics since the military deposed his government on 19 September, 2006.Unloading a massive cardboard model of a tank for their "cars against tanks" protest, rallygoers honked car horns to call for the resignatio

Philippine boxer-turned-politician Manny Pacquiao declared Sunday he will run for president in 2022, ending months of speculation about whether the legendary fighter would seek the country's top job."The time is now – we are ready to rise to the challenge of leadership," said Pacquiao, as he accepted the nomination of a rival faction in President Rodrigo Duterte's ruling party. The eight-division world champion and beloved national hero made the announcement weeks

France on Saturday accused Australia and the United States (US) of lying in a crisis over a security pact that saw Canberra scrap a contract to buy French submarines in favour of American vessels."There has been lying, duplicity, a major breach of trust and contempt," French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told France 2 television.

Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis.US Experts Back Booster Jab For Over-65sA panel of leading United States (US) medical experts advising the government vote in favour of authorising boosters of Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine for everyone aged 65 and up, as well as people at high risk of developing severe COVID-19.The same committee however rejected an initial proposal, submitted by Pfizer and backed by President Joe Biden's administration, to fully approve boo