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New Zealand hosts Australia PM in 1st meeting since Covid outbreak

Growing friction with China and how to reopen borders after the pandemic will likely be among the topics discussed by the leaders of Australia and New Zealand in their first face-to-face meeting

More states in US ease lingering virus rules as Covid vaccine rates rise

Just in time for Memorial Day weekend, more US cities and states are shrugging off lingering COVID-19 restrictions as vaccination rates rise and the number of infections falls.

China reports 16 new Covid infections including 2 locally acquired cases

China on Saturday reported 16 new confirmed coronavirus cases including two authorities said were believed to have been acquired locally

Coronavirus pandemic fails to deter hundreds of climbers on Mount Everest

Hundreds are making the final push to the summit with only a few more days left in the season, saying they are undeterred by a coronavirus outbreak in base camp

FAA questions lead to new halt in deliveries of Boeing's 787 jeliner

Boeing has again halted deliveries of its 787 jetliner after federal regulators asked for more information about production flaws, including small gaps where panels of the fuselage are joined

VP Kamala Harris cites challenges of 'fragile' world in Navy speech

Vice President Kamala Harris focused on the challenges of the pandemic, climate change and cybersecurity threats during her keynote speech to graduates at the US Naval Academy on Saturday

Naseem Shah set to join bio-secure bubble for Pakistan Super League

Pakistan Cricket Board has apparently compromised on its Covid protocols and allowed fast bowler Naseem Shah to re-enter the bio-secure bubble before returning to play in the Twenty20 league

World shares mostly higher on upbeat United States jobs, growth data

The number of Americans who filed for unemployment benefits fell yet again to a pandemic low of 406,000.

Japan to extend coronavirus emergency with safe Olympics at stake

The Olympics is just over 50 days away

IOC tries to reassure Olympic athletes over coronavirus-related waiver

Olympic athletes were told that the waiver they must sign releasing Tokyo organisers from liability for Covid-19 issues was "standard practice" for major sports events

European Open pushed back by two days, to be a 54-hole tournament now

The event next week has been curtailed because of pandemic-related travel restrictions, the European Tour said

Japan to extend coronavirus virus emergency with safe Olympics at stake

Japan is set to extend a coronavirus state of emergency in Tokyo and other areas with infections not yet slowing to levels it can safely host the Olympics opening in just over 50 days

Asian shares mostly higher on upbeat United States jobs, growth data

Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index climbed 2.1 per cent and other regional benchmarks all were higher.

Social spending, business tax hike drive $6 trillion Joe Biden budget

President Joe Biden's USD 6 trillion budget proposal for next year would run a USD 1.8 trillion federal government deficit despite a raft of new tax increases on corporations and high-income people

SolarWinds hackers targeting 150 organisations with phishing: Microsoft

The state-backed Russian cyber spies behind the SolarWinds hacking campaign launched a targeted spear-phishing assault on US and foreign government agencies and think tanks this week using an email marketing account of the US Agency for International Development, Microsoft said.

Banking giant HSBC exiting US retail banking to focus on wealth management

HSBC says it is closing its US retail banking business in order to refocus its efforts on wealth management

US Senate eyes R&D Bill to counter China and bolster manufacturing

What started as a pragmatic effort to boost scientific research and development has morphed into a sweeping Senate Bill aimed at making the US more competitive with China and other countries

Syria's Bashar al-Assad wins a fourth term in a predictable landslide

Syrian President Bashar Assad's re-election ushers in his fourth seven-year term in the war-torn country. The election was described as illegitimate and a sham by the West and his opposition

California to offer $116 million in coronavirus vaccine prize money

Californians will be eligible for $116.5 million in prize money for getting coronavirus shots, Governor Gavin Newsom announced

European Union leaders express support for holding Tokyo Olympics 2021

The European Union's two top officials expressed support for holding the Tokyo Olympics 2021 despite growing opposition to the event in Japan because of the coronavirus pandemic