USA

Navy blocked from acting against 35 COVID vaccine refusers

Editorial Bureau January 5, 2022

WASHINGTON — A federal judge in Texas has granted a preliminary injunction stopping the Navy from acting against 35 sailors for refusing on religious grounds to comply with an order to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The injunction is a new challenge to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s

Business

Starbucks says employees must get vaccine or test weekly

Editorial Bureau January 4, 2022

Starbucks says its U.S. workers must be fully vaccinated by Feb. 9 or face a weekly COVID testing requirement. The Seattle-based coffee giant said Monday it was acting in response to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which issued a vaccine-or-test requirement for companies with more than 100 employees in November. The requirement, which has […]

World

Troops find religious exemption for vaccines unattainable

Editorial Bureau December 20, 2021

WASHINGTON — More than 12,000 military service members refusing the COVID-19 vaccine are seeking religious exemptions, and so far they are having zero success. That total lack of approvals is creating new tensions within the military. The services, urgently trying to keep the coronavirus pandemic in check by getting troops vaccinated, are now besieged with […]

USA

LA school board votes to delay student vaccine mandate with thousands non-compliant

Editorial Bureau December 15, 2021

The Los Angeles public school district’s board of education has approved delaying enforcement of its COVID-19 vaccine mandate to the fall, as thousands of students at the nation’s second-largest school district remain non-compliant. Under the mandate, which the board passed in September, all students ages 12 and up were required to be fully vaccinated by […]

Europe

Thousands protest in Prague against COVID vaccine mandate

Editorial Bureau December 13, 2021

PRAGUE — Several thousand people marched through the Czech capital on Sunday, protesting a COVID-19 vaccination mandate for certain groups including people age 60 and over. The participants didn’t wear face coverings or follow social distancing rules despite a request by police to do so. One person was detained. The protesters, chanting “Freedom!” alleged their […]

Health

EU regulator authorizes Pfizer’s COVID vaccine for kids 5-11

Editorial Bureau November 26, 2021

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The European Union’s drug regulator on Thursday authorized Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine for use on children from 5 to 11 years old, clearing the way for shots to be administered to millions of elementary school pupils amid a new wave of infections sweeping across the continent. It is the first time the […]

Middle East

WHO Director-General lauds global COVID cooperation but calls for more vaccine help for poor nations

Editorial Bureau October 26, 2021

DUBAI – Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, underlined the importance of global thinking as the world rebuilds after the COVID-19 pandemic, speaking as part of the Fourth Aqdar World Summit at Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo 2020 Dubai. During a welcome video address, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “More than six […]

World

States with cold weather see uptick in COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations

Editorial Bureau October 23, 2021

There is a growing sense of optimism across the country, with national coronavirus infection rates steadily falling, booster shots available for many Americans and pending vaccine approval on the horizon for young children. In southern states like Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and Georgia, which were hit early on by the delta surge, hospitalizations are on the […]

Finance

Covid projected to cost Philippines over $730bn in next 10-40 yrs

Editorial Bureau September 26, 2021

Manila – The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) of the Philippines said that the long-run cost of the Covid-19 pandemic to the country would reach 37 trillion pesos ($730 billion) in the next 10 to 40 years. “Broken down, in 2020, we lost 4.3 trillion pesos; in the next 10 to 40 years, we estimate […]

UK

UK PM to set out COVID winter strategy next week, says health minister

Editorial Bureau September 12, 2021

LONDON (UK) – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will this week set out plans to manage the COVID-19 pandemic over the colder months, his health minister said on Sunday, suggesting the government could remove some restrictions by relying on vaccines. “Now that we’re entering autumn and winter … the prime minister this week will be […]