Jan 10 Pentagon drops COVID-19 vaccine requirement for troops By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press The Pentagon has formally dropped its COVID-19 vaccination mandate, but a new memo signed by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also gives commanders some discretion in how or whether to deploy troops who are not vaccinated. Continue reading
Jan 10 China halts visas for Japan, South Korea following virus testing on Chinese travelers By Ken Moritsugu, Associated Press Chinese embassies suspended issuing new visas for South Koreans and Japanese on Tuesday in apparent retaliation for COVID-19 testing requirements recently imposed by those countries on travelers from China. Continue reading
Jan 08 Travelers rush to enter China as it eases pandemic border restrictions By Associated Press The ability of Hong Kong residents to cross over is one of the most visible signs of China’s easing of border restrictions imposed almost three years ago, with travelers arriving from abroad no longer required to undergo expensive and time-consuming… Continue reading
Jan 07 Watch 2:23 News Wrap: Russia shells Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine during cease-fire In our news wrap Saturday, fighting continued in eastern Ukraine despite a Russia-ordered cease fire for Orthodox Christmas, a Virginia teacher’s condition is improving after a 6-year-old student shot her at school, a federal appeals court struck down a ban… Continue watching
Jan 07 China suspends social media accounts criticizing COVID policy By Associated Press China has suspended or closed the social media accounts of more than 1,000 critics of the government’s policies on the COVID-19 outbreak, as the country moves to roll back harsh anti-virus restrictions. Continue reading
Jan 06 What we know about the COVID-19 data China is — and isn't — sharing By Huizhong Wu, Aniruddha Ghosal, Associated Press As COVID-19 rips through China, other countries and the World Health Organization are calling on its government to share more comprehensive data on the outbreak. Some even say many of the numbers it’s reporting are meaningless. Here's a look at… Continue reading
Jan 05 As COVID-19 surges in China, U.S. begins testing more travelers By Laura Ungar, Shelby Lum, Associated Press As COVID-19 surges in China, the U.S. is expanding its traveler surveillance program, an early warning system for detecting new variants. Continue reading
Jan 05 As COVID-19 spreads across China, Beijing hospital runs out of beds By Andy Wong, Ken Moritsugu, Associated Press Patients, most of them elderly, are lying on stretchers in hallways and taking oxygen while sitting in wheelchairs as COVID-19 surges in China's capital Beijing. Continue reading
Jan 04 European Union urges pre-flight COVID-19 tests on passengers from China By Raf Cassert, Associated Press The European Union has "strongly encouraged" its member states to impose pre-departure COVID-19 testing of passengers from China, in a move that is likely to upset Beijing and has already been criticized by the global airline industry. Continue reading
Jan 03 Beijing threatens response to 'unacceptable' COVID-19 measures for Chinese travelers By Ken Moritsugu, Associated Press The Chinese government has sharply criticized COVID-19 testing requirements being imposed on passengers from China and threatening countermeasures against countries involved. Continue reading