Walensky: Highly contagious UK variant is now most common
During the White House COVID-19 briefing on Wednesday, Dr. Rochelle Walensky said that the variant from the UK known as B117 is more contagious and is “the most common lineage right now."
During the White House COVID-19 briefing on Wednesday, Dr. Rochelle Walensky said that the variant from the UK known as B117 is more contagious and is “the most common lineage right now."
One of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's favourite movies played out in New Zealand's airports on Monday, when thousands of separated families enjoyed emotional reunions thanks to the trans-Tasman bubble.The Kiwi PM, who was in cabinet as the first flights landed, revealed she cried and needed a box of tissues on seeing the pictures of loved ones being reunited.
India's daily COVID-19 cases have jumped by a record 273,810 as the health system crumbles under the weight of patients, bringing total infections closer to that of the United States, the world's worst hit country.India's hospitals are struggling with a shortage of hospital beds and oxygen supplies as infections pass the 15 million mark, second only to the US.
Myanmar authorities have detained a Japanese journalist in Yangon, Japan's government says, adding that it was trying to seek his release.BBC Burmese quoted a witness as saying freelance journalist Yuka Kitazumi was picked up from his home and taken into custody by troops on Sunday night.
Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury says the Magpies will cop any sanction for Jordan De Goey and Jeremy Howe's in-game phone use on the chin.The Magpies received a "please explain" from the AFL after De Goey was caught on TV camera picking up two phones and giving one to Howe when the injured pair were in the change rooms during Friday night's loss to West Coast.
An Indigenous advisory council on domestic violence is being set up with $1 million in next month's federal budget.The council will help develop the next national plan for tackling domestic violence, which disproportionately affects Indigenous women and children.
South African batsman AB de Villiers said he is open to a return to international cricket at this year's Twenty20 World Cup in India and will discuss his future with national coach Mark Boucher during the Indian Premier League (IPL).The 37-year-old retired from international cricket in 2018 but said in April last year he would consider a comeback at the T20 World Cup if it was delayed by a year to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Former Blackburn manager Steve Kean will coach Melbourne Victory for the remainder of the A-League season, becoming the fourth man in less than two years to take the reins at the beleaguered club.Victory parted ways with Grant Brebner after Saturday's 7-0 Melbourne derby humiliation and have elevated Kean, who signed on as Brebner's assistant in October 2020, to the interim head coaching role.
A waste company is facing big fines after being found guilty of breaching workplace health and safety laws over a horror crash in Adelaide that claimed two lives in 2014.Jacqueline Byrne, 41, and Thomas Spiess, 56, were killed when a runaway sewage truck smashed into their stationary cars at the base of the South-Eastern Freeway.
Broadcasting before live audiences from country music's hometown, Nashville, Tennessee, the 56th Academy of Country Music awards show brought a star-studded Sunday night.For the second year, the ACM awards took place in multiple smaller sites around Nashville, including the emblematic Grand Ole Opry House, rather than at the usual Las Vegas venue.
A notorious killer is believed to have been found dead in his Melbourne prison cell, less than a year after being sentenced for his crimes including the savage murder of a woman.It is understood Scott Alan Murdoch, 43, was discovered dead at Melbourne Assessment Prison about 6am on Monday.
Gold Coast captain Jamal Fogarty believes his side took a casual approach to their round-six loss against Manly, saying no spot in the side is safe if their mindset doesn't change.The Titans were romped by Tom Trbojevic and a rampaging Sea Eagles outfit on Saturday, beaten 36-0 in Mudgee.
Attorneys in the trial of a former Minneapolis police officer charged with killing George Floyd are set to make their closing arguments.For prosecutors, Derek Chauvin recklessly squeezed the life from Floyd as he and two other officers pinned him to the street for 9 minutes, 29 seconds outside a corner market, despite Floyd's repeated cries he couldn't breathe - actions they say warrant conviction on two murder counts.
Lance Franklin's stop-start AFL season has been halted by a knee injury that will further test Sydney's depth and finals ambitions.Franklin, having only recently returned to full fitness after battling a series of soft-tissue injuries that restricted him to one AFL game in 21 months, will spend up to a month on the sidelines because of bone bruising.
Tommy Raudonikis has been remembered as the patron saint of rugby league in the game's final farewell to the lovable larrikin who epitomised an era of the sport.Raudonikis was on Monday celebrated by more than 1000 fans, family members and former teammates at the SCG, after his death from cancer earlier this month.
Melbourne veteran Nathan Jones says the prospect of an elusive premiership pushed him through difficult years to 300 AFL games.The former Demons skipper played through some of the club's darkest years - including wooden spoons in 2008 and 2009 and a lengthy finals drought.
A former employee who shot and killed eight people at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis legally bought the two rifles used in the attack despite red flag laws designed to prevent such purchases.A trace of the two guns found by investigators at the scene revealed suspect Brandon Scott Hole, 19, of Indianapolis, legally bought the rifles last July and September, Indianapolis police said on Saturday.
Sally Fitzgibbons has managed to claw her way out of a "pickle" at the Narrabeen Classic in Sydney but Tyler Wright wasn't so lucky after committing a costly tactical error.Fitzgibbons trailed fellow Australian Macy Callaghan in their round of 16 heat before pulling off a 6.
A Queensland man stands accused of abusing his position as a massage therapist to assault 15 women and a 15-year-old girl over more than a decade.Charles William Davidson is on trial in the Brisbane District Court after he pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape, 34 counts of sexual assault and three counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16.
Victoria's premier Daniel Andrews' recovery from a fall is progressing well, despite his decision not to return to the job until at least June, his deputy says.Mr Andrews suffered at least five broken ribs and an acute compression fracture of the T7 vertebra when he slipped on the steps of a holiday home on March 9.
Foreign Minister Marise Payne will visit New Zealand this week for the first in-person trans-Tasman ministerial meeting since COVID-19.Ms Payne will meet Kiwi couterpart Nanaia Mahuta and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern during a three-day visit beginning April 21.