Philippine Volcano Near Manila Billows “Greyish Plume”

MANILA, Jul 7 (NNN-PNA) – A “short-lived” phreatomagmatic eruption occurred, at the main crater of the restive Taal volcano, south of Manila today, producing a 300-metre high “greyish plume,” said the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. The eruption happened at 5:18 a.m. local time today, said the institute, adding…

Australia’s Sydney Extends Lockdown As Daily Cases Fail To Drop

SYDNEY, Jul 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) – As Sydney continued to record community transmissions of COVID-19, the New South Wales (NSW) government announced today, to extend the two-week lockdown on Greater Sydney by a further week, until midnight July 16. The state recorded 27 new locally acquired cases in the last 24…

India’s Popular Film Actor Dilip Kumar Dies At 98

NEW DELHI, Jul 7 (NNN-PTI) – India’s popular film-actor, Dilip Kumar, died at the age of 98 today, after a long and protracted illness. Dilip Kumar breathed his last at 07:30 hours today, at a hospital in Mumbai. He is survived by his wife, Saira Banu, a veteran actor herself.…

S.Korea Reports 1,212 More COVID-19 Cases, Highest In Over Six Months

SEOUL, Jul 7 (NNN-YONHAP) – South Korea reported 1,212 more COVID-19 cases as of midnight, compared to 24 hours ago, raising the total number of infections to 162,753. The daily caseload rose sharply from 746 the previous day, marking the highest in over six months since Dec 25, 2020. The…

Thailand To Secure More COVID-19 Vaccines To Contain Pandemic

BANGKOK, Jul 7 (NNN-TNA) – Thailand, yesterday, approved plans to purchase more COVID-19 vaccines, including Pfizer, Sinovac and Moderna, as the country tried to contain months-long surge in infections. The cabinet approved a plan to purchase 20 million doses of Pfizer vaccines from the U.S., with delivery scheduled within the…

Singapore Reports 10 New COVID-19 Cases

SINGAPORE, Jul 7 (NNN-CNA) – Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH), reported 10 new COVID-19 cases yesterday, bringing the total tally to 62,640. The new infections include two locally transmitted cases, both of whom are currently unlinked. The remaining eight were imported cases, who have already been placed on Stay-Home Notice…

Sri Lankan President Directs Health Ministry To Administer Pfizer Doses On Elderly

COLOMBO, Jul 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Sri Lankan President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, yesterday, directed the Health Ministry, to administer Pfizer vaccines on those who had received the AstraZeneca as their first jabs, in the capital, Colombo. Sri Lanka’s Health Ministry received 26,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccines on Monday, after the State…

World’s Largest Planetarium To Open In Shanghai

SHANGHAI, Jul 7 (NNN-XINHUA) – The Shanghai Astronomy Museum, the world’s largest planetarium, in terms of building scale, will open on Jul 17, the planetarium announced. Covering an area of approximately 58,600 square metres, the museum is located in the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone Lingang Special Area. It…

China Launches New Relay Satellite

XICHANG, Jul 7 (NNN-XINHUA) – China successfully launched a new relay satellite, from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre, in south-west China’s Sichuan Province, at 11:53 p.m. yesterday, (Beijing Time). Tianlian I-05 was sent into orbit by a Long March-3C carrier rocket. Yesterday’s launch was the 378th mission of the Long…

Indonesia Weighs Foreign Help In Fighting Second COVID-19 Wave: Minister

JAKARTA, Jul 7 (NNN-ANTARA) – Indonesia plans to seek help from a number of foreign countries, if the daily COVID-19 cases surpass 40,000, a senior minister said. At a virtual press conference yesterday, Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, said that, the Indonesian government has been…