World
North America
Delta Variant as contagious as chickenpox: CDC internal report
An internal report from the Centres for Disease Control found the Delta variant is more transmissible than SARS, Ebola, the cold, the flu and smallpox.
- by Apoorva Mandavilli
Latest
COVID-19 could lead to cognitive decline, new research suggests
One study showed that losing the ability to smell, which has been commonly reported among COVID-19 patients, is correlated with cognitive troubles.
- by Angela Haupt
Breaking
Coronavirus pandemic
Biden pushes federal workers - hard - to get vaccinated, wants cash incentive for public
US President Joe Biden is calling for state, local and US territorial governments to provide $US100 ($135) payments for every newly vaccinated American.
- by David Shepardson, Jeff Mason and Steve Holland
Analysis
Coronavirus pandemic
Breakthrough COVID infections a reality check on road to normality
Rare but rising cases of “breakthrough” COVID-19 infections are complicating America’s return to normality and offer a preview for Australia as it reopens.
- by Matthew Knott
‘Bizarro world’: Pro-Trump radicals target Capitol policeman after he testified about riots
“This is what happens when you tell the truth in Trump’s America,” Fanone, a 20-year veteran cop, told CNN. “I’m in good company.”
- by Dave Goldiner
Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine gets slightly weaker over time
The vaccine had a sky-high efficacy rate of about 96 per cent against symptomatic COVID-19 for the first two months, but then declined about 6 per cent every two months after that, a study showed.
- by Carl Zimmer and Sharon LaFraniere
‘Pharma bro’ Martin Shkreli settles debts by selling Wu-Tang Clan album
The notorious entrepreneur, due for release from jail in October 2022, said he was “pleased with the sale price and RIP ODB”.
- by Larry Neumeister
Updated
Coronavirus pandemic
Joe Biden to require vaccines for all federal workers: report
The US President plans to announce “next steps” in the effort to get more Americans to get the vaccination, as the country copes with outbreaks of the Delta variant.
- by Nandita Bose
US health authority says vaccinated people should wear masks indoors
The change by the CDC was warranted but “I think we will get blowback because I think people might view it as backtracking,” said a Cornell University public health official.
- by David Shepardson and Julie Steenhuysen
Analysis
US politics
Who hired the hitman? Police officers demand answers from Capitol riot committee
Often tearful, sometimes profane, the officers called the rioters “terrorists” engaged in an “attempted coup” during a 3-1/2 hour congressional hearing.
- by Dan Balz
Atlanta spa shooter pleads guilty to four murders
In his first public comments since the massacre, Robert Aaron Long calmly described how he purchased a firearm and went to the spas earlier this year.
- by Rich McKay