Under pressure, U.S. donates half billion more COVID-19 vaccine doses to world

14 Sept 06:58 Key points summarised by AI

The U.S. pledged an additional 500 million COVID-19 vaccine doses, bringing its total global donations to over 1.1 billion, responding to international pressure to share its supply.
President Biden announced this commitment at a virtual summit aimed at boosting global vaccination rates, emphasizing the need to defeat the pandemic everywhere.
Health experts, however, criticize the donations as insufficient, noting the 5-6 billion doses required by poorer countries and the disparity of rich nations planning booster shots while many lack initial access.
The Pfizer/BioNTech doses, produced in the U.S., will be distributed to low- and lower-middle-income countries, supported by U.S. funding for administration and GAVI's distribution efforts.
Biden urged other wealthy nations to increase their contributions, stressing that global immunity requires solidarity to combat new variants and achieve widespread vaccination.

Sihasak urges Thais in Europe to stay alert as protests spread

Yesterday 12:06 Key points summarised by AI

Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow advises Thai nationals in Europe to avoid protest areas and reconsider non-essential travel, citing widespread unrest in countries like France, Italy, and Spain.
The warning comes as demonstrations escalate, with some turning violent, prompting concerns for safety and leading to an emergency Cabinet meeting in Italy and a proposed postponement of diplomatic talks.
Thai embassies and the Department of Consular Affairs issue advisories, urging citizens to monitor local developments, follow official announcements, and register their travel details for assistance, while emphasizing that no Thais have been directly affected yet.