The Latest: Protests decry Brazil policies as toll tops 500K

RIO DE JANEIRO — Anti-government protesters have taken to the streets in cities across Brazil as the nation’s confirmed death toll from COVID-19 soared past half a million. It’s a tragedy many critics blame on President Jair Bolsonaro’s attempt to minimize the...

AP Interview: India says it hopes to resume vaccine exports

NEW DELHI (AP) — India, the world’s largest manufacturer of vaccines, wants to resume exports of coronavirus jabs but can’t do so until its domestic needs are met, the head of the country’s COVID-19 task force said Friday. “Once our immediate need of vaccinating...

Biden promotes milestone of 300M vaccine shots in 150 days

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden took a cautious victory lap Friday in his quest to bring the COVID-19 pandemic under control, announcing that 300 million vaccine shots have been administered in the 150 days since he took office. Biden credited scientists,...

Palestinians call off 1M dose vaccine exchange with Israel

JERUSALEM (AP) — The Palestinian Authority called off an agreement whereby Israel would transfer 1 million doses of coronavirus vaccines to it in exchange for a similar number later this year, hours after the deal was announced on Friday. The Palestinians said the...

California offers digital record of coronavirus vaccination

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California on Friday started offering residents a digital record of their coronavirus vaccinations that they can use to access businesses or events that require proof they got the shots. The state’s public health and technology departments...

AstraZeneca, EU both claim a win in vaccine delivery tussle

BRUSSELS (AP) — A Belgian court ruled Friday that coronavirus vaccine-maker AstraZeneca had committed a “serious breach” of its contract with the European Union amid a major legal battle over delivery obligations that has tarnished the company’s image. The court...

Vaccine-maker AstraZeneca claims victory in court tussle with EU over slow deliveries

The Latest: Nevada to disburse $5 million in vaccine effort

LAS VEGAS — Nevada is distributing $5 million in cash prizes to residents who have been vaccinated as part of an effort to encourage more people to get shots. Gov. Steve Sisolak said Thursday that the new “Vax Nevada Days” initiative provided skeptics one more...

New vaccine lottery announced for military in Washington

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday announced a new COVID-19 vaccine incentive lottery for the state’s military, family members and veterans because the federal government wasn’t sharing individual vaccine status of those groups with the state and there were...

AP Interview: Official says Nepal desperately needs vaccines

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Nepal has significantly reduced coronavirus infections after its worst outbreak, which overwhelmed the country’s medical system, but is in desperate need of vaccines, its health minister said Thursday. “We have gone down from the red stage to...