S. Korea's virus infections near 1,600, new cases center on hardest-hit Daegu, church followers South Korea reported another daily spike in the number of new infections of the new coronavirus on Thursday, and more additional cases are expected to be identified in the hardest-hit city of Daegu and its neighboring regions as virus tests started on more than 210,000 members of a religious sect at the center of the rapid spread.

Scramble to contain coronavirus as infections spread Coronavirus cases spread in Europe and beyond on Wednesday, as the US announced it was considering new travel restrictions and Latin America confirmed its first patient from an epidemic that has killed thousands worldwide.

Five killed at brewery in another US mass shooting A gunman killed five employees of one of America's best-known breweries on Wednesday before turning the weapon on himself in the latest burst of mass gun violence in the US.

US upbeat on Taliban peace, warns Afghan leaders The United States voiced optimism on Tuesday about reaching an accord to end the war in Afghanistan as a partial truce held with the Taliban, warning rival leaders in the Kabul government not to scuttle the "enormous opportunity."

Trump plans Southeast Asia summit in Las Vegas: Pompeo US President Donald Trump has invited Southeast Asian leaders to meet next month in Las Vegas, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Tuesday, after a summit last year was scrapped.

Down to business for Trump in India US President Donald Trump moves from sightseeing and speech-making to tough trade talks in India on Tuesday, as First Lady Melania visits a Delhi school to witness a "happiness class".

VN to maintain dialogue with US to promote bilateral trade: vice spokesperson Việt Nam will continue to monitor and assess the impact of the US’ removal of Việt Nam from the list of developing countries under US countervailing duty laws, Vice Spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry Đoàn Khắc Việt said on Thursday.

Pompeo lands in Saudi for talks focused on Iran US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo landed in Riyadh Wednesday for talks with Saudi leaders focused on countering Tehran, his first visit since a top Iranian general's killing sent regional tensions soaring.

Bezos launches $10 bn fund to combat climate change His company is often criticised for its environmental record, but Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon and the world's richest man, said Monday that he was committing US$10 billion to a new fund to tackle climate change.

US announces partial Taliban truce, Trump says peace deal 'close' The United States said on Thursday it has secured a seven-day reduction in violence in Afghanistan that it hopes will allow it to strike a deal with the Taliban, as President Donald Trump said a peace accord was "very close."