New cases in Tokyo hit 4,515, the second highest after Thursday's record 5,042, while the neighbouring, populous prefecture of Kanagawa saw its cases soaring to more than 2,000, quadrupling in less than two weeks.

China reported 124 new confirmed coronavirus cases in the mainland for Aug. 5, according to the National Health Commission. That's up from 85 a day earlier.

Profits doubled to $54 million and revenues rose 23 percent to $498 million, the media group said in its second quarter earnings report.

For a second straight day, New South Wales premier Gladys Berejiklian said Australia's most populous state hit a new peak with 291 cases detected.

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi has said the success of ASEAN’s recently appointed special envoy to Myanmar hinges on the junta regime's ability to keep their promise, particularly because of the regime’s “lack of commitment” to previous ASEAN demands.

In Tokyo, the daily coronavirus cases confirmed reached a record 5,042 on Thursday, topping the 5,000 mark for the first time, the metropolitan government said, as a resurgence of the virus places a strain on the medical system in Japan.

The INS Vikrant, which began trials off the southern state of Kerala on Wednesday, will be India's second aircraft carrier in operation.

At least 200,065,905 cases have been officially recorded, but the actual number is believed to be even higher, since a large number of the less severe or asymptomatic cases remain undetected, despite intensified testing in many countries.

The billionaire's visit had prompted criticism from Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's political opponents, who demanded an explanation for why he was permitted to enter despite coronavirus travel restrictions.

World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had urged the countries and companies controlling the supply of doses to change course immediately and prioritize addressing the drastic inequity in vaccine distribution between rich and poor nations.

The potential deal includes 40 self-propelled howitzer artillery systems and related equipment, and serves "US national, economic, and security interests by supporting the recipient's continuing efforts to modernize its armed forces and to maintain a credible defensive capability," the Defense Security Cooperation Agency under the Defense Department said in a news release.

The population came to 126,654,244, dropping by 483,789 or 0.38 percent from the previous year, the largest decline since 2013 when the figures started to include resident foreigners, according to the data released by the internal affairs ministry.

The movement of people is coming under more restriction inside China - with localised transport closures and stay-at-home orders in places in some cities - and beyond China's borders.

After state Attorney General Letitia James unveiled the five-month independent investigation's conclusions on Tuesday, the Democratic governor said in a video statement he has no plans to resign and denied he had acted inappropriately.

The capital, struggling to contain a resurgence of the coronavirus despite being under its fourth pandemic state of emergency since July 12, confirmed a record 4,166 daily coronavirus cases.

Foreign Minister Retno was in Washington, DC, for a three-day trip that saw her become the first top diplomat from Southeast Asia to be received by Secretary of State Antony Blinken this year, amid an increasingly fierce competition between the United States and China.

* The gambling hub of Macau has launched a test program for its 600,000 people after the Chinese-ruled city confirmed four new coronavirus cases on Tuesday.

Maxwell Berry, 22, was taken into custody at Miami International Airport on Sunday on battery charges, NBC reported, citing an arrest report.

"According to the United Nations, this is more than the donations of all 24 countries that have donated any vaccine to other countries, including China and Russia -- all those nations combined," Biden said, naming the two countries that are engaging in their own vaccine diplomacy to exert influence on developing countries.

The unnamed man in his 20s, who had no underlying health issues and was unvaccinated, died at his home in the city, authorities said. He deteriorated rapidly after earlier complaining of just mild symptoms, they added.

Health authorities reported 71 domestic cases on Wednesday, the highest since January, as China battles its largest outbreak in months by testing entire cities and locking down millions.

The findings of a five-month investigation into allegations of sexual harassment found the governor created a "toxic" workplace and that his office illegally retaliated against the first accuser to go public.

Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi visited Washington, DC, at the invitation of United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the first such meeting between them since US President Joe Biden took office earlier this year.

With 92.8 percent of precincts reporting, Carey was ahead of his closest contender, former Ohio state representative Ron Hood, by 37.1 percent to 13.2 percent, results from the Ohio secretary of state's office showed.

The call by JMA President Toshio Nakagawa followed Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's announcement that only COVID-19 patients who are seriously ill and those at risk of becoming so will be hospitalised, while others isolate at home, a shift in policy some fear could boost the death toll.

Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province, will conduct citywide COVID-19 nucleic acid testing, the official China Central Television quoted the municipal authorities as saying.

The city of 11 million is "swiftly launching comprehensive nucleic acid testing of all residents", senior Wuhan official Li Tao said at a press conference on Tuesday.

Ardern had stepped back from her duties on Tuesday after picking up a "seasonal sniffle" from her three-year-old daughter. She had taken a COVID-19 test earlier in the day as a precautionary measure.

The North has also demanded the easing of sanctions on its imports of luxury goods to be able to bring in fine liquors and suits, the lawmakers said after being briefed by South Korea's main intelligence agency.

Barely a month after disrupting industry in the southern export hub of Guangdong, cases of the Delta variant were detected in Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu province on the coast. The infections were traced back to a flight from Russia.