USA

UNITED NATIONS, Jun 27 (APP): The World Health Organization (WHO) and partners fighting the coronavirus pandemic said Friday it needs $31.3 billion over the next 12 months to develop and roll out tests, treatments and vaccines to fight the corona virus disease.

Ahead of a major pledging summit, officials of the WHO and its partners updated journalists in Geneva on a recently announced initiative to speed up production of these treatments, known as the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator.

NEW YORK, June 28. /TASS/: At least two people were killed and another four were injured on Saturday in a shooting at a Walmart distribution center in the US city of Red Bluff (state of California), The New York Times reported with reference to a hospital official.

WASHINGTON, June 28. /TASS/: US President Donald Trump was not briefed on the fact that Russia had allegedly offered bounties to Afghan militants to kill American troops, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in a statement on Saturday.

SEATTLE/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Pilots and test crew members from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing Co (BA.N) are slated to begin a three-day certification test campaign for the 737 MAX on Monday, people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The test is a pivotal moment in Boeing’s worst-ever corporate crisis, long since compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic that has slashed air travel and jet demand.

Washington, Jun 27 (AP/PTI) For many states and counties in the U.S., the dark days of the coronavirus pandemic in April unfolded on their television screens, not on their doorsteps.

But now, some places that appeared to have avoided the worst are seeing surges of infections, as worries shift from major cities to rural areas.

WASHINGTON, June 27 (Xinhua) -- The White House denied Saturday that President Donald Trump had been briefed on intelligence that Russians offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants for killing coalition troops.

"The CIA Director, National Security Advisor, and the Chief of Staff can all confirm that neither the President nor the Vice President were briefed on the alleged Russian bounty intelligence," White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in a statement.

WASHINGTON, June 27 (Xinhua) -- U.S. fighter jets on Saturday intercepted four Russian reconnaissance aircraft off the coast of Alaska, according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).

NORAD tweeted that U.S. F-22 fighter jets, supported by tanker planes and an early warning and control aircraft, intercepted four Russian Tu-142 reconnaissance aircraft entering the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on Saturday.

WASHINGTON, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Washington State Governor Jay Inslee on Saturday announced the suspension of all applications from counties looking to move into Phase 4 of reopening with new COVID-19 cases rising across the state.

"We all want to get back to doing all the things we love in Washington during the summer, and fully open our economy, but we aren't there yet," Inslee said in a news release. "This is an evolving situation and we will continue to make decisions based on the data."

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence called off campaign events in Florida and Arizona this coming week as the states experience a surge in new coronavirus cases.

Pence will still travel to those states, which have set records for new confirmed infections in recent days, the White House confirmed, saying he will meet with governors and their health teams.

RED BLUFF, Calif (AP) — A man drove into a distribution center and started shooting at people Saturday, killing an employee and wounding four others before he was killed by police, authorities said.

The shooting by the 31-year-old man with a semi-automatic rifle started about 3:30 p.m. at the Walmart distribution center south of Red Bluff, Tehama County Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston said in a news conference.