July 19, Monday, 2021 (1:30 p.m.) Newsline

1. Protesters rallied in the Thai capital Bangkok on Sunday, demanding Prime Minister Prayut Chano-cha step down over the government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Thailand reported 11,784 new cases on Monday, setting a new high for the fourth day in a row. 2. Vietnamese authorities are stepping up anti-virus measures as a record 5,926 new coronavirus cases were confirmed on Sunday in the country. Vietnam had managed to keep infections under control with strict measures. But the case count has been surging since the end of April with the Delta variant, first detected in India, spreading in the country. 3. The South Korean military says 247 sailors on a navy destroyer deployed on an anti-piracy mission in waters off Somalia have tested positive for the coronavirus. The figure accounts for more than 80 percent of all crew members.