NEW DELHI -- India's COVID-19 tally rose to 34,555,431 on Friday, as 10,549 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours across the country, the federal health ministry's latest data showed.

Besides, another 488 deaths due to the pandemic have been reported since Thursday morning, taking the total death toll to 467,468. (India-COVID 19-Cases)

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CANBERRA -- Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison will send letters to all Australians urging them to book their coronavirus booster vaccine as soon as possible.

In a letter to every Australian home, Morrison said booster shots were the key to keeping Australia open and avoiding a deadly fourth wave of COVID-19 infections.

Every Australian aged 18 and over is eligible for a booster vaccine six months after their second jab. (Australia-Vaccination)

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ISLAMABAD -- Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has reaffirmed Pakistan's resolute commitment to continue to advance the goals and objectives of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan said in a statement Thursday night.

While addressing a meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of Member States of the SCO virtually from Islamabad on Thursday, Qureshi described the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the SCO as an important juncture where SCO leaders need to collectively chart the future course of the organization. (Pakistan-Shanghai Cooperation Organization)

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KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysia on Friday recorded 6,144 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total tally to 2,608,979, according to the health ministry.

Of the new cases, 12 are imported, and 6,132 are locally transmitted, showed data released on the ministry's website. (Malaysia-COVID-19)