Coronavirus: Philippines extends travel ban on India and 9 other countries; Sydney poised to tighten lockdown

The Philippines will extend a ban on travellers from India and nine other countries to the end of August because of concerns posed by the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus, the presidential spokesperson said on Friday.Authorities in the Philippines have been scrambling to contain a jump in coronavirus cases to a four-month high, with infections staying above the 12,000 mark for a second straight day on Thursday, and hospitals in some areas nearing capacity.The travel ban, which…