Covid-19: Vaccines rushed to Australia’s Sydney as outbreak spirals

  SYDNEY, July 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Australia’s prime minister announced 300,000 coronavirus vaccine doses were rushed to Sydney Thursday, as the country’s largest city struggled to bring a Delta outbreak under control. As a citywide lockdown entered its third week, there were signs of the outbreak spiralling, with a record…

Covid-19: Worst is yet to come for Africa, says WHO

BRAZZAVILLE, July 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Africa has just lived through its most devastating week of the pandemic, but the worst is yet to come as the third wave gathers pace on the continent, the World Health Organization said.   “Africa has just marked the continent’s most dire pandemic week ever.…

US: Florida condo tower death toll rises to 60

  MIAMI, July 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The death toll from the collapse of an apartment building in Florida has risen to 60, officials said Thursday, with 80 people still missing and presumed dead.   “We are working around the clock to recover victims and to bring closure to the families…

Covid-19: Bangladesh reports highest daily spike with 11,651 new cases

  DHAKA, July 9 (NNN-BSS) — The number of COVID-19 cases in Bangladesh hit a record daily high since the outbreak of the pandemic with 11,651 new infections being reported in a span of 24 hours, pushing the nationwide coronavirus tally to 989,219 so far.   “The death toll rose…

Lithuania plans barrier on Belarus border to stem migrant flow

Lithuania says more than 1,000 illegal migrants have been held after crossing the border from Belarus since 1 June VILNIUS, July 8 9NNN-AGENCIES) — Lithuania has announced it will build a barrier on the border with Belarus and deploy troops to prevent migrants from illegally crossing into its territory. Prime Minister…

Covid-19: WHO urges ‘extreme caution’ in lifting restrictions

  GENEVA, July 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Health Organization urged “extreme caution” for countries considering lifting Covid-19 restrictions, warning that high vaccination rates would not stop transmission of the virus increasing.   The UN health agency urged governments not to squander hard-won gains and return to scenes of overwhelmed hospitals…

Sweden’s Lofven re-elected PM in parliament vote

Sweden’s interim Prime Minister Stefan Lofven speaks during a news conference STOCKHOLM, July 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Swedish Social Democrat leader Stefan Lofven was re-elected prime minister by parliament on Wednesday, ending weeks of turmoil but leaving him to navigate a political landscape riddled with uncertainty heading into next year’s election.…

US Pres Biden to host Jordan’s King Abdullah July 19: White House

Jordan’s King Abdullah II WASHINGTON, July 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Joe Biden will host King Abdullah of Jordan at the White House on July 19, the White House said. Biden reaffirmed strong US support for the monarch shortly after the kingdom announced it had quashed a rift within the royal family that shook…

UN rights expert urges sanctions on Myanmar’s oil, gas sectors

Students protest in Yangon against the Myanmar military GENEVA, July 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A United Nations human rights investigator called on countries to impose economic sanctions on Myanmar’s oil and gas sector to cripple the junta that took power five months ago. Myanmar has been in crisis since the military…

US: Grizzly bear attack kills woman at campsite in western Montana

Ovando, where the attack occurred, is on the southern edge of a huge wilderness that stretches to the border of Canada and is home to an estimated 1,000 bears HELENA (Montana, US), July 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A grizzly bear attacked and killed a woman at a western Montana campground early on Tuesday,…