South African surgeons to reconstruct face of boy, 9, after Zimbabwe hyena attack

JOHANNESBURG, June 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Plastic surgeons in South Africa are preparing to reconstruct the face of a nine-year-old Zimbabwean boy mauled by a hyena in an attack last month. Rodwell Khomazana lost his nose, left eye, most of his upper lip, bits of his forehead and other parts of…

Covid-19: Cuba encouraged by early trials of homegrown vaccine

HAVANA, June 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Cuba’s Soberana 2 vaccine candidate has shown 62 per cent efficacy with just two of its three doses, state-run biopharmaceutical corporation BioCubaFarma said, citing preliminary data from late-phase trials. Cuba, whose biotech sector has exported vaccines for decades, has five vaccine candidates in clinical trials,…

Mexico City shuts down classes again, enters higher COVID-19 risk tier

A child receives hand sanitizer while arriving at the Ignacio Zaragoza elementary school MEXICO CITY, June 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mexico City schools that had just gone back to in-person classes will be closed again starting Monday as the sprawling capital climbs into a higher tier of coronavirus risk, education authorities…

Canada shooting: Three children among 4 shot at Toronto birthday party

Emergency crews were called to Tandridge Crescent and Byng Avenue just before 8 p.m. ET for reports of a shooting in the area TORONTO, June 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Three children were wounded when gunfire broke out at a child’s outdoor birthday party in western Toronto on Saturday evening. Toronto Police…

Liverpool pleads with UNESCO to let it keep World Heritage status

The waterfront in Liverpool was named a world heritage site in 2004 LONDON, June 20 (NNN-Xinhua) — Civic leaders in Liverpool Saturday pleaded with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s World Heritage Committee to keep the city’s World Heritage status. A letter, signed by City Mayor Joanne…

US: California declares state of emergency amid heatwave

Tourists take pictures with a thermometer at the Furnace Creek Visitor’s Center at Death Valley National Park in California LOS ANGELES, June 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — California has declared a state of emergency to address power system concerns, as parts of the US south-west reported dangerously high temperatures. An excessive heat warning…

US violence: Arizona police shoot driver who crashed into Charity Bike Ride, 6 cyclists critically injured

The cyclists were doing a 58-mile bike ride to raise money for a local school PHOENIX (Arizona, US), June 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A man in a pick-up truck drove into cyclists taking part in a charity bike ride in Arizona, leaving six of them in a critical condition. The incident…

Alieu Kosiah: Liberian convicted of war crimes in Swiss court

Around 250,000 people were killed in Liberia’s two civil wars  BELLINZONA (Switzerland), June 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Alieu Kosiah has been found guilty of war crimes in a Swiss court, becoming the first Liberian to be convicted over the country’s civil war. He was sentenced to 20 years for crimes including…

Spain to end requirement to wear masks outdoors on June 26

    BARCELONA, June 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The obligation to wear masks outdoors in Spain is to be lifted on June 26, with the corresponding decision to be approved at an extraordinary Cabinet meeting next week, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on the sidelines of an event in Barcelona.“This will be…

South Africa steps up coronavirus vaccinations as cases spike

President Cyril Ramaphosa was among the first to be vaccinated in February but since then the rollout has hit problems PRETORIA, June 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South Africa is deploying army medical personnel to its commercial hub and most populous province to help health workers battle a surge in coronavirus, the…