Covid-19 vaccine ‘best science news’ of 2020: pharmaceutical association

GENEVA, Nov 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Data indicating that a vaccine being developed against Covid-19 is highly effective is the “best science news of the year”, a pharmaceutical industry association chief said, voicing hope that other vaccine candidates would show equally good results. “A vaccine that has 90 percent efficacy and…

Egypt: Sinai helicopter crash kills 7, including 5 Americans

JERUSALEM, Nov 13 (NNN-AGENCIES)) — A helicopter crash in Egypt’s Sinai desert involving a multi-national observer force killed seven people on Thursday — five Americans, a French national and a Czech citizen, an Israeli source said. An official with the Multinational Force & Observers (MFO), Brad Lynch, said it was…

Bangladesh: 34 pirates surrender with 90 arms in Banshkhali

CHATTOGRAM (Bangladesh), Nov 13 (NNN-BSS) — A total of 34 pirates from the coastal areas of Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar districts surrendered after handing over 90 weapons to Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal. The pirates surrendered at a ceremony held at Banshkhali Adarsh High School playground around 1 pm. They…

Typhoon causes major flooding in Philippine capital

MANILA, Nov 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The third typhoon to hit the storm-battered Philippines in as many weeks caused major flooding in Manila on Thursday, trapping some people on rooftops and claiming at least one life in another part of the country. Typhoon Vamco packed winds of up to 155 kilometres…

Covid-19: Cases still surging in the Americas, the WHO warns

A man stands in line to be tested for COVID-19 in Staten Island, New York BRASILIA, Nov 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — COVID-19 cases are still surging in the Americas, averaging 150,000 a day in last week, the World Health Organization’s regional office said. The United States continues to report record-breaking numbers,…

Mexican president stands firm on not recognising Biden win, yet

Mexico’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador MEXICO CITY, Nov 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador dug in his heels as one of the few leaders of major countries yet to congratulate Joe Biden on his presidential election win, saying it was too early and that his country…

British police detain man after car crashes into police station

Forensics personnel works following a car crash incident at the Edmonton Police Station, in Enfield north London LONDON, Nov 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — British police said they had detained a man who crashed a car into a north London police station on Wednesday. There were no reports of any injuries. The…

Brazil’s health regulator allows resumption of Chinese vaccine trial

BRASILIA, Nov 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazill health regulator Anvisa allowed resumption of late-stage clinical trials for China’s Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine, which had been suspended due to the death of a study subject that was registered in Sao Paulo as a suicide. Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro, a longtime China skeptic who has baselessly…

Several injured in ‘bomb attack’ on Armistice Day ceremony at Saudi cemetery

This picture sourced from Twitter shows security officials at the cemetery in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia), Nov 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least three people were wounded Wednesday in what French officials described as a “bomb attack” targeting a World War I commemoration ceremony attended by European diplomats at a…

UN, EU condemns killing of lawyer in eastern Libya

Female lawyer and activist Hanan Barassi was assassinated in Benghazi TRIPOLI, Nov 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UN mission to Libya has condemned the killing of a lawyer and women’s rights activist Hanan al-Barassi who was shot in her car in the east of the country. The United Nations Support Mission…