Covid-19: US gives full approval to antiviral remdesivir

WASHINGTON, Oct 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US Food and Drug Administration granted full approval to the antiviral drug remdesivir as a treatment for patients hospitalized with Covid-19, after conditional authorization was given in May. Gilead said the drug, sold under the brand name Veklury, was the only specific treatment for…

Tilting Venezuela oil tanker threatens ‘environmental catastrophe’

CARACAS, Oct 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Trinidad and Tobago said that adamaged oil tanker off the island’s coast was “stable” after oppositionpoliticians in neighboring Venezuela warned of a potential “environmentalcatastrophe.” The damaged tanker, which is in the waters separating Venezuela andTrinidad and Tobago and is owned by Venezuelan state oil company…

Three-man US-Russian crew returns to Earth from ISS

NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy and Russian cosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner ALMATY (KAZAKHSTAN), Oct 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An American astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts touched down on the Kazakhstan steppe on Thursday, completing a 196-day mission that began with the first launch under lockdown conditions. NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy…

US: 45 lawmakers urge administration to boycott Saudi-hosted G20

WASHINGTON, Oct 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Forty-five American lawmakers have urged the US government to boycott next month’s G20 summit in Riyadh unless Saudi authorities address key human rights concerns. The letter from US Congress members to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo comes after European lawmakers passed a resolution this month…

Covid-19: Brazilian Pres Bolsonaro rejects Chinese vaccine

BRASILIA, Oct 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro overruled his own health minister, rejecting the announced purchase of 46 million doses of CoronaVac, a potential vaccine against COVID-19 being tested in Sao Paulo state. Health minister Eduardo Pazuello announced the purchase on Tuesday alongside Sao Paulo’s Governor Joao Doria, a…

Covid-19: Italy’s cases soar to new daily record of more than 15,000

A woman wears a face mask as she walks a dog after the government brings in new restrictive measures due to a rise in the number of the coronavirus disease ROME, Oct 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Italy has registered 15,199 new coronavirus infections over the past 24 hours, the health ministry…

Covid-19: German health minister tests positive

German Health Minister Jens Spahn BERLIN, Oct 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — German Health Minister Jens Spahn tested positive for the coronavirus, the health ministry said, adding that he had placed himself in home quarantine. The minister, 40, was suffering from cold-like symptoms, the ministry said. People he had been in contact…

Nigeria: Unrest in Lagos after deadly protest shooting

LAGOS, Oct 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Buildings were torched in Nigeria’s biggest city Lagos as authorities shut down the economic hub after the shooting of peaceful protesters by security forces caused international outrage. At least 12 people were killed by the Nigerian army and police in two locations in Lagos on Tuesday…

Covid-19: US hospitalisations hit two-month peak

WISCONSIN, Oct 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The number of COVID-19 patients in US hospitals hit 40,000 for the first time since August on Wednesday, as the nation battles a surge in infections led by Midwest states. Hospitals have seen a 36 per cent rise in coronavirus patients over the past four…

US presidential election: National Intelligence/FBI says Iran, Russia obtained voter registration information to influence public opinion

WASHINGTON, Oct 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russian and Iran have both obtained US voter information and taken actions to influence public opinion ahead of the Nov 3 election, Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe said. Ratcliffe said Iran specifically had sent “spoofed” emails to Americans “designed to intimidate voters, incite social…