Covid-19: US hoping for two vaccines by end of November

WASHINGTON, Oct 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Two American companies expect to apply for emergency approval for their Covid-19 vaccines by late November, welcome news as the US crossed eight million confirmed cases amid a third surge of its coronavirus epidemic. Pfizer said Friday it hopes to move ahead with its vaccine…

US calls Russia proposal on nuclear treaty ‘non-starter’

WASHINGTON, Oct 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal to extend the New START nuclear treaty for one year unconditionally, countering that both nations must cap warheads during the period. “President Putin’s response today to extend New START without freezing nuclear warheads is a non-starter,”…

Covid-19: Last night out in France for 20 million as curfew imposed

PARIS, Oct 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Millions of French people enjoyed a lastnight of freedom on Friday before a Covid-19 curfew in Paris and other large cities came into force at midnight, for at least a month, prompted by an alarming surge in new cases. The curfew aims to keep some…

Turkey, Ukraine vow to boost cooperation amid COVID-19 pandemic

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) ISTANBUL, Oct 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky pledged to enhance cooperation in a wide range of areas amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “Ukraine and Turkey are ready to develop their…

US wildfires: Federal govt approves California’s request for wildfire relief funds

A firefighter battling the Creek Fire in Shaver Lake, California in September LOS ANGELES, Oct 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — US President Donald Trump has approved California’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration to bolster the state’s emergency response to wildfires, California governor Gavin Newsom said. “Just got off the phone with…

First group of refugees from Greek islands departs for Germany

Refugees prepare to board an airplane to Germany at the Athens International Airport ATHENS, Oct 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — A total of 101 refugees departed from Athens’ airport for Germany on Friday. They are the first group of a total of 1,553 refugees Germany has pledged to accept after the recent…

Covid-19: UK PM defends restrictions as “right and responsible thing”

People walk in central Liverpool, Britain LONDON, Oct 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson defended his government’s coronavirus restrictions as “the right and responsible thing to do” in the fight to curb the spread of coronavirus in the country. “Taking action is the right and responsible thing to…

Covid-19: US cases surpass 8 mln as global deaths surpass 1.1 mln — Johns Hopkins University

NEW YORK, Oct 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — The total number of COVID-19 cases in the United States surpassed 8 million on Friday, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University. US case count rose to 8,008,402, with the national death toll reaching 218,097, as of…

Over 7.3 mln Bolivians to vote in Sunday’s presidential elections

LA PAZ, Oct 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — Bolivia’s Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) authorized an electoral roll of 7,332,925 citizens, out of a total of more than 11 million inhabitants, for the presidential elections on Sunday. The vice president of the TSE, Maria Angelica Ruiz said a transparent clean-up of the electoral…

France: Pres Macron condemns “terrorist attack” after teacher stabbed dead for showing Muhammad cartoons in class

PARIS, Oct 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — Condemning the “Islamic terrorist attack” that took the life of a teacher in Paris northwest suburbs, French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday evening called on the French to stand together and pledged quick and firm action by the government to combat terrorism. “One of our…