Covid-19: UK signs up for Sanofi-GSK vaccine

PARIS, July 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Pharma giants Sanofi and GSK have agreed to supply Britain with up to 60 million doses of a potential COVID-19 vaccine, the firms announced Wednesday. The agreement covers a vaccine candidate developed by France’s Sanofi in partnership with the UK’s GSK and is subject to…

Covid-19: Papua New Guinea outbreak spreads beyond capital

PORT MORESBY, July 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Papua New Guinea ramped up coronavirus testing and rushed to build field hospitals on Wednesday after an outbreak was found to have spread beyond its locked-down capital. More than 70 people have been isolated and contact tracing was underway at four hotels in the…

Sudan to send more troops to Darfur after deadly attacks

KHARTOUM, July 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Sudanese government is sending more troops to the restive Darfur region, following a spike in violence there. Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok said the forces would protect people during the farming season. Unidentified gunmen killed more than 60 people in the region on Saturday, and…

Covid-19: Several countries tighten curbs over fears of a second wave

Saudi Arabia is preparing for a dramatically scaled down hajj, the annual Muslim pilgrimage to holy sites such as the Kaaba at the grand Mosque in Mecca PARIS, July 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Spain and Germany were among the countries tightening restrictions in a bid to cool coronavirus hotspots that have…

Covid-19: Canada OKs remdesivir for use against coronavirus

MONTREAL, July 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Canada on Tuesday gave the green light for people with severe symptoms of COVID-19 to be treated with the anti-viral drug remdesivir. “Remdesivir is the first drug that Health Canada has authorized for the treatment of COVID-19,” said the health ministry. At least two major…

With 1,592 new deaths, US daily virus toll at highest in 2.5 months: Johns Hopkins

WASHINGTON, July 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States Tuesday recorded 1,592 new coronavirus deaths in 24 hours, the highest number of daily fatalities in 2.5 months, Johns Hopkins University reported in its real-time tally. The country also notched more than 60,000 new coronavirus cases in one day, the Baltimo Meanwhile,…

US welcomes Afghan ceasefire, urges quick start to talks

KABUL, July 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States welcomed a new ceasefire between Afghanistan’s government and Taliban insurgents, and voiced hope that they can quickly open talks. “I welcome the announcements of an Eid ceasefire. Afghans deserve to celebrate the holiday in peace,” said Ross Wilson, the top US diplomat…

22 killed in Mali minibus-truck accident

BAMAKO, July 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Twenty-two people were killed and 21 were wounded in southern Mali on Tuesday when a minibus collided with a dump truck, the transport ministry said. The accident occurred around 9 am on a national highway linking the town of Kangaba near the border with Guinea…

Covid-19: Two-thirds of 94 migrants rescued by Malta have coronavirus

VALLETTA, July 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Over two-thirds of a group of 94 migrants rescued in the Mediterranean by Malta have tested positive for COVID-19, with the tests of nine others pending, Maltese health authorities said. The migrants were rescued by the Maltese coastguard on Monday night and were all isolated…

Rebel ambush kills 7 soldiers in eastern DR Congo: monitor

BENI (DR Congo), July 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Seven Congolese soldiers were killed in an ambush Tuesday in the Virunga national park famous for its mountain gorillas, monitors said, blaming the attack on the notorious ADF militia. Army spokesman Antony Mualushayi confirmed the report by the Kivu Security Tracker (KST) but…