Covid-19: US records over 68,000 new cases in 24 hours – Johns Hopkins

WASHINGTON, July 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States on Tuesday recorded 68,524 new coronavirus cases in the previous 24 hours, Johns Hopkins University reported in its real-time tally. The country, which is the world’s hardest-hit, has now registered a total of 3,891,893 infections, the Baltimore-based university said. Another 961 more…

Egypt: Pres Sisi wins parliamentary approval for possible Libya intervention

CAIRO, July 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Egypt’s parliament gave President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi the green light for possible military intervention in Libya by approving the deployment of armed forces abroad to fight “terrorist groups” and “militias”. A sharp military escalation in Libya, where fighters led by eastern commander Khalifa Haftar have been…

Covid-19: Two South African ministers in hospital with coronavirus

Protesters hold placards during a demonstration against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine testing PRETORIA, July 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Two members of the South African cabinet have been admitted to hospital with COVID-19, the presidency said. Thembelani Nxesi, the minister for employment and labour, and Gwede Mantashe, the minister for mineral…

Uganda: Pres Museveni seeks re-election to extend rule to four decades

KAMPALA, July 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni is seeking re-election and this would potentially extend the 75-year-old former rebel fighter’s rule to four decades. Museveni’s party said that Uganda’s long-serving President has collected papers to seek nomination as the ruling party’s candidate in next year’s presidential election. “Yes, we can…

Sudan’s ex-president Omar Al-Bashir on trial for 1989 coup

 KHARTOUM, July 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Sudan’s ousted long-serving leader Omar al-Bashir has gone on trial in the capital, Khartoum, in connection with the military coup that brought him to power more than three decades ago. The 76-year-old, who has already been convicted for corruption, could face the death penalty if found guilty…

Ukraine hostage crisis: Lutsk siege ends after president’s intervention

The man was arrested after a siege lasting several hours KIEV, July 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A stand-off in Ukraine has ended with security forces freeing 10 hostages from a bus in the city of Lutsk and detaining the gunman, a former convict, after a bizarre intervention by the president. Pictures showed the gunman…

Afghan girl kills two Taliban militants in fightback

The photo of the girl has gone viral in recent days  KABUL, July 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) —A teenage Afghan girl has been hailed on social media for her “heroism” after fighting back last week against Taliban militants who killed her parents. The girl took the family’s AK-47 assault rifle, shot dead two…

Moscow sees ‘chance’ to save Iran nuclear deal

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif greet each other with an elbow bump MOSCOW, July 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia still believes there is hope of rescuing the nuclear deal with Iran, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said. “We are convinced that there is still a…

Chinese cybercriminals targeted COVID research, hacked hundreds of companies: US

WASHINGTON, July 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Two Chinese nationals have been indicted for seeking to steal COVID-19 vaccine research and hacking hundreds of companies in the United States and abroad, including defense contractors, the US Justice Department said. Li Xiaoyu, 34, and Dong Jiazhi, 33, also targeted human rights activists in…

US unrest: Shootout at Chicago funeral leaves 14 wounded

CHICAGO, July 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) –– A shootout outside a funeral left 14 people wounded Tuesday in Chicago, as President Donald Trump threatens to send federal agents to a handful of US cities led by Democratic mayors. The episode started when occupants of a vehicle “began firing at attendees of a…