Covid-19: Russia may be first to finish coronavirus vaccine trials, says expert

MOSCOW, July 18 (NNN-TASS) — The final, phase 3, trials of a Russian vaccine against coronavirus developed by the Gamalei National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology may be completed quicker than in other countries, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, Kirill Dmitriev, told the Vesti news program…

Covid-19: Dutch say 25 mink farms now infected with coronavirus

THE HAGUE, July 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Dutch authorities said they would cull more than 1,100 mink as the new coronavirus wasdiscovered on another farm in the Netherlands, making 25 in total. The latest outbreak, in the small town of Westerbeek near the Germanborder, was discovered when mink cubs were tested…

Over 3.9 mln people affected by floods in India’s Assam

NEW DELHI, July 17 (NNN-XINHUA) — Flooding in India’s northeastern state of Assam has affected over 3.9 million people, officials said. The floods have hit 27 districts in the state. According to officials at Assam Disaster Management Authority, the ongoing flooding has affected 3,218 villages and damaged cropland spreading over…

OPEC+ eases record oil cuts as economy recovers from coronavirus pandemic

OPEC+ eases record oil cuts as economy recovers from pandemic VIENNA, July 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — OPEC and allies such as Russia agreed on Wednesday to ease record oil supply curbs from August as the global economy slowly recovers from the coronavirus pandemic but said a second wave of the virus…

US hits Guyana with visa sanctions, calls President to ‘step aside’ over election dispute

WASHINGTON, July 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States has moved to implement visa sanctions on members of the Guyanese government and other officials it describes as attempting to undermine the democratic process in the country. The move follows further attempts to stall the declaration of the Opposition PPP-C as the…

Germany: ‘Rambo’ suspect Yves Rausch held in Black Forest after five-day hunt

Hundreds of police were involved in the search BERLIN, July 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — German police have arrested a suspected gunman nicknamed “Rambo” after a five-day manhunt in the Black Forest. Yves Rausch, 31, is said to have fled into the forest near Oppenau, in south-west Germany, on Sunday after threatening…

US ‘open to lifting’ South Sudan arms embargo; to seize mansion owned by former Gambian president in Washington

Armed groups in the country have been blamed for frustrating peace deals WASHINGTON, July 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US is willing to consider lifting an arms embargo and targeted sanctions against Sudan Sudan if a number of conditions are met, its outgoing ambassador Thomas Hushek has said.The conditions include a…

Nigeria lost $3bn to gold smuggling in seven years: Pres Buhari

Official presentation of gold bars produced through a presidential initiative ABUJA, July 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nigeria lost about $3bn from 97 tonnes of gold illegally smuggled out of the country in the seven years up to 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari said. He made the disclosure in his speech during the…

Protesters in marginalised south region ‘block 50% of Tunisia’s oil supply’

The protesters want jobs and development TUNIS, July 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Demonstrators in the south of Tunisia have blocked an oil pipeline as they called for more investment in the marginalised region, the energy ministry said. Hundreds stormed the El-Kamour production facility, south of Tataouine two weeks after setting up…

Sudan protesters ‘reject anti-Islamist reforms’

KHARTOUM, July 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Dozens of pro-Sharia supporters have protested in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, over recent government reforms that allow non-Muslims to drink alcohol, and scrap the apostasy law and public flogging. The reforms come after long-time ruler Omar al-Bashir was ousted last year following massive street protests. The…