Covid-19: Brazil surpasses 2 million cases: official

RIO DE JANEIRO, July 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazil topped two million coronavirus cases on Thursday, according to official data that put the number of deaths at more than 76,000. Figures published by the health ministry showed there were more than 45,000 new cases over the last 24 hours, and an…

Egyptian president vows not to stand idle on threats to Egyptian, Libyan security

Egypt threatened to send in its army if GNA forces captured Sirte, located more than 800km from the Egyptian border CAIRO, July 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi vowed that Egypt will not stand idle in the face of any direct threats to the security of Egypt and Libya.…

Covid-19: US travel restrictions with Canada, Mexico extended through Aug 20

Empty road at the US port of entry into Blaine of Washington State is seen at Douglas-Peace Arch border crossing in Surrey, Canada WASHINGTON, July 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — US non-essential travel restrictions across its borders with Canada and Mexico will be extended for another month due to the COVID-19, US…

Iranian, Russian presidents discuss ties, US “unilateral” policies

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and President of Iran Hassan Rouhani TEHRAN, July 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Thursday discussed the U.S. “unilateral” policies and the ways to boost bilateral ties. In a telephone conversation, Rouhani called for enhancing the Tehran-Moscow…

Covid-19: US breaks record with over 77,000 cases in one day – Johns Hopkins

WASHINGTON, July 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — The United States reported a record high of more than 77,000 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of infections to 3,560,364, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. Meanwhile, the death toll rose by 974, taking the…

French FM visits Iraq to confirm support

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein BAGHDAD, July 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Thursday arrived in Iraqi capital Baghdad for an official visit where he confirmed his country’s support to Iraq in its war against Daesh group. Le Drian was received by his Iraqi counterpart Fuad…

Croatian PM set for another term following parliamentary elections

Croatian President Zoran Milanovic (L) and Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic ZAGREB, July 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — Croatian President Zoran Milanovic approved here incumbent Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic another mandate to form a new government, after Plenkovic presented him with signatures of 76 newly-elected parliament members who supported him as the next…

Iran judiciary halts protesters’ executions after social media storm

Amirhossein Moradi, Mohammad Rajabi and Saeed Tamjidi denied the charges laid against them TEHRAN, July 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) —The Iranian authorities are reported to have halted the impending executions of three anti-government protestors, following a social media campaign. The Persian hashtag #do_not_execute was used 7.5 million times after it was announced on Tuesday…

Covid-19: Russian spies target vaccine research, says western security services

Coronavirus test kit LONDON, July 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russian spies are targeting organisations trying to develop a coronavirus vaccine in the UK, US and Canada, security services have warned. The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) said the hackers “almost certainly” operated as “part of Russian intelligence services”. It did…

Ex-Rwanda PM in court for writing invalid cheques

Pierre-Damien Habumuremyi, former Rwanda Prime Minister KIGALI, July 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Former Rwanda Prime Minister Pierre-Damien Habumuremyi has appeared in court in the capital, Kigali, on charges of issuing cheques that were not backed by funds in the bank. Habumuremyi, in office between 2011 and 2014, was arrested a few…