Covid-19: Brazil’s Pres Bolsonaro fed up with quarantine, to take new virus test

BRASILIA, July 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who has been in quarantine nearly a week after testing positive for the new coronavirus, said he plans to take another test as he “can’t stand” being in isolation. “I will wait quite anxiously because I can’t stand this routine of…

Second virus wave in UK could see 120,000 deaths: study

LONDON, July 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A second coronavirus wave in Britain this winter could see 120,000 deaths in hospitals alone in a “reasonable worst-case scenario”, scientists warned on Tuesday. The Academy of Medical Sciences report, commissioned by the government’s chief scientific adviser Patrick Vallance, urged immediate action to mitigate a…

World hunger worsening as coronavirus weighs and obesity rises: UN

ROME, July 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nearly one in nine people in the world are going hungry, with the coronavirus pandemic exacerbating already worsening trends this year, according to a new United Nations report. Economic slowdowns and climate-related shocks are pushing more people into hunger, while nutritious foods remain too expensive…

Covid-19: France to make mask mandatory in all public indoor spaces – Pres Macron

PARIS, July 15 (NNN-XINHUA) — “In the coming weeks,” France would make the wearing of face masks mandatory in public indoor spaces to contain the spread of the coronavirus, President Emmanuel Macron said. “We came out of the peak of the first wave… We have managed to stem the virus…

UK unveils post-Brexit border plans and ad campaign

LONDON, July 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain launched another Brexit advertising blitz and unveiled its first detailed proposals for managing the country’s borders after cutting ties with the European Union. The campaign, aimed at future travellers to the bloc, businesses that trade with it, and EU citizens living in the UK,…

Covid-19: US clocks up another 63,000 cases in 24 hours

WASHINGTON, July 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States recorded 63,262 new coronavirus infections in the last 24 hours, according to a tally by the Johns Hopkins University on Tuesday. The total number of cases recorded in the country since the start of the pandemic now exceeds 3.42 million, according to…

US ends Hong Kong trade preferences, backs banking sanctions

WASHINGTON, July 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Donald Trump said he was ending trade preferences for Hong Kong and signed into law an act that authorizes sanctions on banks over China’s clampdown in the international finance hub. In a discursive news conference dominated by attacks on his domestic rivals, Trump…

US: Pres Trump reverses course on barring many foreign students

WASHINGTON, July 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US administration has abandoned a plan that would have forced out tens of thousands of foreign students following widespread condemnation of the move and pressure from colleges and major businesses. US officials announced last week that international students at schools that had moved to…

US Supreme Court allows federal executions to resume

Triple murderer Daniel Lewis Lee is among those facing the death penalty WASHINGTON, July 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US Supreme Court has cleared the way for the first executions of federal prisoners in 17 years. Several executions were delayed after a judge ruled on Monday that there were still unresolved…

Covid-19: South Africa reacts with shock to new alcohol ban

Bottles of wine and brandy were left untouched PRETORIA, July 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The immediate ban on alcohol sales here in South Africa has not only come as a shock to many but has been met with unhappiness from some quarters. The country’s main opposition party the Democratic Alliance has…