Covid-19: Elderly, sick, essential workers will get vaccine first – US

WASHINGTON, June 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States plans to give priority to the elderly, those with pre-existing conditions and essential workers once there is a vaccine against COVID-19, a senior Trump administration official said. Under Operation Warp Speed (OWS), the US government is aiming to deliver 300 million vaccine…

Ambush blamed on jihadists kills 24 Malian troops

BAMAKO, June 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A weekend ambush on a military convoy in central Mali left 24 soldiers dead and an unspecified number missing, the army said, blaming the assault on jihadists. In posts on social media, the army did not enumerate the missing but said eight soldiers escaped the…

Covid-19: More than 8 million confirmed cases worldwide – tally

PARIS, June 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — More than 8 million cases of novel coronavirus have been confirmed worldwide, with more than half in the United States and Europe, according to official sources. At least 8,000,202 infections including 435,176 deaths, mostly in Europe, have been registered since the pandemic first emerged in…

Covid-19: Brazil reports highest daily jump in cases while Peru’s deaths surge past 7,000

BRASILIA, June 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazil on Tuesday recorded its highest daily jump in new coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic, with nearly 35,000 registered in 24 hours, the health ministry said. The country, which has the second-highest number of coronavirus cases and deaths in the world, after…

Seven nations vying for five UN Security Council seats

UNITED NATIONS, June 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UN General Assembly on Wednesday will elect five new members of the Security Council for 2021 and 2022, with battles underway for the Western and African seats. Kenya and Djibouti are facing off for one seat, while in the Western bloc, three nations…

Covid-19: ‘Hunger pandemic’ threatens Latin America – UN

GENEVA, June 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The coronavirus crisis is pushing 40 million people into food insecurity in South and Central America and the Caribbean, with the UN calling for urgent action to avert a “hunger pandemic”. The UN’s World Food Programme says that in the 11 countries where it operates…

Covid-19: Coronavirus leaves more Americans dead than WWI

WASHINGTON, June 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — With 740 new coronavirus deaths in 24 hours, the United States has seen more people die from the pandemic than died in World War I, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. The new figure, counted at 8:30 pm Tuesday, brought the country’s total…

Update: WHO hails virus steroid as ‘lifesaving scientific breakthrough’

GENEVA, June 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Health Organization on Tuesday hailed as a “lifesaving scientific breakthrough” the British use of a basic steroid to treat severely ill COVID-19 patients, saving about a third of them. “This is great news and I congratulate the Government of the UK, the University…

Covid-19: Czech quarantine policy draws protest on Polish border

Residents from both sides of the border took part in what was described as a “silent protest” CIESZYN (Poland), June 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Czech and Polish citizens of the divided border town of Cesky Tesin/Cieszyn gathered on Friendship Bridge to highlight what they see as the absurdity of continuing border…

Covid-19: Face masks now mandatory on public transport and hospitals in UK

LONDON, June 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Face coverings has become compulsory on public transport and in hospitals in England from Monday. It comes after a study suggested masks could cut Covid-19 spread by up to 40%. Scotland already recommends wearing coverings in shops and on public transport. People in Wales are…