Poland’s ruling coalition crumbles as PM sacks junior partner

Leader of small right wing party Agreement Jaroslaw Gowin has been dismissed from the ruling coalition Wojtek WARSAW, Aug 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Poland’s ruling right-wing coalition fell apart after Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki dismissed the head of a junior coalition party, putting the government’s future in doubt. “My dismissal is de…

WHO says Guinea monitoring 155 contacts after confirmed Marburg case

CONAKRY, Aug 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Health authorities in Guinea are monitoring 155 people who may have been in contact with a confirmed case of Marburg virus disease, a highly infectious haemorrhagic fever similar to Ebola, a World Health Organization official said. The Marburg case, which the WHO said was the…

Myanmar junta leader aims to solidify grip on power: UN

Myanmar’s junta chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing UNITED NATIONS, Aug 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UN special envoy on Myanmar said the country’s military leader appears determined to solidify his grip on power following a February coup and ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s political party could soon be disbanded.…

Covid-19: US gives Myanmar US$50 million in aid as humanitarian crisis worsens

People praying in the grounds of a temple in Yangon WASHINGTON, Aug 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States said it was giving Myanmar more than US$50 million in aid as surging COVID-19 infections worsened a humanitarian crisis in the Southeast Asian country already reeling after generals overthrew a democratically elected…

Covid-19: Argentine Health Minister speaks of “periodic vaccinations” and perks for those who take the shots

BUENOS AIRES, Aug 10 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Argentine Health Minister Carla Vizzotti has admitted that third doses of coronavirus vaccines were under consideration to face the surge in cases of Delta variant. She also pointed out that although vaccination at this point was not mandatory, those who choose to be injected…

Brazilian indigenous group APIB files criminal charges against President Bolsonaro before ICC

BRASILIA, Aug 10 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Indigenous lawyers have filed genocide charges against Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro before the International Criminal Court (ICC) based in The Hague, it was announced Monday. Marking the International Day of the Indigenous Peoples, the legal team headed by Counselor Luiz Eloy Terena among others seek…

UK: London’s Tower Bridge reopens to traffic after being stuck

LONDON, Aug 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — London’s Tower Bridge reopened Tuesday to traffic, after a “technical failure” left the 19th-century landmark’s arms pointing skyward for almost 12 hours. The two sections of the bridge had been stuck since mid-afternoon on Monday, when they had been due to open for a tall…

Covid-19: Uganda resumes passenger train service after fall in number of cases

KAMPALA, Aug 10 (NNN-Xinhua) — Passenger train services in Uganda’s capital Kampala have resumed after the country lifted a 42-day lockdown on July 30 following a reduction in the COVID-19 infection rate. Deo Kyomya, the Uganda Railways Corporation commercial manager, said they had deployed two trains to carry passengers along…

Covid-19: Britain to relax some travel restrictions for COP26

LONDON, Aug 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain will relax some travel restrictions to help delegates attend the UN climate conference in Scotland later this year, including a shorter quarantine period for those from so-called “red list” countries who have been vaccinated. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pushed for COP26 to be…

Rare bacterial outbreak kills one in Georgia: US health body

ATLANTA (Georgia, US), Aug 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — One person in the US state of Georgia died following a multi-state outbreak of melioidosis infection likely linked to imported products, health officials said. A total of four people were infected, one each in Georgia, Kansas, Texas and Minnesota, according to the US…